The game as it stands
In the context of the season as well as the 30th anniversary of the Peter Mac Cup, it's safe to say the stakes are high when the two old enemies meet under Friday night lights.
With Carlton searching for its sixth win in a row against the ladder-leading Collingwood, nothing will come easily.
Despite a few key outs, Carlton will be regaining skipper Patrick Cripps into the line-up, along with Adam Cerra, Caleb Marchbank, Jack Martin, Matthew Owies and Marc Pittonet.
Marchbank will play his first game of 2023 after putting together some strong VFL form in recent weeks, particularly on the back of a 29-disposal outing last weekend.
George Hewett will run out for his 150th game, having largely been a mainstay of Carlton's midfield since his arrival prior to the 2022 season after 120 games with Sydney.
It’s safe to say there’s a lot going on and all eyes will be firmly on the MCG on Friday night from 7:50pm (AEST).
Key match up
The last time these two teams played, Darcy Moore was the best player on the ground with 10 intercept marks.
He's likely to spend considerable time on Charlie Curnow, who's coming off a bag of 10 goals and looking increasingly dangerous in front of goal.
With Moore ranked first in the competition for intercept marks and Curnow the same for contested marks, the battle of what could be the All-Australian full back and full forward will be an engrossing one.
In the absence of Harry McKay, the Moore-Curnow match-up will truly be a battle of the titans in Carlton's forward 50.
Player to watch
Marc Pittonet had an outstanding return to football in the VFL last week, where the ruckman produced 16 disposals, eight clearances and eight tackles after managing a PCL strain.
In the absence of Jack Silvagni, Pittonet’s return couldn’t come at a better time – lining up with Tom De Koning, with the ruck partners reunited in Navy Blue once more.
With De Koning fresh off a two-year contract extension and Pittonet always ready for a bash-and-crash affair, the big men will need to put their physicality on show against the Pies.
Goss from Voss
Speaking to the media on Thursday morning, AFL Senior Coach Michael Voss said he wasn’t concerned about a ‘shootout’ scenario taking place.
“If we want to create a scoreboard threat, then that’s part of the challenge,” Voss said.
“I’d like to think that is more the end outcome – if it works out that it’s high scoring or if it works out that we’re playing 45-45, then we’ll play that as well.
“We’ve got some important parts of our game that we need to make sure that we get right and if the rewards are on the end of it, then so be it. But we have to make sure the other parts of our game hold up really strongly.”
Things we love to see
More than football, more than just a rivalry.
The annual Peter Mac Cup - now into its 30th year - and subsequent Richard Pratt Medal is something that brings Carlton and Collingwood together, raising awareness for the Peter Mac Cancer Centre and cancer treatment as a whole.
While all focus will be on the game come the first bounce, the Peter Mac Cup serves as a reminder about football being a vehicle for positive change.
