From Bollywood dancers to Sri Lankan trumpeters, the MCG is the place to be on Saturday afternoon as the showpiece fixture for the AFL’s Multicultural Round takes centre stage.
Carlton and Collingwood are back at the home of football in a must win clash for both teams – the Pies trying to jump back into finals contention and the Blues striving to finish the year on a high.
Although Carlton has lost its last five matches against the Pies, the Blues still slightly hold the ledger in head to heads – 125 wins to 121.
Round 5 was the last time these two sides met, a game Bluebaggers would like to forget, with Collingwood recording a 75-point win.
Fourteen rounds later there will be more than just four points on the line, as the two teams strive to take home the 23rd annual Peter Mac Cup.
Collingwood, which currently sits in 11th spot on the ladder, will finally celebrate Ben Reid’s 100th AFL game, after he was named in the side for the first time this year.
Speaking at the Peter Mac Cup breakfast fundraiser, Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said he’s weighing up where swingman Reid will play on Saturday.
“He’s been playing forward in the VFL but he’s an All Australian defender and has the capacity to play at both ends of the field,” Buckley said.
Meanwhile at Ikon Park, Andrew Walker has been selected to play his first game since Carlton’s win against Port Adelaide in Round 12, while Chris Yarran and Troy Menzel have been omitted from the team.
Carlton coach John Barker will be aiming to recapture the form that saw the Blues record back-to-back victories in Rounds 12 and 13. Sustaining intense pressure for four quarters will be the challenge, but Barker is looking forward to it.
“It’s always a great clash for our players, supporters and members – I’m really excited about it,” he said.
“There’s different feelings you get as a coach but I’m more excited than nervous.”
Carlton takes on Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday afternoon, with the match kicking off at 1.45pm. There’s more than one reason to head down early with the Northern Blues and Collingwood playing in a curtain raiser starting at 10.15am, while the AFL’s multicultural festival begins at 11.30am.
Opposition watch: Collingwood
There's more than just four points on the line when arch-rivals Carlton and Collingwood face off at the MCG on Saturday.