Collingwood, bruised and battered up at the Gabba will face up to twenty two frothy, purple bruisers this Sunday as Freo come to town to teach them a lesson. The corresponding match last year was a commanding Magpie victory, but one gets the sense that this time round the Dockers have earmarked this one as the defining game for at least the first half of Fremantle's season.

Coming off a Brisbane belting, Collingwood have their fair share of injury problems. Tarrant is out with a hammy, Wakelin has a broken face and even Buckley's body has quaked with the thought of a Docker onslaught.

It is trooper McManus's 150th game earning him the coveted honour of life membership - and given how often he has put his life on the line for the purple cause time after time it is well earned. Not the most skillful player ever to play the game (it seems bizarre that a full time footballer can't learn how to hit a chest after 10 years), no one has ever questioned his endeavour or love for the club. He deserves a memorable victory and the boys appear fired up to give him one.

Three players have been added to the 25 man squad to head east but only Justin Longmuir appears likely to play of the three added. The corresponding omission could come from Grover, Farmer, Cook, or Polak.

In years past this would be the game where Freo drops its bundle and allows an ordinary team to run into a bit of form. If the Dockers have really seen the end to those days a black day for Magpie fans lays ahead. It will be wet though, so this may give the Pies some hope...

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