COLLINGWOOD is preparing for a hotly contested AFL Women’s match against fellow unbeaten side Geelong tomorrow afternoon at GMHBA Stadium. The Magpies come into the game off the back of wins over Carlton and Sydney, while Geelong accounted for Richmond and Fremantle in the opening fortnight of Season 7. In speaking to the media ahead of huge clash between the top four sides, Collingwood coach Steve Symonds said his group knew it would be a challenge.

“They’re going to be very difficult to score against, as we are at the moment as well, so it might be a battle of the defences,” he said. “They usually bring a fairly strong contested brand, they get good numbers to the context as well, so we got to be aware of that.”

The sides have played two matches at GMHBA Stadium, including Geelong’s inaugural match in the AFL Women’s competition, where they won by a point against the Magpies back in 2019. Collingwood levelled the ledger at the venue with an 11-point victory last season, and will be hoping to carry on with that form in Round 3.

“We enjoy playing down at their oval,” Symonds said. “It’s unique; a skinny oval so the ball does tend to play down the line a bit more which they’re strong at doing because obviously they play to their strengths down there, but we also think that’s one of our strengths as well so we’ll enjoy playing down there.”

Collingwood is considered a potential premiership threat despite missing two of its best midfielders in Brianna Davey and Brittany Bonnici, while the Cats have impressed thus far in Season 7, with the likes of Nina Morrison, Georgie Prespakis and Amy McDonald guiding them to an unblemished start to the season. Symonds said it was “always good to win early” in notching up a couple of wins, and that he hoped his side could build that momentum going forward with a victory against another in-form side.

“We felt the back end of last year, despite us losing a few players during the season, we felt the back of the season we did work through a few themes that worked for us,” Symonds said. “We play a strong role system-based game style so we think we can cover that quite well.”

Collingwood will also celebrate a milestone in the match, with forward-ruck Sabrina Frederick notching up her 50th game. Having crossed from Richmond to Collingwood following the 2021 AFL Women’s season, Frederick brings up the milestone at her third club, and said she is excited about notching up the half century in the black and white.

“To have the opportunity to play my 50th game this weekend with such a special group is an absolute honour,” she said. “It’s been amazing. “I love this club. “I love the group and I’m just glad I can play my 50th game with this group.”

Frederick said she hoped she could get to the 100-game milestone given she is still only 25 years-old and hoped to remain physically and mentally fit. Since crossing to the Pies, Frederick said she was adapting to an ever changing role.

“My game has changed a lot since the first year. My role has def changed as well, playing a bit more ruck than I ever have been,” Frederick said. “I’ve really enjoyed that challenge and giving Al Downie a bit of chop out as well in our team.

“Although at the start I was just a forward, I think that now it has added a strength to the bow and I’m really looking forward to take that role as that key forward and a ruck as well.”

Collingwood and Geelong lock horns from 4:10pm at GMHBA Stadium tomorrow, with the AFL Women’s match finishing before Magpie fans turn their attention to the men’s final that night against Fremantle up the road at the MCG.