Five questions for an unusual Queen’s Birthday

It’ll be a Queen’s Birthday with a difference on Monday, with the traditional Collingwood v Melbourne clash set for an SCG debut given the coronavirus restrictions in Victoria.

The fact it is Nathan Buckley’s final game as Collingwood coach is another factor. Here are the burning questions for the game.

Tom McDonald will travel to Sydney but could be flown home for the birth of his second child.Credit:Getty Images

Will Tom McDonald play?

With the birth of his child imminent, danger Demons forward Tom McDonald might miss the game.

He has travelled with the team to Sydney but is ready to race back to Melbourne should his wife, Ruby, go into labour.

McDonald has had a superb return to form in 2021, having been on the trade table at the end of 2020. He has 16 score assists, ranked equal-eighth in the competition.

The former defender is kicking for goal at an accuracy of 63.9 per cent, which is seventh in the AFL out of the top-50 shots at goal.

Can the Pies score enough?

Collingwood’s scoring has been a problem all season, and has been an issue at times over the latter part of Buckley’s reign.

This year they have had multiple quarters and halves of football where they have failed to score a goal.

The Pies were ranked 15th in the AFL for total points scored coming into the round (830), while the Demons are one of the best defences, having only conceded 790 points.

Melbourne are particularly good at restricting scoring in the second half of games. The most they have conceded after half-time is 44 points against Adelaide. They have conceded under 20 points twice, and under 30 seven times.

Lift, or wilt, for Bucks’ farewell?

When Brad Scott coached his last game, North Melbourne pulled off a slight upset to beat the Western Bulldogs. Scott said post game it was a tough, emotional lead up for him and his players to prepare for that clash.

Collingwood beating Melbourne would be a monumental upset, not a slight one.

Will the emotion, or at very least disruption and stress, of this week help or hinder the players?

History says the Pies perform better under Buckley (and Malthouse before him) when backs are against the wall and not a lot is expected of them.

Rarely have they come up against a side that are as good as Melbourne in that situation, though.

Could a Pies youngster relish the occasion?

Collingwood have blooded plenty of young players this year, and while many have impressed, none have played blinders.

That might be too much to ask of inexperienced players but the efforts of Trent Bianco and Caleb Poulter last week suggested they could, if everything goes well, impress on the big stage.

Beau McCreery also returns this week from injury, and his pressure and enthusiasm have caught the eye this season too. He kicked three goals in the Pies 24-point Anzac Day loss to the Bombers.

Kysaiah Pickett has thrilled Melbourne supporters this year.Credit:Getty Images

Bruzzy or Izzy for Kozzy?

Kysaiah Pickett is probably the best player to watch in the competition at the moment.

He does not rack up huge numbers, but when he is involved in the play he makes an impact.

Pick 12 in the 2019 national draft, “Kozzy” is extremely skillful, calm under pressure, elusive and strong in the tackle and able to work incredibly hard from contest to contest to create attacking chains.

It will be interesting to see who the Pies send to Pickett. Brayden Maynard could potentially do the job, but the emergence of Isaac Quaynor has given Collingwood another option for Pickett-type players.

Admittedly a dogged defender who even plays a defensive style on the table-tennis table, it seems Quaynor will get the thankless task of quelling the electric forward.

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