Andrew Krakouer and his fellow Collingwood small forwards have been the subjects of some intensive Sydney study ahead of Friday night’s AFL blockbuster at the MCG.
Krakouer, Jamie Elliott and Sam Dwyer kicked three goals apiece in last Saturday night’s upset win over Geelong.
Krakouer was particularly damaging with two match-winning goals in the final term.
The Swans’ All-Australian defender Ted Richards said the Magpies goalsneaks were under-rated and demanded close attention when they clash at the MCG.
“These guys aren’t getting the respect they deserve because Collingwood have so many big names,” Richards told the club’s website.
“We’ve been doing a lot of homework on these guys, some of whom are averaging two to three goals per week so they are really important.
“Nick Smith, Dane Rampe and Nick Malceski and all of those guys will be focusing on them this week and they’ve got a very important job.”
It was an outstanding return to form by Krakouer, who had an interrupted pre-season and missed the opening five rounds.
Club president Eddie McGuire said it was his best game since the 2011 grand final loss to Geelong.
Krakouer missed most of last season with a knee reconstruction and struggled for fitness over summer, but now feels back on track.
“I came back a little bit underdone, I had to get a bit of continuity in my training (and) there was a bit of work to be done,” he said.
“But I’m back in full training now, back into playing and getting my match fitness up.
“It’s a long season and we’ll just keep ticking the boxes.”
With Alex Fasolo a long-term injury, it was essential for Collingwood that Krakouer slot back into the small-forward role.
“There weren’t too many other boys who were going to play that role,” he said.
“So I was the one who had to come into it and Bucks (coach Nathan Buckley) made sure that I was right and ready to go before I did.”
Last week, Buckley identified the Geelong and Sydney games as critical for the `Pies, who had shown patchy early-season form.
“Last week was a good step to where we want to get to,” Krakouer said.
“We played three good quarters of footy – the third quarter let us down, our pressure was down and Geelong got back into the game.
“They’re not going to surprise us with anything … everyone knows how they play.
“We’ve prepared as well as we can and we just have to come with that same intensity and attitude that we did last week.”
Sydney defender Marty Mattner and Collingwood Heath Shaw will remain sidelined for Friday’s clash.
Mattner is still troubled by a hip injury, while Shaw has hamstring tightness after missing last week through suspension.