<p>It’s an early front-runner for one of the games of the season when Collingwood hosts Geelong at the MCG on Saturday night.</p> <p>The Pies are absolutely humming. After a big ANZAC Day win, and completing the early season sweep of beating their biggest rivals Carlton and Essendon as well as steamrolling the reigning premiers, Collingwood have now won six games in a row and sitting pretty at the top of the AFL ladder.</p> <p>Geelong, while still considered one of the teams to beat has endured a hot and cold start to the season. After two big wins against Adelaide away and then Hawthorn on Easter Monday, they fell to a Carlton side off a five-day break - but made them work for it.&nbsp;</p> <p>They return to the MCG for their third game in a row. They will only be back at the home of football two more times after this one until September.</p> <p>We don’t expect Geelong to fall off a cliff (because why would they do that now after resisting it for so long), but they have made a habit of dropping consecutive games in a row since 2023, so that is something to be mindful of when looking into this game.&nbsp;</p> <p>For the Cats, veteran defender Jed Bews is set to return to play and could bolster the Cats backline against a mobile Collingwood front half, and help aid a clearly hobbled Tom Stewart. Ollie Henry was demoted to sub in the loss to the Blues and had little impact when he came on and could be another facing the chop.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Pies will be forced into at least one change with forward Dan McStay ruled out with a knee injury for multiple weeks after hurting himself on ANZAC Day, but the Pies will regain their captain Darcy Moore who has been cleared for a return.&nbsp;</p> <p>It’s a big night for Collingwood star Jack Crisp, who is set to break a long-standing VFL/ AFL record when he steps out for his 245th consecutive match. A truly remarkable achievement.</p> <p>For the latest team news, analysis, odds, and betting tips, check out our Pies vs Cats predictions and preview below.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Collingwood vs Geelong Predicted Teams</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Collingwood Predicted Team&nbsp;</h3> <p>B: Jeremy Howe, Darcy Moore, Isaac Quaynor</p> <p>HB: Josh Daicos, Billy Frampton, Dan Houston</p> <p>C: Jack Crisp, Scott Pendlebury, Harry Perryman</p> <p>HF: Jordan De Goey, Brody Mihocek, Beau McCreery</p> <p>F: Bobby Hill, Tim Membrey, Will Hoskin-Elliott</p> <p>Foll: Darcy Cameron, Nick Daicos, Pat Lipinski</p> <p>Int: Brayden Maynard, Steele Sidebottom, Jamie Elliott, Ned Long, Lachie Sullivan</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Geelong Predicted Team</h3> <p>B: Connor O’Sullivan, Sam De Koning, Tom Stewart</p> <p>HB: Lawson Humphries, Mark Blicavs, Zach Guthrie</p> <p>C: Ollie Dempsey, Max Homles, Oisin Mullin</p> <p>HF: Tyson Stengle, Shannon Neale, Shaun Mannagh</p> <p>F: Patrick Dangerfield, Jeremy Cameron, Brad Close</p> <p>Foll: Rhys Stanley, Tom Atkins, Bailey Smith</p> <p>Int: Mark O’Connor, Jack Bowes, Jed Bews, Jhye Clark, Ollie Henry</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Collingwood vs Geelong Prediction &amp; Betting Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Head-to-Head Prediction</h3> <p>These games always deliver.</p> <p>The Cats hold sway, just, in the recent head-to-head, but the average margin of 13.8 points in the games of the last five matches, tells us we’re in for another beauty here.</p> <p>The Pies are in a different class to most at the moment. They rank first for defence and third for attack, according to Wheelo Ratings. The Cats aren't far behind on offence, but are down in seventh on defence which could give Collingwood the edge.</p> <p>Another area the Pies will seek the edge will be through the middle. The Cats are coming off a midfield monstering against the Blues. Trailing 27-13 in the clearances at halftime, the Cats came back to win the final quarter 14-4 in that metric but the damage was done early by the Blues engine room.</p> <p>It’s going to be a battle of the young guns with Bailey Smith and Nick Daicos going head-to-head. I expect Mark O’Connor to get the run-with role with the young superstar, but Nick has been prolific at breaking tags this season. The Blues didn’t run with a tagger on Smith last week. But while he gathered 30 possessions, his impact wasn't as profound only going at 62% efficiency.</p> <p>Also, look out for Jeremy Cameron who goes from one team he loves playing and performing against (Carlton) to another in Collingwood. The superstar goalkicker has booted 15 goals from his last four matches against the Pies. So mark him down for a bag here.</p> <p>It’s hard to look past the Pies here because they are just playing too well to overlook. But this should be very very close. Single-digit margin close.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/collingwood-v-geelong-cats-9148530">Collingwood</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>First Goal Prediction</h3> <p>It was a weird ANZAC Day for Bobby Hill. He didn’t touch it in the first half, only to come out after halftime and kick one of the goals of the season from the boundary line. Sealed with a bow in front of the faithful.</p> <p>Fresh off signing a new long-term contract during the week, We’re looking at Bobby to have a far more productive first half this week, to mark his new deal with a bang on the scoreboard first.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/collingwood-v-geelong-cats-9148530">Bobby Hill</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Most Disposals Prediction</h3> <p>Josh Daicos must be loving all the attention his brother gets every week because of how good he is. It means that he gets to slip under the radar guard opposition teams and put on a show himself.</p> <p>He was outdone by the old-boy Steele Sidebottom for the medal last week, but returning to face the Cats, a team he’s averaged 27 disposals against in his past five meetings only, but has topped 30 touches in three of the past five weeks and is in some rich form.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/collingwood-v-geelong-cats-9148530">Josh Daicos (30 disposals)&nbsp;</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Collingwood vs Geelong Match Details</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Date:</strong> Saturday, May 3rd, 2025.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>First Bounce:</strong> 7:30 pm AEST.</p> <p><strong>Location: </strong>MCG, Melbourne.</p> <p><strong>How to watch: </strong>Fox Footy/Kayo Sports.</p>