Collingwood are preparing for opposition forwards to attempt to isolate skipper Darcy Moore in an increasing number of one-on-one battles as the AFL premiership race heats up.
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See subscription optionsTwo-time All-Australian defender Moore was out-pointed last round by Patrick Voss, who steered Fremantle to a thrilling one-point victory with a career-best six goals.
And the Magpies believe the Dockers' Voss blueprint is one other rivals will seek to replicate at the business end of the season.
Pies coach Craig McRae has had a "good chat" with Moore about what to expect, starting in Sunday's clash with Richmond at the MCG.
"The six goals weren't only on him," McRae said.
"We have a team system that we like to think supports things, but there's some opportunities for him to get better.
"Maybe there's a platform for others that they'll show now and they'll try to sort of isolate Darcy a little bit, so we've had a chat about what that looks like.
"We want our leader defending the ground better than what he did at times on the weekend, so we won't shy away from that."
Collingwood's buffer on top of the ladder was trimmed to just two competition points after successive defeats to Gold Coast and Fremantle - both by single-figure margins.
Despite the mini-skid, the Magpies remain premiership favourites and are expected to easily account for third-from-bottom Richmond when they lock horns for the first time this season.
McRae is pleased with the Pies' No.1-ranked defence, but is eager to sharpen up their attacking game.
"We're still keeping the opposition to low numbers, it's just our connection inside-50 has gone off the last couple of weeks," he said.
"The ladder predictor stuff, we can't control that.
"We can only control what we can, and right now we're just setting our eyes on Richmond."
Collingwood welcome back super-boot Dan Houston from an abdominal strain, alongside Tom Mitchell and Tim Membrey, but have lost Beau McCreery (hamstring).
Richmond have regained key defender Noah Balta after his court-imposed curfew ended, and Steely Green has been recalled, with Seth Campbell (concussion) and Jacob Koschitzke (omitted) out of the side.
Australian Associated Press
