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Gold Coast defender Sam Collins reckons he's banished last season's Collingwood flogging from memory ahead of a rematch under similar AFL circumstances.
At 7-8, the Suns' hopes of reaching a maiden finals campaign were flickering entering the corresponding clash in round 16 last year.
The Magpies delivered the ultimate reality check though in a 78-point win on the Gold Coast in which they led 72-10 at halftime.
The loss triggered coach Stuart Dew's axing, the Suns now in strikingly similar waters at 7-7 under Damien Hardwick ahead of Saturday's meeting.
"That's well in distant memory, don't even remember the game," vice-captain Collins dead-panned on Tuesday when asked if the loss still sat with him.
"It's a sell out (crowd) here (on Saturday) and we don't have too many of those.
"Sitting at 7-7; we'd like to be a bit more but out performance at home's been dominant and we look forward to bringing that against the Pies."
![Unhappy Gold Coast Suns players.](https://syndicates.s3.amazonaws.com/aap/assets/20240625140636/b4b5d1b7-7576-4431-99e3-b07aa441d459.jpg)
Collingwood went on to win last season's premiership and have defied injuries to sit fourth as they prepare to welcome back Scott Pendlebury and Brody Mihocek.
"They're a consistent AFL team; weapons on offence and defence," Collins said.
"It's going to take our best to slow them down and get the game on our terms, but I believe we have the cattle to play a great game against them."
Meanwhile Collins was impressed by the commitment of 22-year-old, 2021 mid-season draft pick Ned Moyle after he confirmed a four-year contract extension.
A back-up to co-captain and ruckman Jarrod Witts, he opted to turn down interested rivals and potentially greater opportunities to remain at the club.