1. The return of Taylor Adams
While his teammates have been sunning themselves in places like the Gold Coast and Byron Bay, Taylor Adams has devoted himself to recovering from the groin injury that has sidelined him since round seven. Adams is desperate to be part of the Pies’ push towards the finals and he’s putting in the hard yards, on the training track and in the gym, to make it happen. The round 15 clash with North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium could be on his agenda.

2. Friday night blockbusters against big Melbourne clubs
The Pies take on Hawthorn at the MCG in round 16, then host Richmond at the same time and same place in round 19. The clash with the Hawks will be themed to celebrate Victoria’s many emergency services workers. The game against the Tigers, meanwhile, is expected to draw a crowd of more than 80,000 to the home of footy, with Collingwood out to extend its two-game winning streak over its inner-city rival.

Jordan De Goey kicked five goals when the Pies beat Richmond in round two (AFL Photos)

3. Pies v Eagles in round 17
The 2018 grand finalists will meet in a much-anticipated Friday night game at Optus Stadium on July 12, with the clash to shape both sides’ top-four aspirations. The Pies have lost their last four games against the Eagles, so they’ll be desperate to turn the tables. It will be a challenging period for Nathan Buckley and his men, as the following week they travel to Sydney to take on another premiership contender, Greater Western Sydney, at Giants Stadium.

4. More goals from Jamie Elliott
After missing the entire 2018 season, the star forward was impressive through the early rounds of the season, kicking 12 goals in seven games. His best efforts on the scoreboard were three goals against Geelong in round one and three against Port Adelaide in round seven. He was grounded by hamstring soreness after the win over Carlton in round eight but has been working hard as he nears a return.

Jamie Elliott, Taylor Adams and Nathan Murphy are close to returning after battling injuries (AFL Photos)

5. A visit to Adelaide in round 22
The Crows have found their mojo after a slow start, so Collingwood’s trip to Adelaide Oval in the second-last round of the home and away season is likely to have plenty riding on it. The Pies beat the Crows by 48 points in Adelaide last year, a victory that set them on a path towards the Grand Final, and they’ll be aiming for a similar result this time around.