CRAIG Jennings says this Monday’s clash against Collingwood at the MCG has a similar feel to when Melbourne played and beat the Pies by 35 points at the ‘G in round four this year.

Jennings, the club’s game analyst and education coordinator, said that match played in April were akin to the upcoming Queen’s Birthday blockbuster.

“There are some similarities in terms of the last time we played them,” he told Melbourne TV.

“They were under a little bit of pressure and there is some stuff in the media about them being under pressure at the moment.”

But Jennings said he viewed Collingwood as a dangerous opponent and was not taking the Pies for granted.

“Certainly internally and the way I analyse football [I am not taking the Magpies lightly] ... I’ve watched them the last month and Port Adelaide got them on the weekend, but the week before, Port Adelaide got us,” he said.

“When you play teams is really critical and at the moment Port Adelaide is playing like a top four team and really hard to beat. They can really expose you out the back and they got us that way and they got Collingwood that way [last round].

“What I have seen with Collingwood, when I have watched them play Geelong, who is a team pressing for a premiership this year – they beat Geelong pretty convincingly and they beat Brisbane really convincingly.

“So we plan for them at their best and their best is a game style that’s going to put us under a lot of pressure, so we really look forward to the game.” 

Jennings said the training routine was mixed up this week to freshen the squad, with the players training at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre on Wednesday. 

“We’ve got a nine-day break, which is really good for a young team,” he said.

“We haven’t been too successful this year off six-day breaks, so it’s a really good opportunity to freshen the boys up.

“We’ll get back to the footy club tomorrow (Thursday) and get out on the ground and get cracking.”

Jennings said the club was right behind former coach Neale Daniher and his ‘Big Freeze 2’ cause, which helps raise funds to find a cure for MND.

“We really look forward to the [day] and Neale is coming down to the footy club … and he’s going to present to the group,” he said.

“He’s really inspiring, so I know the players get a big buzz out of it and we really look forward to playing well for him on Monday.”