Chris Bryan of Collingwood evades Bachar Houli of Essendon during the NAB Cup Match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Essendon Bombers at the Docklands Stadium. Slattery Images
At any time during the AFL season, you’ll probably find at least two constants. One will be pressure on a coach; in the wake of Terry Wallace’s departure, Dean Laidley appears to be the next likely target of scrutiny. The other will be the over-hype of one of the clubs. Think Carlton early in the season.
Now, fuelled by a number of articles from noted journalists, much of the tearoom talk and smoko chatter is centring around a Collingwood revival.
Despite there being twelve rounds remaining this season, much of the brouhaha is centring around the Pies’ top four aspirations.
It’s a concept worth examining.
Around three weeks ago, and after his side’s 51-point loss to arch-rival Carlton, the future of Mick Malthouse at the club was the topic of choice.
So what has changed?
Firstly, the Pies have started winning, and we all know how that feeling changes everything.
Still, it must be pointed out that the club’s three consecutive wins have hardly been against the competition’s cream.
Port Adelaide was woeful in its 48-point loss to the Magpies, and West Coast and Melbourne are hardly going to be making a mark on the top eight this season.
In fact, only two of Collingwood’s wins so far this season has come against a side currently in the top eight; the Power and the Brisbane Lions.
Malthouse’s men have been found wanting in heavy defeats to St Kilda and Carlton, while losses also came against Adelaide and Geelong.
A look to the club’s remaining fixtures is inconclusive. There are winnable games against Fremantle and Richmond, and the Magpies also face Sydney twice.
But tougher clashes against Essendon, Geelong, Carlton, Hawthorn and the Western Bulldogs (twice) also lie in wait for Collingwood.
So why all the hype?
Of course, it must be said that the Pies had a horrible run with injuries earlier this season, and are even now still getting their some of their best players back.
And while the opposition might have been lacking, the schoolyard-bully style in which the Pies won their past three games might be the reason for sparking such optimism.
Their small forwards, including Alan Didak, a reborn Tarkyn Lockyer, Leon Davis (when not used on the ball) and the unearthing of the exciting Brad Dick, has been a highlight in their side’s return to form.
Add an absent Paul Medhurst into that group, and Collingwood has pace and creativity in spades on its flanks and in its pockets.
The success of the aforementioned has helped the Magpies cover the fact that – John Anthony aside – they have had no fit, firing tall forwards.
Anthony Rocca seems perennially injured and doubts exist over whether he can ever return to the side, while Travis Cloke has battled his own fitness problems and has looked just a shadow of his Copeland Trophy-winning self this season when in action.
Down back, captain Nick Maxwell is doing what Nick Maxwell does best, Harry O’Brien is going from strength to strength and Heath Shaw is showing signs he is returning to his best after a shocking run of form.
But it is the midfield that has really been the key to Collingwood’s return to the top eight.
Davis, Dane Swan and Scott Pendlebury have all upped their outputs in 2009, particularly in the weeks following the Carlton loss.
They are very close – if not already – of joining the league’s on-ball A List.
So there is no doubt the Pies are up, running and in terrific form. But to talk about them as serious contenders to the likes of St Kilda, Geelong and the Western Bulldogs might be premature.
They have a stronger test this Saturday away to Sydney, but few should be surprised if Collingwood reaches its Round 15 clash against the Bulldogs with its winning streak still intact.
Then, Malthouse’s team will really get a chance to show if it truly is a top-four candidate.
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