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It’s not hard to predict that Collingwood will be the number one team in the competition again in 2011.
Their performance throughout last season, their finals series and NAB Cup form show that Collingwood are the best team in the competition right now, they are the team to beat. With only four losses and two draws last year the Magpies broke their 20 year premiership drought in fine fashion and there’s strong evidence to suggest the Pies can do it again.
A lot of the opposition will slide away this year with Hawthorn and the Bulldogs looking to be Colingwood’s greatest opponents.
The retirement of Lockyer, Medhurst, Prestigiacomo, O’Bree and Rusling will leave some Collingwood fans teary eyed but their exit will allow a few young faces to break into the powerhouse side. Players like Simon Buckley, John McCarthy and Luke Rounds will need to step up. However the club has also gained two experienced players, who look set to slot into the best 22 and make an impact straight away. Former Pies forward turned Dockers defender, Chris Tarrant has returned to Collingwood a different player. Tarrant will add even more flexibility to the Pies defence. Tarrant’s timing couldn’t be better as Nathan Brown is out indefinitely with a knee injury.
The other experienced recruit is the widely acclaimed, much talked about Andrew Krakouer. One of the big stories after he served a 16-month prison sentence. The former Richmond Tiger won the Sandover and Simpson medals after his WAFL club, Swan Districts one-point grand final win. He also won the club best and fairest and averaged 27 disposals a game.
Collingwood’s defence will again be tough and flexible in 2011. With Tarrant slotting in alongside Maxwell, Shaw, O’Brien (who may go forward this season) and Reid there’s no shortage of talent there. Leon Davis’ new role around half-back should provide a new dimension to the backline as well.
The Magpies midfield is the best in the league. Behind superstar Dane Swan, Scott Pendlebury and Dale Thomas have evolved into elite midfielders with superb skills. Swan probably would have won the Browlow if Pendlebury wasn’t playing. “Pendles” was in the top ten in the AFL for tackles, loose-ball gets and handballs, and finished second in the club’s best and fairest.
The last two big recruits, Darren Jolly and Luke Ball proved genius acquisitions for the Pies. Ball had the fifth most tackles in the AFL while Jolly took over as the number one ruckman with Josh Fraser struggling to get a game. The Jolly ruckman had the fifth most hit-outs in the league and should have a big impact again this year.
Leigh Brown impressed in Collingwood’s premiership campaign after he struggled at the beginning of the season but thrived as a back-up ruckman and forward. Brown will come in handy up forward next to the mercurial Alan Didak, Travis Cloke and Chris Dawes. Cloke had the most contested marks in the competition last year but still needs to learn how to kick straight. Steele Sidebottom and Dayne Beams will be dangerous around goal. The young pair look like they’re only a step or two behind Pendlebury and Thomas.
Overall Collingwood were spectacular last year and there’s no reason they won’t be again this year. With so many players all hitting good form at once, talent all over the paddock and great coaching staff, the Magpies are the pick for 2011.
Mick Malthouse enters his 12th season as coach of the Magpies, his last one before Nathan Buckley takes the reigns. Just another reason Malthouse would love back to back premierships, a feat which the club has not achieved in 75 years. And it not only looks possible but probable.
Team: Collingwood Magpies
Homeground: MCG (100,000)
Coach: Mick Malthouse
Season 2010: First (P-22 W-17 L-4 D-1 70pts 141.68%)
2011 squad: Luke Ball, Dayne Beams, Jarryd Blair, Leigh Brown, Nathan Brown, Simon Buckley, Jonathon Ceglar, Travis Cloke, Leon Davis, Chris Dawes, Brad Dick, Alan Didak, Daniel Farmer, Alex Fasolo, Tyson Goldsack, Ben Johnson, Darren Jolly, Lachlan Keeffe, Andrew Krakouer, Brent Macaffer, Nick Maxwell, John McCarthy, Harry O’Brien, Scott Pendlebury, Ben Reid, Luke Rounds, Paul Seedsman, Heath Shaw, Steele Sidebottom, Ben Sinclair, Trent Stubbs, Dane Swan, Chris Tarrant, Dale Thomas, Josh Thomas, Alan Toovey, Kirk Ugle, Sharrod Wellingham, Cameron Wood, Tom Young. Rookie list: Jye Bolton, Paul Cribbin, Thomas Gordon, Tom Hunter, Shae McNamara, Jack Perham, Scott Reed, Declan Reilly.
Arrivals: Jarryd Blair (rookie elevation), Jonathon Ceglar (traded from Gold Coast), Daniel Farmer (2010 AFL Draft), Alex Fasolo (2010 AFL Draft), Lachlan Keeffe (rookie elevation), Andrew Krakouer (traded from Gold Coast), Paul Seedsman (2010 AFL Draft), Trent Stubbs (2010 AFL Draft), Chris Tarrant (traded from Fremantle), Kirk Ugle (2010 AFL Draft), Tom Young (NSW scholarship list).
Departures: Jack Anthony (traded to Fremantle), Jaxson Barham (delisted), Jarrad Blight (delisted), Ryan Cook (delisted), Anthony Corrie (delisted), Josh Fraser (to Gold Coast), Tarkyn Lockyer (retired), Paul Medhurst (retired), Shane O’Bree (retired), Simon Prestigiacomo (retired), Sean Rusling (retired).
Main man: He finished third in the Brownlow medal last year, but for the last two years Dane Swan has been touted as a favourite for the league MVP, and for good reason. Swan had an amazing 2010 season. He led the AFL for disposals, kicks and loose-ball gets. His hard work earned him his second All-Australian selection, third club best and fairest, the Jim Stynes Medal, the AFL Players Association MVP and the AFL Coaches Association Player of the year. To give you an idea of how much of a champion ball-magnet Swan is, he touched the ball more times in a season than anyone else has in 30 years.
X-factor: Leon Davis struggled a bit 2010 and was dropped for the grand final replay after a poor showing in the draw. He had a stellar 2009 season in the midfield, but played mainly up forward last year and failed to recapture his brilliance in front of goal. Davis was moved into a defensive role across half-back during the NAB Cup where he flourished. Can light it up when he’s at his best, lookout for a new “Neon” in 2011.
Predicted 2011 finish: First
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