One win short of a premiership last year, Collingwood skipper Nick Maxwell is confident the Magpies have found the hunger to make AFL amends in 2012.
Collingwood’s hopes of back-to-back flags were snuffed out by Geelong in last year’s grand final.
And Maxwell, re-confirmed as 2012 skipper on Friday, is confident that despite several important changes at the club – most notably new coach Nathan Buckley – the players are focused more than ever on further success.
“There’s more hunger. Looking around, from what happened last year … the way they came back and the amount of guys we’ve had doing PBs,” Maxwell said of the Magpies’ pre-season so far.
“When we were in Arizona (at a training camp), you’d walk past the gym at eight or 10 at night and there’d be at least half a dozen guys in there doing extra training they are not supposed to be doing.
“Quite often, the coaches would have to pull them back, which is a great sign.”
The Magpies have lost experienced duo Leigh Brown and Leon Davis from last season, and are looking to several younger faces to step up in their absence.
Maxwell said tapping into a player group which will grow in experience was part of the reason for three new faces – including Heath Shaw after being forgiven his role in a betting scandal last season – in Collingwood’s seven-man leadership group.
Brownlow Medallist Dane Swan and 30-year-old ruckman Darren Jolly were not among those voted into the leadership group by their peers.
“The time came for us to bring some youth through,” Maxwell said.
“Swanny and Jolls stepped down and will take more of a leadership role in the background.
“You’d expect them to keep being leaders around the club.”
Jeff Dowsing
Roar Pro
Big difference is last time Matthews left Shaw a very ordinary list that was about to get a lot worse - and a poorly run club that was heading south just as quick.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
"Sources close to The Age have said Mick Malthouse rang Buckley on several occasions prior to the announcement, but was told not to interfere."
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Caro has just tweeted: "Nathan Buckley failed his first test as senior coach after succumbing to player pressure to elevate Heath Shaw to the leadership group."
Chris
Guest
Collingwood will be a dominant force again this year We have a very young list that is only going to continue to develop. We have some of the best midfielders in the league and one of the best forwards. People just love to see Collingwood fail but we wil continue to be one of the best in the comp for another 5 years.
stabpass
Guest
Injuries at the end of the year beat Collingwood, in particular Reid, and Hawkins from Geelong got lucky.
piesman2011
Guest
When I look back on Collingwoods 2011 I think of injuries (not that other teams didn't have them). I think that if we can stay resembly injury free this season we will be very hard to stop. Maybe im totally one eyed but thats the way I see it.
stabpass
Guest
Collingwood will be thereabouts, depends on form and injuries at the end of the season. I hope they win it, because the Dockers aint, but i am no big Buckley fan, or Carlton, Hawthorn or Geelong, or WCE !! They have a lot of depth, For EX: Davis out .... Irishman Clarke back in, they also have 2 other Irishman on their rookie list Look for giant NSWelshman Witts to figure later in the year.
brendan
Guest
Good comment hadnt linked Matthews/Shaw to Malthouse/Buckley.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Im more worried about the effects of firing the experienced, multiple-premiership winning coach for the beloved club champion. I mean, it's not like that wasnt a disaster when Collingwood did it last time.
John Seabrook
Guest
Because Collingwood lost last years Grand Final, they are a certainty for the next one?!
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Collingwood still has an awesome midfield - but not sure if they have been able to maintain premiership winning strength at either end of the ground.
Danielle
Roar Rookie
I think we are a big chance to win, once Bucks 'tweaks' a bit and the team is all fit to go i can't see making finals a problem. Hawthorn will be serious contenders though.
brendan
Guest
Very surprised if Collingwood get up and win it this year.Apart from the G/F they looked ordinary against West Coast and were fortunate to beat Hawthorn in the finals.Maxwell, Johnson and Didak imo have played there best football ,Blair is too one - dimensional as a player and combined with the loss of an all Australian in Davis and a revelation in there premiership year Brown that makes up too six changes to the G/f side - a tough ask.Reid may take a while too get his confidience back and Nathan Brown ,who was a huge loss last year ,may not get back to peak form this year.