The Collingwood premiership window is still open, but can the Pies capitalise?
Collingwood’s first season under Nathan Buckley probably did not go as well as many Pies faithful would have expected, but in saying that, a preliminary final finish is certainly not a failure.
The 2011 runners-up slightly dropped off the pace in 2012 with Buckley recently admitting to defensive woes which led to conceding big scores to quality opposition which he has addressed during pre-season training.
Collingwood has a supremely elite midfield at its disposal including prime movers Dane Swan and Scott Pendlebury. In addition, there is the emergence of Dayne Beams, the class of Steele Sidebottom and the flair of Dale Thomas.
These are the players that the Pies will rely on to help kick big scores in 2013, hopefully offsetting their shortcomings in the back half. Add to that the return of Luke Ball and things look fairly comfortable in the middle of the ground.
Again the goalscoring burden lies with Travis Cloke, but the inclusion of Quinten Lynch – a more than apt replacement for Chris Dawes – will be of great benefit. The capability of attacking midfielders like Beams, Swan and Thomas plus the scoring nous of Alex Fasolo will have the forward 50 in a steady state.
The return of knee-injury victim Brent Macaffer as well as Andrew Krakouer could also be a major plus for the Pies.
The thought of former Hawk Clinton Young pumping the ball to Cloke one-out in the forward line is mouth-watering and this could be a key strategy in the Pies’ hopes for 2013. The powerful forward can often be too commanding for his opponent, especially close to goal where defenders tend to exude nervousness.
Ben Hudson is a great addition to the ruck stocks where he will work in tandem with Darren Jolly, giving the aforementioned midfield elite first use where they could really hurt the opposition, especially if they get their tails up.
Without adequate back up for Jolly, the Pies won fewer centre clearances last year, resulting in less opportunities to contain sides in their own half and limiting their scoring capability.
This prompted them to target big men in the offseason, bringing in Hudson, pushing NSW scholarship holder Jarrod Witts towards senior footy and picking up Brodie Grundy who slipped down the draft.
This shows the Pies identified their weakness in order to give themselves every chance of obtaining a 16th flag.
The relative ease in which Premiers Sydney ended their season in the Prelim was a truer indication of where Collingwood sat in the 2012 pecking order.
With their more deliberate and slower approach, the 2010 Premiers were unable to adequately respond to teams with exceptional skills or pace, something Buckley has looked to rectify during the offseason as mentioned.
There is a lot of positivity again surrounding the Magpies and it is for the right reasons as they have a group of players proficient enough to figure deep into September in 2013.
Key players
Scott Pendlebury oozes class. He is a smooth mover who seems to have acres of space and plenty of time.
Dane Swan is the possession king who continues to get his hands on the ball. He will be primed for another big season.
Dayne Beams has become an A-grader which was reflected by his best and fairest win last year. He will help form Collingwood’s midfield weaponry.
Break out potential
Speedy midfield/forward Ben Sinclair played 20 games last season which has him ready to provide more of an impact in 2013.
Some could say Alex Fasolo had a breakout 2012 but I’m backing him to top his 37 goals and become a class small forward if he can overcome pre-season stress fractures.
Sam Dwyer is a mature-age recruit who starred in the 2011 flag campaign with Port Melbourne and will be used as an attacking wingman.
Promising youngsters
The physical nature of ruckman Brodie Grundy has the Pies coaching staff licking their lips.
Agile and quick, Ben Kennedy will impress when he can break his way into the seniors. The midfielder who can push forward was taken with pick 19 at the 2012 draft.
Marley Williams played six times last year and could be used more in midfield rotations in 2013.
Key inclusions
Former West Coast star Quinten Lynch will more than fill the void left by Chris Dawes.
Jordan Russell has a fair amount of ability but had fallen off the radar at Carlton in recent seasons.
Ex-Hawk Clinton Young’s penetration from the wing will suit the Pies well.
Ben Hudson is mainly at the club to help the young big men improve but will be vital in assisting Darren Jolly.
Notable departures
Chris Dawes – Melbourne
Sharrod Wellingham – West Coast Eagles
Chris Tarrant – retired
Predicted finish: fourth
Worth a punt
Dane Swan to win Brownlow into Collingwood to make Top 4 – $33
Collingwood Top Victorian team – $6 (the Hawks are the obvious danger…)
Floreat Pica
Guest
Agree Buckley will be judged on the performance of this unit more so than last year. Following the Round 3 mauling by Carlton after Ball went down, Buckley was very much under media scrutiny last year- funny how quickly the papers lost interest in the story as Collingwood built some excellent wins agains stern opposition throughout the middle of last year. I expect Round 3 this year will obviously have even more media attention on the coaches.
Floreat Pica
Guest
The competition for spots throughout the club seems enormous- I can't see a single position that won't have two or three able to play into anymore- smart recruiting continues under Hine.
Floreat Pica
Guest
An increasingly ageing list?- Collingwood remains in the younger half of all teams.. as for the rest of your wishfull thinking, you can project whatever you want onto Collingwood's 'ego' but finishing fourth last year despite the list being decimated with injuries from the NAB cup onwards speaks pretty loudly about Buckley's abilities as a coach.
Matt P
Guest
Good review of the Pies list, From where I sit this is the year in which Buckley needs to be judged as a coach. He now has the team that he wants, he has clearly identified that foot skills will be key in 2013. His recruits Young, Lynch, Russell are all great long kicks of the football as opposed to Wellingham, Dawes and Collingwoods young who weren't great users. The key to the Pies will be the small running backs (Shaw, Russell, Johnson, O'Brian and Williams), Ball will also add some steal to the midfield that could of at time been accused of being down hill skiiers last year. I feel the real breakout player in 2013 could be Lachlan Keeffe who could be Collingwood long term answer to the Ruck / Forward roll although I think that he will start down back in 2013. As above injuries will play there part, but with the off-season recruiting and one last tilt for this group I think that a top 2 finish is a strong possibility (given hawthorns aging midfield)
Andrew A
Guest
Another excellent review. I thought Buckley got the most out of the team last year considering the substantial injury toll. Krakouer, Macaffer and Ball all suffered season ending knee injuries early in the season and other key players such as Pendlebury, Thomas, Reid, Brown missed multiple games. Buckley handed responsibility to Keeffe to fill a key defensive post with Reid & Brown out in the first half of the season, and he performed well before also going down as the Pies' 4th knee victim for the year. Other young players also came into the side and performed admirably to cover injuries, e.g. Sinclair, Elliot and Williams. Credit to Buckley and the coaching staff for getting these young players to fill roles and perform well. The experience gained by young players thrust into big games in 2012 will serve them well this year and provides a healthy competition for spots. Like every side, injuries will play a major part in determing the Pies fortunes this year.
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
Last year was damaging for the Collingwood culture. A popular coach was forced out of the club for a first-timer and the results showed on the field. The Pies rarely played the team football we had seen previously under Malthouse. It seems though that Buckley tried to reinvigorate the team after last season's finals campaign and they definitely sharpened up. Swapping Lynch for Dawes is a key example of that. Collingwood should be playing in the Grand Final this year.
LK
Guest
Thanks for your reply, Andrew. That helps explain things.
rokn
Guest
Its like music to my ears.!! GO PIES
Andrew Slevison
Roar Rookie
LK, seeing as the Pies have 38 senior players listed, Hudson can be nominated as a rookie for senior selection as only Ben Johnson is named as one of the two allowed veterans for salary cap reasons I believe. The Pies are likely to do that otherwise they simply would have appointed him as solely a ruck coach and not a player I'd say, however, he will be used to help develop Witts and Grundy. Confusing as he was picked up as a rookie but there is room for him from a squad numbers viewpoint. Doesn't necessarily have to be a long-term injury for him to play.
LK
Guest
Pardon my ignorance, but isn't Hudson a rookie? Doesn't that mean he needs to be upgraded to the senior list to play AFL? That is, another player must sustain a long term injury before he can play. Most articles on the Pies don't mention Hudson needing to be upgraded to play. Or has that rule changed? Rules regarding rookies seem to change every year so it is hard for a dunce like me to keep up.
langou
Roar Guru
I think they will miss the eight this year Too much ego,second rate coach and an increasingly ageing list
TomC
Roar Guru
Good work, Andrew. Like you, I'm a big fan of the PIes' list, particularly that extraordinary midfield, but personally I wonder if Buckley is the man to get the most out of them. I don't know if he'd be a break-out year candidate as such, but I'm looking forward to seeing more of Jamie Elliot in 2013. Real hard worker.
AndyMack
Guest
Pies have a very strong midfield, with Pendles, Swan, Ball, Steele, Beames and Daisy. McCaffer and Andy K need to support Trav and Lynch. The prob as I see it, now and into the next few years in the ruck stocks. By now, should have had a steady #2 option in the ruck coming through to take over Jolly, but has not happened. I guess the Wood trade is biting now. Very good chance at top 4, and then anyone can win it from there. Go Pies!!!!