After Saturday night’s disastrous elimination final loss to Port Adelaide, Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley has wasted little time in making changes to the list
This indicates that the former Magpie champ is ready to firmly put his imprint on this football club.
The Pies have said goodbye to premiership heroes Darren Jolly and Alan Didak, along with Andrew Karkouer and Jordan Russell, on top of another player who played in the 2010 flag, Ben Johnson, who retired during the season.
Since he took over the reins from a reluctant Mick Malthouse two seasons ago, Buckley has added some youngsters but generally persisted with many of the players who took Collingwood to the top of the mountain.
Now that the premiership window appears to have shut after three unimpressive wins and some poor losses in finals since 2010, Buckley has recognised he has to usher in a new era.
Long time fitness guru David Buttifant, who had a close relationship with Malthouse, has also moved on, so there’s no doubt it will be a different looking back and white outfit in 2014.
Collingwood haven’t missed the finals since 2005, so Buckley is going to have to undertake a delicate balancing act in how he approaches next year.
Does he decide they need some short term pain for long term gain and completely rebuild, or make those required alterations to the playing list while still remaining competitive and part of September action like Geelong?
With 80,000 members demanding success, Buckley has a big challenge ahead of him to ensure the future is rosy.
It’s defineiely the right decision to not offer Jolly, Krakouer and Didak new contracts.
Jolly has struggled with his troublesome knee, Krakouer with commitment and Didak is certainly not part of their best 22, having played just five games.
The removal of Didak and the retirement of Johnson means the much talked about ‘brat pack’ is reduced to two, Heath Shaw and Dane Swan.
This group during the season had been described as a deterrent to Buckley and his want to gradually implement change.
Shaw’s petulant on-field behaviour at times is certainly an issue and he slumped to a new low against Port on the weekend, giving away silly free kicks in the goal square after conceding a goal, throwing the footy in his opponent’s face and verbally castigating his teamates.
When focused and firing, he is an excellent player, providing excellent run and rebound off half backs and for his size is arguably the best intercept mark in the competition.
However, he constantly lets himself and his team down with his erratic behaviour and it leads to this question:
Should Collingwood consider trading him out?
You would think he has good currency, with word around that Sydney, who over the years have based much of their game style on getting run from their half backs like his brother Rhys, are interested.
The Swans also have a wonderful reputation for rejuvenating careers but, as is often the case, that’s just speculation, with Sydney obviously having other things on their mind at the moment as they get ready for Saturday’s semi-final clash with Carlton.
Talking of the Blues, it wouldn’t surprise if Buttifant joined Malthouse at Princes Park as their head of fitness and or sports science.
Injured Collingwood midfielder Dale Thomas, another Malthouse favourite, is off contract and could also be on the move to join his former coach.
Marley Williams, Paul Seedsman, Jamie Elliott, Josh Thomas and Brodie Grundy are some of the youngsters who have become permanent additions for the Magpies and all look destined for fine careers, but the task now is to find more, which the Pies, under the astute recruiting of Drek Hine, have a great recent record of doing.
There is no doubt this is Nathan Buckley’s team now and after the shocking display on the weekend, the club is hurting badly, so expect him to leave no stone unturned to get respect back by the start of 2014.
It looks set to be a brutal and long, hot summer for the Pies. We will certainly find out what they are made of.
barrym
Guest
McGuire and buckley should go it will be back to the bottom for the magpie in 2014 its McGuire and buckley mateship at the cost of the club
Maximus
Guest
Didak in a dug-dealer's car when a shooting occurred? Might want to check that against reality. He got a lift home from a man, who later turned out to be involved in a shooting. Rhys Shaw and Wellingham have been traded from the club for their behavior. Other than that... what have you got? Certainly Collingwood is more exposed when things do go wrong - but clearly Essendon and Richmond are miles behind in their cultures, not to mention Carlton. Tarrant involved in fights = being hit by somebody else, probably a Hawthorn supporter.
Blue Bagger
Guest
McGuire should go, he created this sorry mess. Buckley can't coach, we all saw that. He had (had) a good list, and all he does is get flustered and an awful facial rash after each game. Collingwood's premiership window slammed shut ths year, and they watched the Blues coast by ending up higher. Losers.
wally
Guest
The club is the number one "gunnabees" over the last 58 (post war) years that they have been ruining my vocal chords. Buckley was just a "good-only" player and as a coach deserves the big ? We desperately need another Bobby Rose.
Radelaide
Guest
I've known 2 people in my life through work who went to high school with one of the names you mention and from all reports he's not a good man.
watergate
Guest
Buckley was out to make a point by intentionally limiting Didak's opportunities during 2013, as part of his plan to rid the club of players that he considers to be malcontents. In stark contrast, Buckley scrambled to secure Marty Clarke during 2012; primarily on the basis that he could rely upon Clarke's obsequious servility, irrespective of Buckleys overt incompetence as a coach. Buckley will likely be seeking further blood letting despite Dale Thomas' imminent departure to the Blues, and may also be intending to setup further excuses in advance of the Pies inevitable failure to reach the eight during 2014, which he will then attempt to characterise as a function of rebuilding. All the while Buckley's self-obsession, arrogance and wholesale rejection of anyone that he perceives as incapable of meeting his delusional self-image of perfection will continue unabated; creating deep divisions within the club in the process.
bilo
Guest
Malthouse would've dragged him!
Andrew A
Guest
There were plenty of examples of poor discipline at Collingwood under Malthouse. E.g. Didak in a drug dealer's car when a shooting occurred; Heath Shaw car accident with Didak and subsequent lies; Heath Shaw betting; Ben Johnson & Tarrant involved in fights; Wellingham driving Franklin's car while drunk, just to name a few. Poor culture has been a long-term problem at Collingwood irrespective of making the Grand Final in 2010-11. Buckley knows that illicit drug taking has been going on for years and is determined to change the culture. As an outsider, it looks like the Swans have got things right with player behaviour. The Pies never have and changing it is a difficult task.
CollingwoodGreece
Guest
With Buckley coach you will wait another 30 years to win the premiership. wake up. he cant coach
CollingwoodGreece
Guest
His being coaching for two years last year we finished 4th and this year 8th what other proof you want to see that this man cant coach....Ken Hinkley in his first year at Port Adelaide look what a team he has created, Ross Lyon in two years at Fremantle has created a great team and maybe the 2013 premiers..Buckley took a premiership team and in two years h led it to 8th place, and now with his culture is showing the door to top players...
Andrew A
Guest
I think it was Neeld who departed as midfield coach during the 2011 finals series when he was appointed Melbourne coach.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Buckley has been unlucky. Malthouse's departure entered in a new wave of attitudes. Attitudes Malthouse could control with a 'no crap' policy, no unlike that of the Swans. But while the Swans have to state it, with Malthouse it was assumed. Lest you face his wrath. Buckley will be tested next year yes. He has also been lucky as top players are ageing. Their new guns are great though, hence why Jolly was able to be delisted in turn for Brodie.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Mate really? Every 'derby' is going to be played twice every year. No one will be complaining we get two against them when the dominate the competition. Even based on that seeding we will play them twice, because it is the derby - FACT.
si
Guest
I wonder about Ben Hudson? Is he staying on as a player? Will he be delisted? Wasn't he coaxed out of retirement anyway? He played relatively well when he was in, but can't run out a full game. It seems from the outside that keeping Jolly would have made sense as a backup / mentor for Grundy, and Witts (who seems a while off impacting games in the ruck). What happens if Grundy gets injured? Also, Grundy played forward in the SANFL which would suggest him and Jolly could have tag teamed forward / ruck. Perhaps the plan is Grundy and Lynch rotate, with Witts and Hudson as backups? The lack of mention of Hudson suggests he will stay on the list as the backup ruckman? Also implies faith in Lynch for another year, without much success after the first few rounds...
Dean
Guest
Who would've thought a team coached by Nathan Buckley would turn out to play like a bunch of individuals. What a shock! (not to mention their president)
Winston
Guest
I thought we already have that. Don't the Swans play the Demons that time of the year?
Lroy
Guest
Shaw always yells at his teamates.... might be wearing thin with them I suspect.
Lroy
Guest
Suprised they dumped Jolly.. good player, quality ruckmen are hard to find. They could even try him up forward IMO as a foil to Cloke. He says he is fit... hmm..
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Nutty
The Real Bite
Guest
Yes, poor Eddie's heart certainly outvoted his head on that one. I believe Mad Mick would have been very hard to dominate. Now he's finding Nathan Buckley hard to dominate as well and not as good a coach.