Following its worst season for a while, in which the club exited in the first week of the finals for the first time since 2006, this could be the year in which Collingwood’s premiership window shuts for a very long time.
After four consecutive finishes in the top four, the Pies endured an inconsistent season in 2013, finishing sixth at the end of the regular season and being defeated by Port Adelaide in the elimination final.
Taking last year into account, it’s clear the Pies’ time at the top and its streak of eight consecutive finals series, currently the longest of any club, could be coming to an end, and as early as this year.
The loss of experienced players such as Darren Jolly, Alan Didak, Heath Shaw and Dale Thomas has hurt the club, and it remains to be seen whether the Pies can make up for their absences and remain a force in 2014.
That said, let’s now take a look at the Pies’ chances for 2014:
Collingwood Magpies
Last season: elimination finalists
Most recent premiership: 2010
Notable arrivals: Taylor Adams (GWS), Tony Armstrong (Adelaide), Patrick Karnezis (Brisbane Lions), Jesse White (Sydney Swans)
Notable departures: Alan Didak, Darren Jolly, Andrew Krakouer (delisted), Dale Thomas (Carlton), Heath Shaw (GWS), Ben Johnson (retired)
Leading goalkicker: Travis Cloke (66)
All-Australians: Travis Cloke, Dane Swan, Scott Pendlebury
Best-and-fairest: Scott Pendlebury
By analysing the list of departures above, it’s clear Nathan Buckley had to draw a line in the sand following the club’s disappointing 2013 season.
However, the club was also active during the trade period, landing homesick Lion Patrick Karnezis, as well as exciting talent Taylor Adams, ex-Crow Tony Armstrong and Jesse White, who was forced out of the Sydney Swans as a result of their successful pursuit of Lance Franklin.
White arrives at Collingwood having enjoyed his best season at the Swans, kicking 20 goals in 15 appearances as he only started to become a team regular in the wake of the Swans’ growing injury toll.
Armstrong, on the other hand, comes in as the perfect replacement for Heath Shaw, whose ill-discipline in Collingwood’s elimination from last year’s finals partially contributed in him being shipped off to GWS.
Likewise, Taylor Adams will have big shoes to fill in the midfield – not only does he replace Dale Thomas, who has reunited with his former coach Mick Malthouse at Carlton, he has also inherited the #13 jumper from him.
Consistency will be what the Pies will be looking to rectify in 2014 – last year, the club was not able to win more than three games in succession, and only won two out of five matches outside of Victoria all season.
And after five seasons as captain, Nick Maxwell has stepped down, handing the honours to Scott Pendlebury. It’s a good direction the Pies are taking, as they fight to remain a force this season and beyond.
How the club operates under his captaincy will be an interesting talking point during the season.
Let’s now have a look at some of the big matches Pies fans can look forward to this season:
Matches to watch in 2014
1. Collingwood versus Geelong Cats, Round 3
An old rivalry is set to resume when Collingwood go toe-to-toe against the Geelong Cats on the first Saturday of April.
Over the years, there have been numerous notable matches between the Pies and the Cats, none more famous than when the Cats denied the Pies what would have been a record-equalling 16th premiership in the 2011 grand final.
Since then, Geelong have not beaten Collingwood, so you get the feeling the Pies are doing to the Cats what the Cats did to Hawthorn after the latter beat the former in the 2008 grand final.
This early round showdown will give the Pies a further chance to extend their recent dominance against the Cats, but it could also be a battle of the empires that are about to fall after so long at the top.
2. Collingwood versus Essendon, ANZAC Day
It’s the one event outside of the grand final most AFL fans look forward to, and they won’t be disappointed when Essendon and Collingwood take centre stage.
Once again it’s Collingwood and Essendon who will have exclusive rights to the MCG, with the Magpies keen to rebound after being thrashed by 46 points in the corresponding fixture last season.
Last year aside, matches between the two never disappoint.
Collingwood won in 2012 by only one point following a last-gasp goal from Jarryd Blair, while in 2009 David Zaharakis kicked his first career goal in driving rain as the clock wound down.
This comes after the first ever ANZAC Day showdown between the rivals was drawn way back in 1995.
Who will earn bragging rights this year? A match that must not be missed.
3. Collingwood versus Carlton, Rounds 7 and 15
The transfer of Dale Thomas from Collingwood to Carlton, where he will be reunited with 2010 premiership coach Mick Malthouse, was one of the biggest stories of the off-season.
Pies fans will still be feeling some anger over his departure so this will be their chance to make their feelings towards him felt, not once, but twice, and maybe even three times, should they meet in the finals.
As well as that, the Pies will also have to face up to their former coach in Mick Malthouse, but if there’s any satisfaction that was extracted out of his departure in 2011, it’s that they are unbeaten against him, having won both of their meetings last year.
The recent rivalry between the two clubs will be what makes their two showdowns this year matches you simply must not miss.
4. Collingwood versus Hawthorn, Rounds 14 and 23
In recent times, a date with Hawthorn would be dreaded by Pies supporters but the two scheduled meetings this year both present a chance for the black-and-white to take it right up to the defending premiers.
While the first meeting won’t take place until the middle of the season, it will be their final round showdown which will be most interesting of all.
Why? Because not only will the Pies get to flex their finals muscle (assuming they do remain in contention for September by then), but they will also get their biggest chance yet to expose any nerves Hawthorn may be having a week out from the commencement of the finals series.
The Pies themselves entered this exact showdown against Hawthorn in 2010 a bit too overconfident, and lost narrowly – this loss served as a wake-up call to their finals preparations but it would eventually spur them onto the premiership.
And with Hawthorn the premiership favourites once again, the Pies can play somewhat of a reverse role similar to four years ago, as their warm-up for the finals series.
The verdict
Another dream fixture for the Collingwood Football Club but there will be no home games against either of the Sydney Swans, GWS Giants or Gold Coast Suns – however, this is not expected to be a problem.
As has already been mentioned, however, the club will need to rectify its biggest problem from last year and that was consistency – there were no winning streaks that stretched beyond three in 2013 and with five matches outside of Melbourne this season, the club should look to win at least two or three of them.
The loss of experience will hurt and this is what could lead to their downfall in 2014, however, I don’t expect it to be that serious.
Prediction
Eighth.
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