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Collingwood have the biggest margin between best and worst in the AFL.
It seems ridiculous that the same team can lose to a Richmond side in limbo, coming off their lowest-ever score in 55 years, then beat a rampaging West Coast.
While there have been injuries, their best 22 – as proven last Sunday against Hawthorn – can almost beat the premiers for the past 1100 days.
Win or lose, some players always rise to the occasion, and for the Pies they are Adam Treloar, skipper Scott Pendlebury, and the ever-reliable Steele Sidebottom.
Adam Treloar
The trade of the year, Treloar has taken his game to a new level. It is hard to believe he hasn’t been playing with this group all his life – particularly the midfield – and he has only improved as the season has progressed.
He is the team’s most proficient for disposals (673 at 31 per game), metres gained (8.67 kilometres at 394 per game), clearances (118 at 5.4 per game), tackles (139 at 6.3), and fantasy points (averaging 111). His season should be topped off with a club best and fairest, and a 40-man All Australian selection.
A determined, motivating and popular character around the club, the scary part is that Treloar has a couple of years before his peak.
Scott Pendlebury
Led by example, starting the season on the half backline with broken ribs, having slightly less influence, before recovering and playing the majority of the season in the midfield.
Ended the season with the team’s most contested possessions, averaging 12.6, and score involvements, with 8.1.
The time and space he seems to create in the midfield is impressive and proved his doubters wrong after a leaner 2015.
Steele Sidebottom
Despite an early suspension, Sidebottom was the one player who looked like he put in 100 per cent whether down by 50 or up by 30.
He is developing a great midfield combination with the two mentioned above and Jack Crisp, yet his incredible fitness makes him a versatile option.
While he doesn’t lead Collingwood in any of the important stats, he has had comfortably his best season, improving his inside 50s per game (averaging 3.6), tackles (averaging 4.5) and score involvements (averaging 6.6).
His addition to the leadership group seems to have only improved his game this year, and he will likely slot into third place for the club’s best and fairest.
Nathan Buckley has said that Collingwood must make the finals in 2017 for him to remain coach, and he’s right – with the list they have, there is simply too much talent and class for them not to be appearing in September.
Buckley and the crew must find a way to get the Pies playing at the level they played against Hawthorn in their last game of the season, every week.
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