Collingwood heads into 2017 without brand synonymous stars Dane Swan and Travis Cloke, having left behind them a hole of on-field aggression, off-field personality and a whole lot of clear skin ready to be tattooed.
The Pies, who have been sitting neither here nor there in regards to finals contention, will be looking to reinvigorate a flat squad, while carefully reintroducing key players from a pointedly unlucky string of injuries last year.
What the Pies need, and what their midfield guns like Scott Pendlebury thrive off of is a genuinely aggressive attack that can turn corridor pressure into numbers on the board.
Forward-line youngsters Jamie Elliott and Darcy Moore will be relied upon to start to generate heat in the forward fifty and to justify the work of Levi Greenwood and Adam Treloar – who were largely responsible for the Pies finishing second in the league for tackle pressure last season.
Elliott, the Pies’ enigmatic small forward, was beginning to make a name for himself as a game-driving goal sneak before an aggravated back injury put an end to his 2016 season, with surgery ensuing.
Elliott returns to the 2017 preseason showing no signs of such a significant injury, demonstrating the twist-and-turn agility defenders have come to fear.
The leading goal-kicker for the Pies in 2015, Elliott will be looking to fast-track his return to the top especially in light of the space left by Cloke.
His stop-start speed, combined with the seriously freakish option creation of Alex Fasolo will provide the Pies with a genuine X-factor moving into 2017, having re-signed with the club until the end of 2018.
Then, there’s nothing quite like the thrill of a genuinely talented father-son pick to get a supporter’s heart racing. So much pressure is placed on the shoulders of young men like Darcy Moore (son of two-time Brownlow medallist Peter) that when you start to see something special grow out of the same blood, excitement abounds.
While starting out as a defender for the Club’s VFL squad, it was his move to the AFL forward line that saw him burst onto punters’ radars with a five-goal haul against the Western Bulldogs in July 2015.
Standing at 200cm, Moore continued his sustained form in 2016, finishing the year with 24 goals under a whole lot more attention from opposition defenders. Celebrating his 21st birthday later this month, the young forward will benefit substantially from getting another pre-season under his belt.
With the inclusion of these two young men, Buckley has the opportunity to refresh the brand of footy the Pies play, with a matured Fasolo as the lynchpin.
If all goes to plan, a new set of stars for the land’s biggest and baddest club will emerge.
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Guest
Twelfth Man:Ricked His Neck = Rick Disneck?
Stewie
Guest
Getting a leading goal kicker back will only help, and believe it or not I believe that Collingwood's defence has actually improved over the offseason. Think who they've lost and who they've gained. Lost Frost, and it speaks volumes when Lynden Dunn is an upgrade on him. Lost Marley Williams, who never set the world on fire off half back. Gain Keefe as key defensive depth, and Matty Scharenberg, who's been killing it in the off season from all reports. Gained heaps of praise during his draft year. Other injured players such as Ramsey, Reid, Langdon. May not have improved much in quality, but they have more options back there. Oh, and I'm not a Collingwood fan :P
dave
Guest
I don't really know the Pies list so when I read "new era" I thought the 2 names in the title were the new club president and coach. Thankfully the Mcguirre,Buckley era will continue.I hope for many more seasons to come.
Pumping Dougie
Guest
Moore and Elliott are both exciting, gun footballers. But Moore is still developing and Elliott will probably never be the same again - back surgery is difficult to transition back into normal life, let alone elite football. And the backline is very ordinary. Wells has predictably backfired already. And then there's the coach ...
jonty smith
Roar Guru
these are our players who can competewell forwards- moore, elliott, fasolo, Varcoe, Hoskin elliott, blair, (defensive forward), Keefe (defender became forward during his suspension) and daicos (recently drafted). The latter two can't be relied upon with no afl in the last 2 years at least Mids- Pendlebury, Sidebottom, Treloar, Greenwood, Grundy, Crisp, De goey, wells, adams- very strong. I think the 3rd strongest in comp behind dogs and giants. Is that bias from a pies supporter? Defenders- Ramsay, Scharanberg, Reid, Kayle Kirby (recent draftee), Goldsack, Langdon, dunn, sinclair, broomhead, oxley, howe We did well to get rid of the f grade defenders of frost, brown etc. but seem to have drafted too many similar midfielders and then have no a-grade defenders. As good as it looks on paper, there's no point having a dozen in the same team. Our defence is so bad that i'd say if other teams can't score at least 15 goals against us their doing something wrong. Our forwardline is centred around small forwards other than moore who could is vulnerable to injury. While you could argue our small forwards can leap, they don't have the strength to wear down and out-muscle defenders. Buckley may not be as bad a coach as we think because it's pretty hard to get a finals team out of our list Our draw ensures we ill have to play catch-up all year so I think we are a 10-13 team
TERENCE TURNER
Guest
Leave Buckley be in his last year as another who could play the game, but is totally lacking in people & coaching skills. Let him fail all on his own.
Xray
Guest
Pies supporters cannot seriously look forward to any genuine rejuvenation at the club, until the failed wanabee Buckley has been shown the door. By mid way through the 2017 season, any chance of Collingwood making the eight will be well and truly over.
K
Guest
With Jeremy Howe failing as a forward last year it is incumbent on Elliott and the new recruit Mayne to be mid size marking targets to help ease the pressure off Moore. White is useless and Cox is still raw so can't expect them to do too much. If Wells can play close to a full season and improve delivery into the forward 50 maybe they can make finals on account of their dynamic midfield. Their backline is extremely dependent on Reid staying on the park and they're dependent on too many "if's" to make it through to the final 8. Who drops from the 8 - likely North and maybe Hawthorn. Who then comes in? I'd argue St Kilda and Melbourne have far better balanced sides and have more "knowns" rather than "ifs".
Birdman
Guest
Lamby, I think the Pies are more in the 9 to 15 bracket. Can't possibly see them finishing as high as 5th with that list and coach.
Paul D
Roar Guru
I agree, they should give him a few years extension, the sooner the better. As Lamby says below too, it’s Collingwood’s fault – if they make short term demands saying Buckley has to make the 8 or he’s out of a job they shouldn’t be surprised when he goes out and signs a bunch of short term sugar hit players just to save his job in 2017. But the Pies are big and mean enough to take care of themselves, and if they are keen to follow in the footsteps of a big club that spent more time wandering in the wilderness than Moses and the Israelites they need only look to Punt Rd for some advice
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
I think you need to exchange bit with a lot of luck.
Lamby
Roar Rookie
The Pies are one of the teams in the 5th to 14th bracket (with most of the teams) where a bit of luck with injuries and winning or losing a couple of close games will be the difference between making the 8 or not.
Lamby
Roar Rookie
Give him a chance?? He has had 5 years, the squad is his. He has stated that the Pies need to make the 8 for him to survive. Buckley has signed a bunch of 'save my career' players rather than 'good for the club' type players (wells, Mayne, Brown.) He is under pressure.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
No no no...you miss understand me PF. I'm a big fan of F^ckley; he makes an excellent coach at Collingwood.
I hate pies
Guest
Yeah Rick, leave us alone! Nathan has feelings too!
Pies forever
Guest
Nice (1) when are you going to leave Nathan alone and give him a chance to prove that Collingwood have a good lot of "young" players and with another year under their belts you will see what happens and it will bite you on the bum..what a nasty person you are. If you are a Pie supporter isn't it about time you gave your all and see what happens this year IF NOT stop reading and writing nasty stuff.
Birdman
Guest
Elliott and Moore are quality but injury-prone youngsters. Can't see the Pies snagging a finals berth in 2017.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Not sure about this. However, the two biggest stories of the year (one of which will involve Collingwood) are about to unfold in the coming months: 1. Should Collingwood start slow (again), F^ckley's contract will be major news for the entire season; and 2. Fyfe will be the hottest story going if he hasn't penned a new agreement with Freo by May.
BBJ
Guest
I think the pies may have some issues if Fasolo is their lynchpin.
gyfox
Guest
Is this all C-wood has going for it this year? They will not make the 8