At the risk of having published yet another article about Collingwood and further accused of being a deluded Magpies tragic, I am actually quite bullish about Collingwood in 2022, unlike other Roar colleagues.
I have a good few reasons to be optimistic too.
First, a new coach and coaching set-up tends to bring a bounce in performance. While this is certainly the case immediately following a mid-season coaching change, the new voice, insights and perspectives that a coaching change brings can occur at any time.
The psychology of sport is such that a fresh voice can empower and motivate. Older players are rejuvenated, and younger players can thrive in new contexts. New coach Craig McRae and his coaching cohort bring considerable experience to the table.
(Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)
There’s also more stability off the field now that the dramas of leadership challenges and board disunity appear to have abated. Off-field stability correlates with on-field success.
Second, it is noticeable from various training reports that a faster, more direct game plan is being developed, with tackling intensity and numbers to the ball key. Certainly that alone should make Collingwood more enjoyable to watch if nothing else. The turgid, chip-chip, backwards passing game plan will certainly not be missed. Certainly in the latter part of 2021 Robert Harvey utilised a more direct game style to reasonable effect.
It should also enhance scoring, particularly if the ball can get to the likes of Mason Cox more reliably – and we know how difficult a proposition Cox can be on the run rather than when allowing the opposition to flood back and cover him.
Third is that defence, often a cornerstone for a team, looks in good shape, although the untimely injury to Jordan Roughead is a blow. Nonetheless, Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe look to be in fine fettle surrounded by the run and dash of Brayden Maynard and Isaac Quaynor. Also of note is the likely positioning of the skipper Scott Pendlebury at halfback, where his sublime ball use, evasiveness and football nous makes him ideal for the distributor role perfected by Luke Hodge, although noting that they are very different players.
Fourth is that, apart from Jordan Roughead, the team looks like it’s in a strong position in terms of injuries. This would be a welcome change from years gone by, and whether new training methods and regimes have anything to do with this is a moot point.
Fifth is that team morale, the intangible glue, is likely to have improved. It is hard to know exactly what impact last year’s Adam Treloar debacle had on the team fabric, but it would be fair to say that the impact could not have been benign.
Sixth is the young age of the playing group and that many players will develop their games in tandem with a sense of growing up together at the football club. This is not to suggest that a young developing side will not have considerable ebbs and flows but rather that maturity co-evolves. In particular, a very young midfield can learn together. There’s also a core of experienced players at the club to lend a hand.
Of course, and while the hype is immense, there is also one Nick Daicos, who just might, along with his brother Josh, have the stands rocking again.
None of these points suggests for a second that Collingwood will be in the top four or challenge for a premiership. The bottom tiers of the eight would not seem to be totally out of the reach, while a finish just outside of the top eight would represent a considerable stride forward from 17th place in 2021.
J.T. Delacroix
Guest
Tell me about it, Pete. I’d practically given up. As a Richmond supporter, the start to every season from the mid ‘80’s up until about seven years ago was akin to going fishing knowing you had no bait. Sheer futility. Then it all changed.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
Yes, you have to be optimistic. Good luck to the Magpies, but I hope Essendon beats them. Go Dons.
Ian Morrison
Guest
Have book marked this comment to revisit at season's end. I think there are lots of reasons for the 'Pies to improve, as outlined in the article, but the new coaching panel will be a big factor.
Dean
Roar Rookie
I see them fighting out for the bottom 4, need a big improvement from last year to jump up the ladder. On and Off field issues have plagued the club for sometime and l don't see anywhere from a list perspective where they will improve.
.kraM
Roar Rookie
I get plenty of joy out of 11 straight for the Dragons despite my parents not even being born for the start of the run :stoked:
fabian gulino
Roar Rookie
with a new coach they might move up the ladder you never no with the pies.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Roughead has been great for us but it gives the opportunity to Charlie Dean who has been playing in the best 22 squad in practice matches regardless WR. Baptism by fire.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Gotta love February!
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Peter can you cover aRoughead?
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Eeven Tigers had 37 years of pain Paul and went 35 years between GF's
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
To be honest Im not much interested in flags won in the dark ages for any sides. The AFL era interests me and if we'd just snagged 2018 we'd be going pretty good. But we didn't and WCE fans get a flag every 6 years on average. Spoilt. Hawks fans spoilt too. Tigers have recent success but the infamous 37 year gap, Cats success 2007-2011 but their own 44 year gap of pain too.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
May he rest in peace Richie. Final article he Zagged instead of Zigged.
RT
Roar Rookie
Nice change from a certain Collingwood tragic who wrote 103 near-identical articles about Collingwood failures, before finally bowing out last year.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Loving the look of training by the way, have been a few times now and certainly looks like very fast ball movement, as you write numbers at the ball and quickly to forward line…other young sides have tried that in the past and get hammered on the rebound…lets see what happens. New coaching staff seem fantastic…very impressed with dare I say Brendan Bolton who I had not thought highly of in the past. Leppa and McRae are mates so no surprise they click so well. Basically Collingwood has put total faith in Graham Wright and ultimately future success will rest with his decision making. As impressive as Kingsley interviewed Wright went for McRae and won over the others on the panel. Licuria wanted Kingsley.
Boo
Guest
Peter yes your AFL flag list is correct but if you look at the gf rule bought in after the 1930 season where grand finals were won or lost on the day Collingwood have won six below Carlton , Essendon , Melbourne , Richmond , Hawthorn and Geelong hardly encouraging performance in the big dance .
Boo
Guest
Charlie that's two flags in 64 years ( not being a smarty pants ) but since the first gf on the day win or lose its only six in 91 season's .Collingwood aren't achievers especially given the support and wealth behind them .It's almost pity time for the Carringbush .
Paul
Guest
I'll take two in the last 32 years and one in the last 12. Its not Hawks or Richmond, but better than many others. Do you think many Brisbane fans go to sleep each night thinking "oh well at least we won three in a row 20 years ago"... In truth, there is a half life in a fan's feelings for a flag. How much utility do St George fans get from their 11 in a row compared to their poor performance last year?? You're an Essendon fan - you should know the feeling...
Aransan
Roar Rookie
Melbourne are hopeless, one premiership in the last 57 years. Mind you before that 1955, 56, 57, 59, 60, 64 and runners up 1954, 58????.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Love how Charlie uses “selective stats” to make a point. One could say the Pies have secured two flags in the past 31 years which is a reasonable performance. One could say “In the AFL era (post 1990)…” the Pies sit alongside Adelaide, Essendon and Sydney with 2 AFL era premierships at the rate of one every 15.5 years. AFL era flags Hawthorn – 5 WCE – 4 Geelong, Richmond, Brisbane – 3 Coll, Nth, Ess, Adel, Syd – 2 Doesn’t look so bad hey. that’s 10 clubs on the list with at least 2. Did I miss any? If not, that’s better than the other 8. Shall we discuss the longest gap in winning a final?
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Nearly did my head in watching Grundy tap straight to the opposition in their forward line last year for instant goals against. Hope this has been addressed.