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Joined June 2013
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Our favourite footy clubs provide a compelling narrative. Think Port Adelaide, with their rags to riches story, or Sydney's famous 'Bloods' culture, supposedly the…
The off-season is a the footy tragic's nightmare. With no action to watch, we have had to make do with the tiny scraps of…
It was legendary New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra who said: “It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” This is as true…
Another year gone, and those of us who bleed black and white are feeling a bit down. But that's the thing about footy. No…
Every year at around this time we see a swathe of articles suggesting that the top eight is set, and that no team currently…
Good calls on Seedsman and Adams for the Pies. Unfortunately, if just those two have big impacts and no others do, the Pies are in trouble. Really they need significantly improved output from all or most of: Williams, Sinclair, Thomas, Fasolo, Kennedy. Those are the guys who will propel the club back into contention.
The AFL Missing Links: Carlton and Collingwood
I love how quickly people jump on the Eddie-bashing bandwagon. Every club wishes it had an Eddie McGuire. I think he is undoubtedly the most effective club president in the AFL.
I agree with this article. Statements like his build hope, which sells memberships, generates advertising dollars, and gets his team into headlines. All of that directly feeds back into the club’s bottom line, and eventually on-field success.
Tired boring statements keep teams tired and boring. Presidents need to get excited about their teams. Though there are others who do it well – notably Kochie – Eddie is unquestionably the king.
We should all be more like Eddie and talk our teams up
Disagree about Blair and Goldsack. I think having those two as defensive forwards has been crucial to our game plan. The only way I see Blair losing his spot is if one of the other forward options proves to be better both at offense and at defense than Blairy is. As I said in the article, I think he’s a crucial cog in the Collingwood machine.
The Collingwood squad I’d like to see in Round 1
You always leave insightful comments TomC, and this is no exception. I agree with most of what you said, though obviously not the bit about leaving Young out, considering I selected him.
Even as an optimistic Collingwood supporter, I can’t see us having a great year. Before we lost Beams and Lumumba, I could see us making finals. Now I think it will be very tough. I think we’ll play some great footy in patches, but we won’t be consistent.
And yes, I was referring to Josh Thomas. I actually wrote just “Thomas” in the original submission, and the editors expanded it the full name – but the wrong name! I emailed them asking for it to be changed, but they haven’t obliged…
It’s not the first time they’ve added mistakes to my articles while editing – in fact there are some more in this very piece. It’s a bit annoying.
The Collingwood squad I’d like to see in Round 1
I agree about Kennedy. My question on him is consistency. Would love to see him take Blair’s spot by the end of the year.
I actually rate Young. Varcoe may be better, but I haven’t watched him play enough to know for sure. From what I have seen, he butchers the ball worse than Young does…
Thomas I think can be a star. He’s still yet to really have one good injury-free season. If he gets that, I really think he can be great.
The Collingwood squad I’d like to see in Round 1
Agreed. As much as I love the Pies, I have to admit that our midfield is in bad shape. Even 12 months ago we could boast the impressive list of names: Pendlebury, Swan, Beams, Sidebottom, Ball, Macaffer, Lumumba.
We’ll likely have just 3 of those play the majority of this year, with only one now a genuine star (though Swan may still have a surprise or two left in him).
The upside is the number of very talented young mids we have waiting for their chance, exactly as you said. Adams, Freeman, Thomas, Kennedy, De Goey, Broomhead, Karnezis, Crisp. These are all guys who may in future years cement themselves in our starting midfield rotation.
The big question for me is will we get to that stage before Pendles and Cloke retire. If we do, watch out.
Collingwood's season could be another topsy-turvy ride
I think that best 22 is way too top heavy. Witts, Grundy, White, Cloke, Reid, Brown, Frost, Langdon, Goldsack. I think either White or Witts/Grundy need to be left out for team balance.
AFL 2015 preview: Collingwood Magpies
As much as Carlton fans would like it, they don’t have two Marc Murphys!
AFL 2015 preview: Carlton Blues
Spot on. Well written piece that hits the nail on the head with regard to the nonsense that gets spewed.
I do cut the people who say these things a bit of slack though. With the industry the way it is, the only way to make any change at all is to make a tremendously huge splash and then hope one of the ripples will actually come into effect.
It’s the same reason Eddie and the boys made such a fuss about the COLA and why so many are complaining loudly about father/son and academy bidding now. Writing a calmly worded letter to the AFL titled “Suggestions to improve equalisation” is just not gonna get it done.
Trade week sees the AFL's silly season get sillier
It seemed very young because of the presence of a few extremely young players in Beams, Sidebottom, Blair, Brown, Reid.
But look at the retirees from the side: Ben Johnson, Leigh Brown, Leon Davis, Alan Didak, Darren Jolly. And now add Nick Maxwell and Luke Ball to that list.
Collingwood's fall from grace sparks an identity crisis
They haven’t used the word rebuild, because that implies bottoming out, which was never the intention. The strategy is what you say: rebuilding without compromising competetiveness. Just like Geelong/Sydney.
Sydney took 7 years to rebuild between 2005 and 2012. In that time they missed finals just once. I see Collingwood on a simlilar path.
Collingwood's fall from grace sparks an identity crisis
The only person here who seems to understand where Collingwood are at is TomC. Since the Buckley transistion he has been rebuilding the team. In 2010 the list was extremely old, as are many premiership teams. Instead of bottoming out, like StKilda, and taking 5 years to get back to competitiveness, they chose a different strategy.
You can argue about whether it was the right time to move on Mick – that’s a different question. But since 2012 there has been a clear strategy internally which is exactly what TomC said: to transistion to the next premiership side without compromising old-field performance. Basically the Sydney/Geelong mould.
Everything the club has done since then can be seen in that light. They brought in lots of youth and traded out superfluous players, while topping up with experienced players to fill roles until the youth mature.
Ultimately Bucks will continue to cop flak as long as the team loses. So only on-field success will do. The loss of Beams is a big setback, and an unexpected one. That will hurt. But other than that, the Pies are on track. The success will come.
Collingwood's fall from grace sparks an identity crisis
Agreed. The player top-up was a result of the game plan, and not the other way around. Yes the additions of players like Hale, Gunston and Gibson were great, but they weren’t the key. The fact is the true backbone of the Hawks’ premiership teams in 2013/14 were already at the club by 2009. The others were the icing.
How to draft a premiership team: The story of Hawthorn’s new golden age
I like your ideas. If I was a Saints supporter, I think I’d be pretty happy right about now. You know you’re in for short term pain, but you have a clear strategy for long-term success and a coach who looks the goods. And I have a feeling the Billings/Dunstan pair of pickups from last year is going to be looking like a masterstroke in about 5 years. The only thing that might dampen that is Bontempelli. He could turn out to be the best of the bunch, and you could have had him at pick 3. But Billings will also be a star.
The Saints FutureFest failure: What about Jack Steven?
This is probably the most shallow and least insightful article I have ever read on this site. I really can’t be bothered picking out all the holes, so I’ll just do a few:
1) Collingwood have been in rebuilding mode since 2012, as has been stated explicitly by the club. That year the club brought in 2 extra 1st round picks (so they had picks 18,19 and 20) while ostensibly keeping the list stagnant in terms of competitiveness. Last year they had picks 6 and 10, and also brought in Taylor Adams, a virtual first-round-pick recruit. All this while losing only Wellingham (has been terrible for WC), Dawes (reasonable but not great), Thomas (was leaving anyway), and Shaw (the only one of the 4 that actually hurt on field).
2) The fall from grace this year was unexpected, and really only came about as a result of about the last 8 games. Win 2 more of those and the Pies make finals for the 9th consecutive year, and you wouldn’t have written this article. Seems a little reactionary, don’t you think?
3) Armstrong was brought in not a Daisy replacement, but as a half-back depth player. He only played this year due to injuries to other players, and in truth he actually showed quite a bit.
4) The intention in recruiting Hudson was always for him to be a ruck-coach mainly, and play a few games if necessary. The fruits of his work are already evident in the development of Witts and Grundy. They will be Collingwood’s ruck combo for the next 10 years. He was not intended as a premiership top-up player.
5) The only reason Sharenberg and Freeman didn’t play this year was because both were injured! Patience is a virtue. They will play in time, and they will tear it up. As Derek Hine put it, they’re like “presents waiting to be unwrapped”.
I suggest doing some real research next time before putting pen to paper.
Collingwood's fall from grace sparks an identity crisis
In truth I actually submitted it with the worded “turned”, the editors replaced it with “cum”.
Brisbane Lions will be the AFL’s next Port Adelaide
I think this guy’s just stirring the pot, playing devil’s advocate. Aren’t you San?
Brisbane Lions will be the AFL’s next Port Adelaide
I agree with the general sentiment of this article, that the AFL must continue to push for diversity and tolerance at all levels.
However, the point must be made that in an industry such as football, there will ALWAYS be male dominance because, hey, the players are male, and as we know, the vast majority of commentators and media personalities are ex-players! Until we have a women’s league that is as strong as the men’s one, this will continue to be the case.
The AFL has a long way to go in fostering complete tolerance
Collingwood aren’t going to hold Beams back against his will, but surely you can understand that if there’s even a slight chance of keeping him they will fight tooth and nail for it. And indeed if he must leave, they will fight to get the absolute best compensation possible.
After all, he is (a) their 3rd best player (after Pendles and Cloke), (b) a young man with his best footy ahead of him, and (c) still under contract. The club are not being unreasonable.
Brisbane Lions will be the AFL’s next Port Adelaide
Agreed. If I were StKilda and GWS put pick 3, Jaksch, and O’Rourke on the table for pick 1 and maybe a late pick, I’d be taking that deal in a heartbeat.
Saints ponder No.1 AFL draft pick dilemma
A few people have mentioned their lack of key position players, which I think is true in part, and is probably the biggest hole in my arguments.
Until that is rectified they won’t win a flag, but the elite midfield they will have already by next year means they will likely push up the ladder. Great midfields go a hell of a long way to winning games.
Brisbane Lions will be the AFL’s next Port Adelaide
The decision not to award them a priority pick should not affect the Frawley compensation whatsoever.
Saints ponder No.1 AFL draft pick dilemma
No need to explain the system to me, I understand it well. The commission have discretion in awarding compensation picks, including the ability to place them mid first round, late first round, etc. The pick need not be immediately after a club’s selection. So yes, in this case I would think a mid or end of first round selection would be much more appropriate than pick 3.
As for money and length of contract coming into it, I have one word: Buddy.
Saints ponder No.1 AFL draft pick dilemma
If Melbourne get pick 3 and have access to two of that top four it will be a disgrace. No way Frawley is as good as any of those four are mooted to be.
Saints ponder No.1 AFL draft pick dilemma
Top article. Well written and almost poetic.
Somebody that I used to know: Dayne Beams and rooting for laundry