Collingwood
Coach – Craig McRae
2024 –
Points For – 9th
Points Against – 13th
Top 5 Best and Fairest
1 – Nick Daicos
2 – Darcy Camerson
3 – Josh Daicos
4 – Jack Crisp
5 – Steele Sidebottom
2024 Rising Star Noms
Harvey Harrison (Rnd 11)
Ins – Joel Cochran, Will Hayes, Dan Houston, Tim Membrey, Harry Perryman, Charlie West
Outs – Aiden beg, Jack Bytel, Josh Carmichael, Josh Eyre, Nathan Krueger, Nathan Murphy, John Noble, Joe Richards
My Prediction
The only thing better than Collingwood missing the finals was Carlton making it and being as terrible as they were. Collingwood looked primed at the start of the season to make a charge but they just never really got going. They threatened all year but just weren’t good enough for long enough to make the eight.
The backline is a real issue. They looked for a key back to replace Murphy but they couldn’t find one and combined with the drop in effectiveness of Moore, they lacked intercepting and bounce of half back. Bringing in Houston and Perryman will make the half back line look better but they are undersized and will need Howe to stay fit or face the likelihood of needing Frampton to play more than a handful of games.
The midfield doesn’t bat real deep but they have some quality at the top end. Nick Daicos is a freak, soft but you don’t need to be hard when you do the stuff he does. His brother is pretty handy as well although not in the same class. Pendles showed signs last year that he is losing that space he has always found and if he is to get the games record they will need to nurse him there. Harry Perryman feels like a good in for them but we also know GWS midfielders seem to fade once they leave the orange behind. Crisp has been a good solid player and Sidebottom had some good games but much like Pendlebury, looks to be more vulnerable.
The forward line is just ok. They bring in Membrey which feels like a very Essendon thing to do. Unlike us though, it will probably work for them. McStay playing would be an improvement but he isn’t really a goal kicker in a serious way. De Goey was way down last year and long may that stay. Elliott and Mihocek are very good players and they need them both to fire. Bobby Hill hurts knowing he should have been in red and black, he is close to the best small forward in the competition.
Darcy Cameron it turns out is a very good ruck and also him being reliable reduces the need for us to see Mason Cox on our screens which can only be a good thing. The coach won a premiership and definitely has the players working for him. I don’t know if he is a strategic genius but he has plenty of credits in the bank.
I don’t see the ins and outs for Collingwood as being enough of a net gain to make up for the aging of their superstars. They need significant improvement in both their forward line and their back line and I don’t think they have it. They may even slide slightly from last year and I think finish in the 10-12 range.