Collingwood
Coach – Craig McRae
2025 –
Points For – 8th
Points Against – 1st
Top 5 Best and Fairest
1 – Darcy Cameron
2 – Nick Daicos
3 – Isaac Quaynor
4 – Jamie Elliott
5 – Harry Perryman
2025 Rising Star Noms
Ed Allan (Rnd 12)
Ins – Angus Anderson, Jack Buller, Zac McCarthy, Tyan Orindable, Jai Sexana, Sam Swadling
Outs – Mason Cox, Charlie Dean, WHE, Ash Johnson, Finlay Macrae, Oleg Markov, Brody Mihocek, Tom Mitchell
My Prediction
Collingwood hit the wall hard last season. They looked like premiers until about half way through the year when it all fell over. These things can happen when you have an average age of 47. It was glorious to watch their supporters gradually lose hope.
The backline performed well last year. Moore found form as the unaccountable floating backman. It is a role he has made his own. Maynard will keep doing meatheady things whilst Frampton looks like he will be required to hold down a key position whilst Howe recovers from whatever soft tissue injury he gets next time. Quaynor had a great season, Houston looked lost and you would have to presume will bounce back this year.
The midfield will crown Pendlebury as the games record holder this season in what I presume is probably his final year of football. He is almost likeable. Sidebottom looked cooked the year before but was very good last season. Then you have the Daicos boys, they go ok. Long stepped up last year but I have a feeling he may drop back to average VFL player this year. It is a good disciplined midfield.
The forward line looks worrying. I know Cox was a plodder but he was capable and Mihocek has been their most consistent goal kicker along with Elliott who is a gun. De Goey will be needed in the middle but I suspect will be needed more up forward. McStay is still on their list and they have McCreery who was down last year but knows where the goals are. They will miss Hill who at this stage seems lost. It is a pretty average forward line.
Darcy Cameron is their most important player. He is perfect for the new rules and his mobility around the ground has gone under the radar until recently. Any injury to him and things will get dire. The coach clearly knows how to get the most out of his people although he is on sabbatical and it will be interesting to see if we find out what is happening there. I might have to go and watch Ted Lasso reruns to prepare for his return.
Collingwood lost more talent than they look to have brought in. They bat a little shallower and their list looks a little older. I don’t see them improving on last year. I don’t know if they will miss finals but I do think it is a distinct possibility. Somewhere from 7th-11th.
