Collingwood Newsletter
Season 2013 looms as a particularly important one for several of Collingwood's most experienced senior players.
Two players could potentially pass the 250 game barrier later in the season, while three are on track to play their 200th senior games.
250 AFL Games
Ben Johnson
Ben Johnson (232 games) enters 2013 as the longest serving player on Collingwood's list. He entered the competition via the 62nd selection in the 1999 National Draft and debuted in Mick Malthouse's first game as senior coach in round one, 2000.
Should the injury and form Gods look kindly upon him, Johnson is a chance to play his 250th senior match this year.
Although he has missed 26 of the club's last 50 games through injury, Johnson's pre-season form has been as strong as ever and should he play every senior game he will reach the 250 game milestone in round 19 against Essendon.
If Johnson plays all 22 home and away games, he will move to 254 matches, placing him in outright tenth on the list of games played by Collingwood footballers.
Coincidentally, 254 games would bring Johnson level with Gavin Brown – the man who wore the No. 26 for the 14 years prior to his arrival at Victoria Park
Darren Jolly
The other man who could clock 250 games in 2013 should all go to plan is ruckman Darren Jolly (228 games).
Jolly, who has played 62 games for Collingwood since joining the club in 2010, previously played 48 games for Melbourne (2001-2004) and 118 for Sydney (2005-2009).
Should he play every match in 2013, he will be able to play his 250th senior game against North Melbourne in round 23.
200 AFL Games
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The spotlight is never far away from Dane Swan (196 games) and you can be sure that the focus will be on him in the lead up to Collingwood's round four clash with Richmond at the MCG when he approaches his 200th senior game.
Should he reach the milestone, Swan will become the 32nd player in Collingwood's history to play 200 senior games for the club.
Luke Ball
Luke Ball (193 games), who is still considered to be 2-3 weeks away from returning from a knee reconstruction, is only seven games shy of his 200th senior game.
Ball, of course, played 142 games for St Kilda between 2003 and 2009 and has since played another 51 games in black and white.
In a perfect world, Ball will play his 200th game in round seven against Fremantle in Perth.
Nick Maxwell
The third player in line for game 200 is Nick Maxwell (179 games).
The captain, who debuted back in round nine, 2004, will be looking to play every match for the season for the first time since 2007 to ensure that he reaches the milestone in the club's round 22 clash with West Coast.
150 AFL Games
Scott PendleburyVice-captain Scott Pendlebury (148 games) won't have to wait long for his 150th senior game. Barring injury, 'Pendles' will run through the banner for the 150th time against Carlton in round two.
For a player who loves the big occasion, Pendlebury is sure to thrive in front of what is expected to be another large MCG crowd.
100 AFL Games
Three premiership players will have the triple figures in their sights as they enter the new season.Tyson Goldsack
Should no form or injury mishaps occur, the first cab off the rank will be Tyson Goldsack (91 games). The rangy utility is in line to play his 100th senior game in round nine against Sydney under the MCG lights, the ground at which he has appeared in 61 per cent of his senior outings.
Dayne Beams
The next man in line is Copeland Trophy winner Dayne Beams (89 games), who, all going well, will run out onto the ground for the 100th time against Melbourne on the Queen's Birthday.
Keen Pies fans will note that Beams actually made his debut against the Demons back in round two, 2009, at the same venue.
Steele Sidebottom
Five weeks later (including the round 13 bye), Beams' fellow 2008 draftee Steele Sidebottom (85 games) could be in position to join the 100 club.
Should everything go to plan, Sidebottom will play his 100th game against Adelaide at the MCG in round 16.
50 AFL Games
Two half forward flankers will press for their 50th senior game this season.Alex Fasolo has raced to 37 games after debuting on the Queen's Birthday in 2011 and is a chance to reach his half century as early as round 14.
He would have to make do with celebrating on foreign soil however, as the Magpies will be playing Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium that weekend.
The other man within reach of his 50th game is Brent Macaffer (30 games).
'Caff' has played only four senior games since the 2010 Grand Final replay, but his bright start to the pre-season competition will have him and his coaches believing that he can notch his 50th game as early as round 21 when the Magpies meet Hawthorn.
50 Collingwood Games
We are projecting a long way forward in this case, but after his stirring comeback from a knee injury, Andrew Krakouer can dare to dream.Should the goal sneak feature in all 22 home and away games AND Collingwood reach the 2013 finals series, Krakouer will play his 50th senior game in the first week of September.
But let's worry about the NAB Cup first.
Golden goalkickers
Three Collingwood forwards are within reach of kicking their 300th goal at senior level.Alan Didak (283 goals) is only 17 shy of becoming the 14th player in the club's history to reach the milestone.
He will be relying on a return to form in front of the big sticks, though, as he has not kicked more than nine goals in either of the past two (injury affected) years.
Travis Cloke (271 goals) will be aiming on becoming the 15th Magpie to kick 300 snaggers. His record suggests that he is every chance of doing so, having kicked 38 or more goals in each of the past three years.
While Quinten Lynch (281 goals) is yet to fight for four points in the name of Collingwood, he has 281 goals to his name courtesy of his 11 years at West Coast and is on track to crack the 300 barrier at some stage in 2013.
Others in the hunt for goal kicking milestones include Andrew Krakouer (needing eight goals for his 150th), Dale Thomas (needing 29 for his 150th), Scott Pendlebury (needing five for his 100th), Dayne Beams (needing 11 for his 100th), Luke Ball (needing 17 goals for his 100th), Alex Fasolo (needing six for his 50th), Heath Shaw (needing 16 for his 50th) and Tyson Goldsack (needing 16 for his 50th).
When September comes around
It's seven months away, granted, but should Collingwood contest the 2013 finals series, a handful of players will be in contention for their share of club records.
Alan Didak has played in 22 finals for Collingwood, leaving him equal fourth at the club for finals played.
To play one final would see him equal Tony Shaw on 23 finals, while four finals would see him draw level with the great Albert Collier with 26 finals appearances, which would make him equal third in the club's history.
Didak's long time teammate and friend Ben Johnson is also a chance of climbing the statistical ladder.
Johnson has played in 20 finals. One more would level him with Syd Coventry, Phonse Kyne and Bill Picken, two would see his name alongside those of Dick Lee and Len Thompson, three would equal Tony Shaw and four would make him outright fourth as the most capped finals player in Collingwood history (any potential finals played by Didak notwithstanding).
Several other current players are not far away from featuring on Collingwood's finals leaderboard.
Although Didak and Johnson are the only current players to feature in 20 or more finals, Dane Swan (19 finals), Travis Cloke (18), Harry O'Brien (18), Dale Thomas (18), Nick Maxwell (17), Heath Shaw (17) and Scott Pendlebury (16) are all within striking range (dependent, of course, on their fortunes and those of their club).
In front of goal, Travis Cloke has kicked 32 big ones in his 18 finals, meaning he is ranked alongside Ray Shaw with the equal seventh most in the club's finals history. One more will see him equal Des Fothergill and seven will draw him level with the great Peter Daicos on 39.
For the record, Gordon Coventry has played the most finals for the club with 31. Harry Collier is next in line with 27.
Coventry still holds the club record for goals kicked during the finals with an incredible 112 that will surely never be beaten. Dick Lee is ranked second with 62, and Ron Todd is third with 55.
From a contemporary point of view, Didak and Darren Jolly are ranked second for finals played of all players on a senior list in 2013 with 22.
They are only one final behind Dustin Fletcher, Adam Schneider and Sydney pair Adam Goodes and Jude Bolton, who have all played 23 finals.
Johnson, with 20 finals, is equal fourth alongside fellow premiership players Simon Black and Joel Corey.
A final milestone
Should Collingwood reach the 2013 finals series, it will be its eighth in as many years, equaling the eight-year streaks from 1915-1922 and 1925-1932.This would leave the club three years behind its overall record of 11 successive final series achieved between 1901 and 1911.
*Please note that the projected player milestones take into account Collingwood's bye in round 13. The 2013 home and away season will span 23 rounds, but with each team allocated one bye, clubs will play 22 matches for the year, as has been the case since 1994.
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