Saturday, September 28, 2013
Monday, September 23, 2013
2013 Analysis: Part Five
The Roar
After years in contention for the flag, season 2013 will probably go down as the year in which Collingwood’s premiership window all but shut in front of their eyes.
For most of the year, Nathan Buckley came under the spotlight for not keeping Collingwood in the top four, when they clearly had the talent and the squad to do so. This was reflected in the club’s elimination final exit to Port Adelaide, its earliest elimination from the finals since 2006. Amidst the disappointment of a failed bid for a record-equalling 16th flag, there were still some flashes of brilliance from the Collingwood players and team overall.
What went right
Collingwood were once again regular finalists, reaching the playoffs for the eighth consecutive year but finishing outside the top four for the first time since 2008. They regularly stayed in the top eight, and never (bar for the final two games of their season) lost consecutive matches during the regular season. They also had two victories over the old enemy (Carlton), and also enjoyed a narrow victory over Geelong, a team they have not lost against since the 2011 Grand Final. They also defeated Essendon and Sydney in consecutive weeks, those two victories showing the great potential the Pies had in performing on the big stage.
What went wrong
The Pies suffered eight losses in 2013, their most in a single season since 2008. Among the losses included an embarrassing 46-point loss to Essendon, where the Pies were blown off the park, and a seven-point loss to the Suns on the Gold Coast. There were also heavy losses to Hawthorn (twice) and the Sydney Swans, the latter coming on the Friday night stage in a controversial match marred by a racism incident involving their former captain, Adam Goodes. That loss also caused the Pies to finish only one round outside of the eight, when they were 11th after round nine (though they climbed back into it the following round). Never during any stage of the season did the Pies place higher than fifth on the ladder; a sign that their premiership window is about to shut after so many years in contention.
The future
Coach Buckley responded to the Pies’ meek exit from the finals by axing seasoned campaigners Darren Jolly, Alan Didak and Andrew Krakouer, and there could be more players headed for the exit door, namely Dale Thomas, who struggled to get a game this year. If this year was an indication, then it could take up to four or five years for the Pies to once again contend at the back end of the season. They have not missed the finals since 2005 but that eight-year long finals streak could be about to come to a shuddering halt.
Questions the fans will want answered in 2014
- How many more players will leave Collingwood?
- Was the decision by Buckley to sack Jolly, Didak and Krakouer right?
- What needs to change at Collingwood if they are to contend again in 2014?
And last but not least…
- Can the Pies continue to make the finals next year onwards?
After years in contention for the flag, season 2013 will probably go down as the year in which Collingwood’s premiership window all but shut in front of their eyes.
For most of the year, Nathan Buckley came under the spotlight for not keeping Collingwood in the top four, when they clearly had the talent and the squad to do so. This was reflected in the club’s elimination final exit to Port Adelaide, its earliest elimination from the finals since 2006. Amidst the disappointment of a failed bid for a record-equalling 16th flag, there were still some flashes of brilliance from the Collingwood players and team overall.
What went right
Collingwood were once again regular finalists, reaching the playoffs for the eighth consecutive year but finishing outside the top four for the first time since 2008. They regularly stayed in the top eight, and never (bar for the final two games of their season) lost consecutive matches during the regular season. They also had two victories over the old enemy (Carlton), and also enjoyed a narrow victory over Geelong, a team they have not lost against since the 2011 Grand Final. They also defeated Essendon and Sydney in consecutive weeks, those two victories showing the great potential the Pies had in performing on the big stage.
What went wrong
The Pies suffered eight losses in 2013, their most in a single season since 2008. Among the losses included an embarrassing 46-point loss to Essendon, where the Pies were blown off the park, and a seven-point loss to the Suns on the Gold Coast. There were also heavy losses to Hawthorn (twice) and the Sydney Swans, the latter coming on the Friday night stage in a controversial match marred by a racism incident involving their former captain, Adam Goodes. That loss also caused the Pies to finish only one round outside of the eight, when they were 11th after round nine (though they climbed back into it the following round). Never during any stage of the season did the Pies place higher than fifth on the ladder; a sign that their premiership window is about to shut after so many years in contention.
The future
Coach Buckley responded to the Pies’ meek exit from the finals by axing seasoned campaigners Darren Jolly, Alan Didak and Andrew Krakouer, and there could be more players headed for the exit door, namely Dale Thomas, who struggled to get a game this year. If this year was an indication, then it could take up to four or five years for the Pies to once again contend at the back end of the season. They have not missed the finals since 2005 but that eight-year long finals streak could be about to come to a shuddering halt.
Questions the fans will want answered in 2014
- How many more players will leave Collingwood?
- Was the decision by Buckley to sack Jolly, Didak and Krakouer right?
- What needs to change at Collingwood if they are to contend again in 2014?
And last but not least…
- Can the Pies continue to make the finals next year onwards?
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Ron Richards RIP
COLLINGWOOD NEWS
The 1953 premiership star, who went on to serve the club as a coach, match committee chairman and director, lost an extended battle with illness in the early hours of this morning. He was 85 years of age. Collingwood president Eddie McGuire described Richards as a Magpie royal, a man who was able to step out from the considerable shadow of his celebrated older brother, Lou, by helping to guide Collingwood for decades. “In the rich history of the Collingwood Football Club, Ron Richards will always be known as one of its greatest servants,” McGuire said. “Ron was a member of the Pannam/Richards dynasty, which collectively produced more matches than any other in the game’s history and dates back to 1894, through Charlie Pannam Sr. (In all the extended Richards family played in 930 games, kicked 1125 goals and were part of eight premierships.) “Ron distinguished himself in everything he did at Collingwood, be it as a star of the 1953 grand final who had been picked out by Jock McHale for an unaccustomed role on the wing, coach or administrator. Ron was best on ground in the flag triumph, helping his brother Lou, who was captain, to lift the premiership cup. “Later, as Lou moved into the world of show business and the media, Ron dedicated himself to Collingwood, something he cared for deeply. He served as a thirds and seconds coach. He spent time on the board and he sat by the side of Tom Hafey and Leigh Matthews as chairman of selectors. “In any discussion of great Collingwood men, Ron Richards – Collingwood life member, AFL life member, legend and premiership star – cannot be overlooked. “To his family, especially his wife Glenys, we offer our condolences. A wonderful man has been lost and the support of his beloved Collingwood will be sorely missed.” Murray Weideman, at 17 years of age one of the youngest players on the field in the 1953 grand final, remembers Richards typifying Collingwood of that time. “As a player, Ron was small, but showed that courage which was typical of the Richards and Pannam families. If you look at the blokes from the ’53 team, they were called the Magpie midgets, but they were incredibly tough and always fought to win,” Weideman said. “It was a great thrill to play in that side, and if you look at Lou (Richards), Des Healey, Bob Rose, Thorold Merrett and all those great, great players to play for Collingwood that year, Ron was one of them. “He was, above all else, a fine man.” A product of the Collingwood area and graduate of Collingwood Tech, Richards played 143 matches in black and white between 1947-1956. He began coaching the thirds, or under 19s, in 1964 and seconds in 1972. He was Leigh Matthews’ match committee chairman when the Magpies broke their 32 year premiership drought in 1990. Across the decades, Richards was involved in more than 1300 matches involving the various Collingwood teams. He has been cited as a formative influence as a coach and mentor by the likes of Peter Daicos, Peter Moore and Bill Picken and became, in 1990, the first Collingwood recipient of the Jack Titus award for services to football. Richards is survived by his wife Glenys, his brother Lou, children Shar, Dean, Kane and Cameron and grandchildren Andrew, Annabel, Sam, Abby, Georgia and Edward. | |||
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The younger brother of footy legend Lou, Ron Richards passed away early today after a long battle with illness. He was 85. One of the best on the ground in the Magpies' 1953 premiership side - Lou was the captain - Richards served the club for most of his life as a player, assistant coach, match committeeman chairman and board member. Collingwood president Eddie McGuire said the club had lost one of its most revered links with the past. “In the rich history of the Collingwood Football Club, Ron Richards will always be known as one of its greatest servants,” McGuire said. “Ron was a member of the Pannam/Richards dynasty, which collectively produced more matches than any other in the game’s history and dates back to 1894, through Charlie Pannam Sr. “Ron distinguished himself in everything he did at Collingwood, be it as a star of the 1953 grand final who had been picked out by Jock McHale for an unaccustomed role on the wing, coach or administrator. “Ron was best on ground in the flag triumph, helping his brother Lou, who was captain, to win the premiership. “Later, as Lou moved into the world of show business and the media, Ron dedicated himself to Collingwood, something he cared for deeply. “He served as a thirds and seconds coach. He spent time on the board and he sat by the side of Tom Hafey and Leigh Matthews as chairman of selectors. “In any discussion of great Collingwood men, Ron Richards – Collingwood life member, AFL life member, legend and premiership star – cannot be overlooked.” Richards played 143 games for the club from 1947-1956. The extended Richards-Pannam families represented Collingwood as players in more than 930 games for 1125 goals, including eight premierships. |
Richards, the younger brother of football great Lou, passed away after losing a long battle with illness. He was 85. Richards, a key player in the Magpies' 1953 premiership side, had also spent considerable time at the club as assistant coach, on the match committee and on the board. Magpies president Eddie McGuire said Richards was one of the club's most revered figures. "In the rich history of the Collingwood Football Club, Ron Richards will always be known as one of its greatest servants," McGuire said. "Ron was a member of the Pannam/Richards dynasty, which collectively produced more matches than any other in the game's history and dates back to 1894, through Charlie Pannam snr. "Ron distinguished himself in everything he did at Collingwood, be it as a star of the 1953 grand final who had been picked out by Jock McHale for an unaccustomed role on the wing, coach or administrator. Ron was best on ground in the flag triumph, helping his brother Lou, who was captain, to lift the premiership cup. "Later, as Lou moved into the world of show business and the media, Ron dedicated himself to Collingwood, something he cared for deeply. ''He served as a thirds and seconds coach. He spent time on the board and he sat by the side of Tom Hafey and Leigh Matthews as chairman of selectors. In any discussion of great Collingwood men, Ron Richards - Collingwood life member, AFL life member, legend and premiership star - cannot be overlooked,'' McGuire said. Richards played 143 games for the Magpies from 1947-1956. The extended Pannam-Richards families pulled on the black-and-white guernsey in more than 930 games, including eight premierships. |
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Tuesday, September 17, 2013
2013 Analysis: Part Four
Superfooty
SNAPSHOT:
Wins: 14
Losses: 9
Draws: 0
Ladder position: 8th
%: 114
WHAT WENT RIGHT:
THE Magpies accelerated the development of Nathan Buckley’s next-generation Collingwood by pumping minutes into kids unmatched by most sides. The Pies blooded 12 players who hadn’t previously worn black and white, the equal-most introduction of new troops of any side.
And in the process they unveiled some rich talent. We all know nabbing Brodie Grundy at pick 18 was dead-set draft theft last year, while Ben Kennedy looks the goods as a polished small forward.
Josh Thomas justified Collingwood’s long-held faith in him with a sizzling season, while the class of Sam Dwyer allowed the Port Melbourne star to slot straight into the starting side and stay there – another recruiting masterstroke after every club repeatedly knocked back the 26-year-old.
On-field, the Pies seemed to peak a month too early. They pumped Essendon in a ruthless Round 19 display before strangling Sydney on a hostile ground in their best win for the season. But after that…..
WHAT WENT WRONG:
THE final month of the season will leave a sour taste in the mouths of Pies fans. They petered out with losses to Hawthorn, North Melbourne and the shock elimination finals exit at the hands of Port Adelaide. That night Buckley intensified the focus on his club with a sharp message that the Pies needed to move on from “what they had”.
Buckley stated that from now on the Magpies will be his Magpies, with six players axed two days later and Heath Shaw seemingly placed on the trade table. That followed long-time fitness guru David Buttifant and football manager Geoff Walsh walking out on the Westpac Centre, with mastermind Rocket Eade transformed into Walsh's role. Talk of culture issues have simmered all year, while the mid-season Harry O’Brien saga also put the Magpies in the headlines for the wrong reasons.
The signing of Quinten Lynch looked a boom early on before going downhill, while the Pies were genuinely stiff with injuries this year. Dayne Beams, Alex Fasolo, Clinton Young, Dale Thomas and Alan Toovey all missed the vast majority of the season – and are all in Bucks’ best 22. Things could yet get worse for the Pies with Thomas weighing up rich offers from rival clubs that could see the No. 2 draft pick walk.
BEST-AND-FAIREST:
Scott Pendlebury looks set to claim his second Copeland Trophy if he can fight off three-time winner Dane Swan. The Pies will hold their vote count on Friday, October 4.
THE LIST
ELITE: Scott Pendlebury, Dayne Beams, Travis Cloke, Dane Swan
BIG IMPROVERS: Josh Thomas, Paul Seedsman, Ben Reid
GONE: Darren Jolly, Alan Didak, Andrew Krakouer, Jordan Russell, Michael Hartley, Ben Richmond
TRADE BAIT: Heath Shaw, Harry O’Brien
WHAT THEY NEED
EXPECT some wholesale change over the summer. Bucks has already flagged a new hard-line on player behaviour, but the Pies’ shopping list doesn’t end there. They need another Ben Reid. Collingwood looked that much more potent when the reliable target was swung into attack this year, with Reid helping boot the Pies to victory against Carlton, West Coast and Essendon and bagging five goals against the Roos in Round 23.
But while that’s a nice wildcard for Buckley to play, Collingwood structurally looked a better team with Reid holding up the backline, similarly to Essendon and Jake Carlisle. The Pies also seem headed for a leadership change with Scott Pendlebury tipped to take the captaincy from Nick Maxwell.
PREMIERSHIP CLOCK
CAN a side drop on the ladder but wind forward on the premiership clock? Yes, and the Pies did exactly that this year. Despite finishing eighth and failing to win a final for the first time since 2006, the Magpies look in better shape for the long-term.
Their nucleus of stars is still ripe and the kids coming through are genuinely exciting. Throw in pick No. 9 in this year’s draft and a possible massive hole in the salary cap should Daisy walk, which could be used to lure a prized target, and the Pies could be challenging again within a couple of seasons.
CLUB LEADERS
Kicks: Dane Swan (436)
Handballs: Scott Pendlebury (359)
Contested Possessions: Scott Pendlebury (290)
Marks: Travis Cloke (190)
Contested Marks: Travis Clke (58)
Clearances: Scott Pendlebury (128)
Inside 50s: Dane Swan (119)
Rebound 50s: Heath Shaw (82)
Frees For: Scott Pendlebury (40)
Frees Against: Nathan Brown (25)
Goals: Travis Cloke (68)
Goal Assists: Sam Dwyer (22)
Time On Ground: Travis Cloke (2476 minutes)
Players Used: 40
TEAM STATS
(total/percentage + AFL rank)
Disposals: 378.8 avg (1st)
Contested possession: +5.5 (6th)
Tackles: 65.5 avg (7th)
Clearance differential: -0.5 (12th)
Inside 50 differential: +8 (=2nd)
Scoring % Inside 50: 48.8 per cent (11th)
Average points for: 96 (6th)
Average points against: 85 (6th)
Average winning margin: 38
Average losing margin: 32
DID YOU KNOW?
Travis Cloke was involved in 161 offensive one-on-one contests during the H&A season - 53 more than any other player in the AFL. He won 36.0 per cent of these contests - well above the AFL average.
SNAPSHOT:
Wins: 14
Losses: 9
Draws: 0
Ladder position: 8th
%: 114
WHAT WENT RIGHT:
THE Magpies accelerated the development of Nathan Buckley’s next-generation Collingwood by pumping minutes into kids unmatched by most sides. The Pies blooded 12 players who hadn’t previously worn black and white, the equal-most introduction of new troops of any side.
And in the process they unveiled some rich talent. We all know nabbing Brodie Grundy at pick 18 was dead-set draft theft last year, while Ben Kennedy looks the goods as a polished small forward.
Josh Thomas justified Collingwood’s long-held faith in him with a sizzling season, while the class of Sam Dwyer allowed the Port Melbourne star to slot straight into the starting side and stay there – another recruiting masterstroke after every club repeatedly knocked back the 26-year-old.
On-field, the Pies seemed to peak a month too early. They pumped Essendon in a ruthless Round 19 display before strangling Sydney on a hostile ground in their best win for the season. But after that…..
WHAT WENT WRONG:
THE final month of the season will leave a sour taste in the mouths of Pies fans. They petered out with losses to Hawthorn, North Melbourne and the shock elimination finals exit at the hands of Port Adelaide. That night Buckley intensified the focus on his club with a sharp message that the Pies needed to move on from “what they had”.
Buckley stated that from now on the Magpies will be his Magpies, with six players axed two days later and Heath Shaw seemingly placed on the trade table. That followed long-time fitness guru David Buttifant and football manager Geoff Walsh walking out on the Westpac Centre, with mastermind Rocket Eade transformed into Walsh's role. Talk of culture issues have simmered all year, while the mid-season Harry O’Brien saga also put the Magpies in the headlines for the wrong reasons.
The signing of Quinten Lynch looked a boom early on before going downhill, while the Pies were genuinely stiff with injuries this year. Dayne Beams, Alex Fasolo, Clinton Young, Dale Thomas and Alan Toovey all missed the vast majority of the season – and are all in Bucks’ best 22. Things could yet get worse for the Pies with Thomas weighing up rich offers from rival clubs that could see the No. 2 draft pick walk.
BEST-AND-FAIREST:
Scott Pendlebury looks set to claim his second Copeland Trophy if he can fight off three-time winner Dane Swan. The Pies will hold their vote count on Friday, October 4.
THE LIST
ELITE: Scott Pendlebury, Dayne Beams, Travis Cloke, Dane Swan
BIG IMPROVERS: Josh Thomas, Paul Seedsman, Ben Reid
GONE: Darren Jolly, Alan Didak, Andrew Krakouer, Jordan Russell, Michael Hartley, Ben Richmond
TRADE BAIT: Heath Shaw, Harry O’Brien
WHAT THEY NEED
EXPECT some wholesale change over the summer. Bucks has already flagged a new hard-line on player behaviour, but the Pies’ shopping list doesn’t end there. They need another Ben Reid. Collingwood looked that much more potent when the reliable target was swung into attack this year, with Reid helping boot the Pies to victory against Carlton, West Coast and Essendon and bagging five goals against the Roos in Round 23.
But while that’s a nice wildcard for Buckley to play, Collingwood structurally looked a better team with Reid holding up the backline, similarly to Essendon and Jake Carlisle. The Pies also seem headed for a leadership change with Scott Pendlebury tipped to take the captaincy from Nick Maxwell.
PREMIERSHIP CLOCK
CAN a side drop on the ladder but wind forward on the premiership clock? Yes, and the Pies did exactly that this year. Despite finishing eighth and failing to win a final for the first time since 2006, the Magpies look in better shape for the long-term.
Their nucleus of stars is still ripe and the kids coming through are genuinely exciting. Throw in pick No. 9 in this year’s draft and a possible massive hole in the salary cap should Daisy walk, which could be used to lure a prized target, and the Pies could be challenging again within a couple of seasons.
CLUB LEADERS
Kicks: Dane Swan (436)
Handballs: Scott Pendlebury (359)
Contested Possessions: Scott Pendlebury (290)
Marks: Travis Cloke (190)
Contested Marks: Travis Clke (58)
Clearances: Scott Pendlebury (128)
Inside 50s: Dane Swan (119)
Rebound 50s: Heath Shaw (82)
Frees For: Scott Pendlebury (40)
Frees Against: Nathan Brown (25)
Goals: Travis Cloke (68)
Goal Assists: Sam Dwyer (22)
Time On Ground: Travis Cloke (2476 minutes)
Players Used: 40
TEAM STATS
(total/percentage + AFL rank)
Disposals: 378.8 avg (1st)
Contested possession: +5.5 (6th)
Tackles: 65.5 avg (7th)
Clearance differential: -0.5 (12th)
Inside 50 differential: +8 (=2nd)
Scoring % Inside 50: 48.8 per cent (11th)
Average points for: 96 (6th)
Average points against: 85 (6th)
Average winning margin: 38
Average losing margin: 32
DID YOU KNOW?
Travis Cloke was involved in 161 offensive one-on-one contests during the H&A season - 53 more than any other player in the AFL. He won 36.0 per cent of these contests - well above the AFL average.
Monday, September 16, 2013
2013 Analysis: Part Three
Sportal
This year: 14 wins, 8 losses, 115 percentage.
This year's grade: C
Positives from this year: The primary positive was Collingwood essentially remained competitive despite being forced to draw significantly on their depth. From the outset, injuries cut deeply for the Magpies, but despite using 40 players, Nathan Buckley's side made the finals once again, although a first-week exit to Port Adelaide was a poor end to the campaign. With youngsters promoted to the team, some took their opportunity with aplomb. Marley Williams developed as a quality rebounding defender with a bright future ahead, presuming his court case in Albany goes well. Jamie Elliott, Paul Seedsman, Ben Sinclair, Brodie Grundy, Sam Dwyer and Josh Thomas all had their moments at times as a new guard started emerging.
The season clearly wasn't as good as past years, but there were also still some significant results. The first of these was the gutsy backs-to-the-wall win over Geelong in Round 8 that ended the Cats' unbeaten run. The Magpies also produced a quality late run of form that saw the pressure levels of old re-emerge as they proved too good for an admittedly dysfunctional Essendon and then Sydney. Magpies fans will also long remember Travis Cloke's seven-goal effort against the Tigers in Round 4 as well, with the forward putting last year's contract troubles behind to boot 68 goals. However Cloke still kicked 51 behinds, meaning his final record could have been significantly higher if he could ever get his radar right.
Negatives from this year: Plain and simple: Injuries. These often weren't quick-fix issues but long-term problems to crucial players. Clinton Young was brought in to be a key rebounding defender with his long, precise kicking, but the former Hawk played just two games as he battled hamstring issues. Most importantly, best-and-fairest winner Dayne Beams didn't play until Round 16 as he recovered from an ongoing calf problem. Indeed, Beams was meant to play in Round 1 but was a late withdrawal in an ominous sign of things to come as Darren Jolly and most significantly Alan Toovey, also suffered long-term injuries at various stages. Toovey, though, was probably Collingwood's best player over the first five matches, but his ruptured ACL was a major, major blow to the team on ANZAC Day.
Injuries were one part of the tale from 2013, the other was intensity. There were times the Magpies looked absolute blistering and others when players appeared barely interested and simply prepared to capitulate. In the second half against Hawthorn back in Round 3, once the momentum went against the Pies, the Hawks ran away with a huge win. The loss to Sydney was perhaps the worst performance by the club in years, although defeats by Port Adelaide and Gold Coast come close. In all those games, the rabid pressure that was the hallmark of the latter Malthouse years was simply non-existent and way too much was being left to way too few.
And, of course, this is without the off-field problems. The Sydney loss saw the club once again embroiled in racism issues as firstly a 13-year-old girl abused Adam Goodes before Eddie McGuire put his foot in it in the biggest way possible. Darren Jolly's articles angered his team-mates and the philosophy behind their adaptation of the Leading Teams program was questioned. Harry O'Brien also remained a divisive presence as he blew up at coach Nathan Buckley and then proceeded to discuss his brush with suicide and a 'complicated history' of child abuse. Through it all came rumours several players weren't prepared to give it all for Buckley, while suggestions the Collingwood 'rat pack' were causing issues continued to be levelled at the club, especially after Buckley's now infamous 'culture' press conference. Perhaps that's partly why Alan Didak has been shown the door, with Heath Shaw no certainty to remain in the team either.
Likely departures: The Pies have already made some telling personnel changes. Didak, as many expected, has been delisted along with Andrew Krakouer and Jolly. All three are hopeful of playing on next season. Jordan Russell was an experiment from Carlton that went wrong and he's also been delisted along with rookies Ben Richmond and Michael Hartley. Heath Shaw could be following them out the door as a trade after his elimination final meltdown against Port. When specifically asked whether Shaw's tantrum had de-stabilised the side during the game, Buckley simply said, 'potentially' in a sign Shaw may now be expendable. Former coach Mick Malthouse also looks likely to tempt Dale Thomas across to Carlton while the Pies lost a major figure from their premiership in the form of David Buttifant, with the fitness guru also expected to pop up at the Blues.
Next Year
Type of players needed: Collingwood need key position players more than anything. With the pressure up the ground not being up to the 2010/2011 standard, Collingwood's defence has been exposed somewhat. Maybe that pressure up the ground hid issues within Collingwood's defence during the good years that allowed them to function successfully as a unit but now that it's dropped off, the differing personalities in this group seem to be struggling. Nick Maxwell isn't the player he once was, Harry O'Brien's run out of defence is limited by his turnovers and Heath Shaw appears as frustrated as he ever has been by being pushed back into the square. Key defenders are needed to replace Maxwell and O'Brien over time, especially as Ben Reid is being used more as a forward. If Reid is to go back to defence full-time, the Pies need to look at bringing through another key forward to help Cloke. In 2010, Leigh Brown and Chris Dawes were also available but for now he seems a little too much of a one-man band and this needs to be rectified. The Pies appear to be well-placed for midfielders but developing ball use from these youngsters will definitely be a priority for Buckley. Shaw has also been linked to a trade for Shane Mumford, but the Pies ruck stocks seem all right, despite Grundy and Jarrod Witts being young.
Likely improvement: The cumulative effect of so many players leaving could be a drop off in form, particularly if Shaw and Dale Thomas depart. Jolly, Didak, Krakouer, Russell and Thomas probably only played limited roles this season, but their departure would still leave a massive hole in terms of experience. With Shaw possibly going as well, then it's entirely possible the Magpies will drop off a little. It's hard to tell, though, as Beams, Young and Toovey should be available for all of next season so that may counter the departures.
Finals in 2014: Once again, Collingwood should be competitive but whether they have the class at this current moment to push for a top four spot remains to be seen. There are numerous promising youngsters on the list but one suspects they still need one more year of development before really pushing for the premiership again. Maybe the lower reaches of the eight is Collingwood's level in 2014.
This year: 14 wins, 8 losses, 115 percentage.
This year's grade: C
Positives from this year: The primary positive was Collingwood essentially remained competitive despite being forced to draw significantly on their depth. From the outset, injuries cut deeply for the Magpies, but despite using 40 players, Nathan Buckley's side made the finals once again, although a first-week exit to Port Adelaide was a poor end to the campaign. With youngsters promoted to the team, some took their opportunity with aplomb. Marley Williams developed as a quality rebounding defender with a bright future ahead, presuming his court case in Albany goes well. Jamie Elliott, Paul Seedsman, Ben Sinclair, Brodie Grundy, Sam Dwyer and Josh Thomas all had their moments at times as a new guard started emerging.
The season clearly wasn't as good as past years, but there were also still some significant results. The first of these was the gutsy backs-to-the-wall win over Geelong in Round 8 that ended the Cats' unbeaten run. The Magpies also produced a quality late run of form that saw the pressure levels of old re-emerge as they proved too good for an admittedly dysfunctional Essendon and then Sydney. Magpies fans will also long remember Travis Cloke's seven-goal effort against the Tigers in Round 4 as well, with the forward putting last year's contract troubles behind to boot 68 goals. However Cloke still kicked 51 behinds, meaning his final record could have been significantly higher if he could ever get his radar right.
Negatives from this year: Plain and simple: Injuries. These often weren't quick-fix issues but long-term problems to crucial players. Clinton Young was brought in to be a key rebounding defender with his long, precise kicking, but the former Hawk played just two games as he battled hamstring issues. Most importantly, best-and-fairest winner Dayne Beams didn't play until Round 16 as he recovered from an ongoing calf problem. Indeed, Beams was meant to play in Round 1 but was a late withdrawal in an ominous sign of things to come as Darren Jolly and most significantly Alan Toovey, also suffered long-term injuries at various stages. Toovey, though, was probably Collingwood's best player over the first five matches, but his ruptured ACL was a major, major blow to the team on ANZAC Day.
Injuries were one part of the tale from 2013, the other was intensity. There were times the Magpies looked absolute blistering and others when players appeared barely interested and simply prepared to capitulate. In the second half against Hawthorn back in Round 3, once the momentum went against the Pies, the Hawks ran away with a huge win. The loss to Sydney was perhaps the worst performance by the club in years, although defeats by Port Adelaide and Gold Coast come close. In all those games, the rabid pressure that was the hallmark of the latter Malthouse years was simply non-existent and way too much was being left to way too few.
And, of course, this is without the off-field problems. The Sydney loss saw the club once again embroiled in racism issues as firstly a 13-year-old girl abused Adam Goodes before Eddie McGuire put his foot in it in the biggest way possible. Darren Jolly's articles angered his team-mates and the philosophy behind their adaptation of the Leading Teams program was questioned. Harry O'Brien also remained a divisive presence as he blew up at coach Nathan Buckley and then proceeded to discuss his brush with suicide and a 'complicated history' of child abuse. Through it all came rumours several players weren't prepared to give it all for Buckley, while suggestions the Collingwood 'rat pack' were causing issues continued to be levelled at the club, especially after Buckley's now infamous 'culture' press conference. Perhaps that's partly why Alan Didak has been shown the door, with Heath Shaw no certainty to remain in the team either.
Likely departures: The Pies have already made some telling personnel changes. Didak, as many expected, has been delisted along with Andrew Krakouer and Jolly. All three are hopeful of playing on next season. Jordan Russell was an experiment from Carlton that went wrong and he's also been delisted along with rookies Ben Richmond and Michael Hartley. Heath Shaw could be following them out the door as a trade after his elimination final meltdown against Port. When specifically asked whether Shaw's tantrum had de-stabilised the side during the game, Buckley simply said, 'potentially' in a sign Shaw may now be expendable. Former coach Mick Malthouse also looks likely to tempt Dale Thomas across to Carlton while the Pies lost a major figure from their premiership in the form of David Buttifant, with the fitness guru also expected to pop up at the Blues.
Next Year
Type of players needed: Collingwood need key position players more than anything. With the pressure up the ground not being up to the 2010/2011 standard, Collingwood's defence has been exposed somewhat. Maybe that pressure up the ground hid issues within Collingwood's defence during the good years that allowed them to function successfully as a unit but now that it's dropped off, the differing personalities in this group seem to be struggling. Nick Maxwell isn't the player he once was, Harry O'Brien's run out of defence is limited by his turnovers and Heath Shaw appears as frustrated as he ever has been by being pushed back into the square. Key defenders are needed to replace Maxwell and O'Brien over time, especially as Ben Reid is being used more as a forward. If Reid is to go back to defence full-time, the Pies need to look at bringing through another key forward to help Cloke. In 2010, Leigh Brown and Chris Dawes were also available but for now he seems a little too much of a one-man band and this needs to be rectified. The Pies appear to be well-placed for midfielders but developing ball use from these youngsters will definitely be a priority for Buckley. Shaw has also been linked to a trade for Shane Mumford, but the Pies ruck stocks seem all right, despite Grundy and Jarrod Witts being young.
Likely improvement: The cumulative effect of so many players leaving could be a drop off in form, particularly if Shaw and Dale Thomas depart. Jolly, Didak, Krakouer, Russell and Thomas probably only played limited roles this season, but their departure would still leave a massive hole in terms of experience. With Shaw possibly going as well, then it's entirely possible the Magpies will drop off a little. It's hard to tell, though, as Beams, Young and Toovey should be available for all of next season so that may counter the departures.
Finals in 2014: Once again, Collingwood should be competitive but whether they have the class at this current moment to push for a top four spot remains to be seen. There are numerous promising youngsters on the list but one suspects they still need one more year of development before really pushing for the premiership again. Maybe the lower reaches of the eight is Collingwood's level in 2014.
2013 Review: Statistics
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| 2013 Totals | ||||||
| Team | Games | Kicks | Handballs | Disposals | Marks | Tackles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collingwood | 23 | 4985 | 3728 | 8713 | 2250 | 1506 |
| Opponent | 23 | 4655 | 3501 | 8156 | 1976 | 1313 |
| Team/Opp. Diff. | 23 | 330 | 227 | 557 | 274 | 193 |
| 2013 Totals | |||||
| Team | Goals | Behinds | Hitouts | Frees For | Frees Against |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collingwood | 319 | 297 | 720 | 379 | 365 |
| Opponent | 286 | 239 | 883 | 366 | 379 |
| Team/Opp. Diff. | 33 | 58 | -163 | 13 | -14 |
| Statistical Rankings | |
| High Rankings | Low Rankings |
| 5th in Kicks Per Game 4th in Handballs Per Game 1st in Disposals Per Game 4th in Marks Per Game 5th in least Opponent Kicks Per Game 2nd in least Opponent Tackles Per Game 4th in Team to Opponent Kicks Per Game Diff. 5th in Team to Opponent Handballs Per Game Diff. 4th in Team to Opponent Disposals Per Game Diff. 3rd in Team to Opponent Marks Per Game Diff. 1st in Team to Opponent Tackles Per Game Diff. |
18th in Hitouts Per Game 16th in Team to Opponent Hitouts Per Game Diff. |
| Statistical Leaders | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | Average Per Game | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2013 Analysis: Part Two
SportsMatt
For the Collingwood football club season 2013 has to go down as a failure. At the beginning of the season the Magpies were seen as a genuine premiership contender after finishing fourth last season. Yet after only a few home and away rounds it became quite obvious that this team was clearly missing one thing, consistency in its performance. At their best the Pies could still defeat anyone, as they showed with stunning wins over Geelong and Sydney, yet on their bad days they could lose to anyone, demonstrated in full with the loss to the Gold Coast Suns in round 17. It was a season that was effected by injuries, form slumps and off field issues, but all sides had to deal with something similar, although obviously Collingwood always deals with its issues more publicly. The list of the injured was quite significant at the Pies in 2013 though, with Beams, Thomas (Dale), Fasolo, Jolly, Krakouer, Didak, Johnson and Toovey all missing decent chunks of the season due to injury. The loss of Toovey, Thomas, Johnson and Fasolo for the season hit the club the hardest and by the time the finals came around the Pies weren’t a premiership threat.
Collingwood finished 6th after the home and away season with 14 wins and 8 losses and matched up against Port Adelaide in the Second Elimination Final last Saturday night. Just like the Pies season, from the start it was clear things were not going to plan as Port looked the classier, faster and more desperate side. The Magpies came from behind to take the lead early in the final quarter but it all fell apart from there as the Power had the last 10 scoring shots to run out 24 point victors and end Collingwood’s 2013 campaign in emphatic style. Nothing can be taken away from Port as on the night there were no excuses for a performance like the one that Collingwood put up but it was definitely a shock to see the Power run away with such an easy win in the end.
Since the season ended on Saturday for Collingwood the circus that is the media has really taken it to another level with wall to wall coverage of the first lot of de-listings, a group that includes premiership players Jolly, Didak and Krakouer. There will be harsh calls made at Collingwood over this off season and some of them have already been made.
PLAYER REVIEWS
Below is a small summary of each Collingwood listed players’ season. (In guernsey number order).
Alex Fasolo: 3 games – averages: 11 disposals, 2 tackles, 4 marks. Total goals = 1.
It was a season cut short by injury for Alex as the third year forward broke down early in the season with a footy injury and wasn’t see from again. He was a massive loss to a Pies forward line that seemed dysfunctional for most of the year and will be welcomed back with open arms in 2014.
Jordan Russell: 9 games – averages: 14 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles. Zero goals.
Russell was a cheap recruit from the Magpies and he lived up to his price, only managing the nine games and subsequently being delisted in the last few days. The tall half back came in as a replacement for Alan Toovey but was never really up to the task at senior level.
Brent Macaffer: 22 games – averages: 14 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles. 7 goals in total.
Macaffer was one of the success stories of 2013 for coach Nathan Buckley as he filled defensive gaps in the Collingwood side on a weekly basis. Most weeks he was used in a tagging role, whether that be on an opposition midfielder or running defender. For Brent to play 22 games a year after a knee reconstruction was nothing short of sensational.
Alan Didak: 5 games – averages: 17 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles. 3 goals in total.
Didak, an obvious fan favourite at Collingwood had a frustrating year as he struggled with hamstring injuries for a lot of the season. He returned to the side for the final two games and the final but his impact was limited due to being the substitute on two of those occasions. Unfortunately Alan Didak’s time at the club has come to end but he was a great servant indeed.
Nick Maxwell: 19 games – averages: 15 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles. 1 goal.
The Collingwood captain once again did his best to hold together a defense that went through many changes throughout the season. Maxwell copped a lot of criticism for his play this season but he was still one of the most consistent, and reliable defenders in the team. He may hand the captaincy over soon, but there’s no guarantee of that yet either.
Tyson Goldsack: 13 games – averages: 12 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles. 6 goals.
Goldsack had a delayed start to the year due to injury but once Toovey and Fasolo went down he was always going to play when fit. He played down back and up forward and basically plugged any gaps that needed filling. His versatility is the reason he will continue to get games.
Andrew Krakouer: 8 games – averages: 12 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles. 10 goals.
The mystery of what happened to Krakouer in 2013 may never be answered. He didn’t seem to be injured too often yet only managed 8 senior games as off field problems raised their head once again. His best was outstanding, as he greatly assisted the side in the win over Geelong but a one kick performance in the defeat to the Suns meant it was hard to see him playing for the Pies again, and he was subsequently delisted at seasons’ end.
Harry O’Brien: 19 games – averages: 22 disposals, 6 marks, 3 tackles. 7 goals.
A strange year for Harry, yet on field a successful one. A mid season spat with the coach meant he had a few weeks off for personal reasons but when he played his new more attacking role saw him become a very dangerous player. Harry’s defensive abilities have always been in question but this year we saw a new Harry, and most liked what they saw.
Marty Clarke: 9 games – averages: 17 disposals, 5 marks, 2 tackles. 3 goals.
Marty started the season well and was considered part of the senior team, but the emergence of the likes of Seedsman, Williams and Sinclair down back meant Clarke was resigned to the VFL for most of the second half of the year. He still has one year to run on his contract but it’s hard to see him being part of the best 22 next season.
Scott Pendlebury: 23 games – averages: 30 disposals, 4 marks, 5 tackles. 18 goals.
Pendlebury had a great season really, as shown by being voted as the AFLCA (coaches association) player of the year. Along with Dane Swan he led the team from the middle of the ground as the two once again racked up the disposals and some weeks carried the team on their own shoulders. Could well be the next captain of Collingwood, and would deserve the honour.
Jarryd Blair: 22 games – averages: 17 disposal, 3 marks, 6 tackles. 14 goals.
Blair had a solid year once again, spending most of his time as a forward who would also relief the top tier of midfielders in the midfield rotation at times. His defensive pressure up forward was a team best and that kept him in the side most weeks. Every year the media say Jarryd will struggle to hold his place in the team but yet again he proved them all wrong.
Luke Ball: 13 games – averages: 24 disposals, 3 marks, 7 tackles. 2 goals.
Coming off a knee reconstruction it was always going to be a tough year for Ball but he battled manfully once he returned and made life easier for the likes of Swan, Pendlebury and Ball in the middle. With a full pre season I’d expect him to be back to his best next season.
Dale Thomas: 5 games – averages: 22 disposals, 5 marks, 2 tackles. 0 goals.
The most frustrating year of Dale’s career, that’s the best way to sum up 2013. Thomas just never got going with that ankle injury causing him major troubles whenever he tried to make a return. He was greatly missed by the Pies as his pace ans foot skills were areas that Collingwood really struggled in. He is a restricted free agent now and it will come down to loyalty versus massive pay offers for Daisy. Hopefully he chooses loyalty, but you couldn’t blame him for taking a massive offer considering his injury concerns.
Clinton Young: 2 games – averages: 15 possessions, 4 marks, 2 tackles. 0 goals.
Hamstring injuries ruined Clinton Youngs’ first season at Collingwood. The ex Hawk has the pace and accuracy with his kicking that the Pies desperately need but he simply wasn’t able to put games together at any level in 2013. Hopefully he can get fit over the off season and he should be a big part of the Magpies plans in 2014.
Jarrod Witts: 7 games – averages: 15 disposals, 4 marks, 11 hitouts, 2 tackles. 5 goals.
Jarrod made his senior debut in 2013 and at times didn’t look out of place. He looked tired towards the end of the season though so a big pre season has to be in the plans for the 208cm monster. Along with phenom ruckman Brodie Grundy Witts has a massive future, with the club recently signing him to a 3 year deal.
Nathan Brown: 22 games – averages: 9 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles. 1 goal.
Nathan had a very good year as the club’s full back. Apart from two games where he was beaten easily by Cameron and Tippett he did exactly what the coaching staff asked of him week in, week out. Still relatively young in football terms Brown is the long term full back of the club, there’s little doubt about that.
Dayne Beams: 8 games – averages: 29 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles. 6 goals.
Beams was struck down with a quad injury on the eve of the season opening game and didn’t return until the second half of the season. He has developed into an elite midfielder now and was sorely missed by the senior team. He’s a goal kicking midfielder who can win his own ball and use it well, those are a rare combination of skills in modern day football. Hopefully he plays more games next season.
Darren Jolly: 9 games – averages: 11 disposals, 4 marks, 23 hitouts, 4 tackles. 4 goals.
The Pies premiership ruckman struggled for fitness throughout the season and when he did return to near full fitness late in the season he found himself in the VFL as Brodie Grundy had taken the number one ruck role over. Jolly had a great first 3 years at the club but his fourth clearly didn’t go to plan. Darren was delisted at the end of the season but will always be remembered for helping the pies in that 2010-11 period.
Jamie Elliott: 20 games – averages: 13 disposals, 5 marks, 3 tackles. 30 goals.
In just his second year Jamie Elliott was Collingwood’s second leading goal kicker, not bad for a small forward. The cheeky little forward stood out at times with his ability to take marks that to put it simply someone his size shouldn’t be able to take. With an improved forward line in 2014 almost a certainty, Jamie may find it even easier to kick goals next season.
Ben Reid: 22 games – averages: 15 disposals, 6 marks, 2 tackles. 25 goals.
Ben Reid being moved forward late in the year was one of the revelations of 2013 for the Magpies. The fact he booted 25 goals in only a handful of games as a permanent forward shows the talent he has. The big question is what to do with an All Australian centre half back who also can play forward? He’s a good problem to have.
Quinten Lynch: 18 games – averages: 14 disposals, 6 marks, 7 hitouts, 1 tackle. 9 goals.
Lynch is the latest player who has been tried in the “Leigh Brown” role and since the man himself retired after the 2011 season Lynch has been the most successful in that secondary ruck/forward role. This was very evident whenever Lynch was missing and in the elimination final it became clear that Lynch had been playing a vitally important role for the Magpies all year. Will go around for at least one more year and at the moment he’d start in round one in the same role again in 2014.
Steele Sidebottom: 23 games – averages: 24 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles. 19 goals.
Steele had another very good year, maybe his most consistent yet. He moved from playing as a half forward and midfield relief player to almost being a permanent member of the backline by the finals. His use of the ball off half back was the reason he was placed back there and at times he looked lost while trying to figure out the new role. It does add another side to his game moving forward though, and his defensive side to his game improved greatly because of it. He’s an important cog in the Collingwood machine moving forward for sure.
Lachlan Keeffe: 8 games – averages: 12 disposals, 5 marks, 2 tackles. 1 goal.
Keeffe broke into the team late in the year after some fitness issues in the VFL. Once fit and in form he came into the seniors and enabled Ben Reid to play forward. Keeffe for a 204cm player moves remarkably well and that’s why he’s able to play on various opposition forwards. The move of Keeffe into the Quinten Lynch role of secondary ruck and part time forward in the elimination final was a massive failure, although Lachie showed he does have some ruck ability. Sure to see plenty of senior game time next season.
Josh Thomas: 19 games – averages: 19 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles. 11 goals.
After 3 terrible years with injuries Josh Thomas finally got his opportunity at senior level in 2013 and he took it with both hands. Initially in the absence of Ball and Beams Thomas was crucial to the teams midfield rotations and once those two players returned he continued to play the inside midfielder role as well as anyone. 4th in total clearances in 2013 shows JT’s worth to Collingwood, and he is only going to get better with more senior game time.
Ben Hudson: 7 games – averages: 14 disposals, 3 marks, 21 hitouts, 4 tackles. 1 goal.
Ben Hudson, a sprite 34 year old was bought out of retirement to be Darren Jolly’s backup and to be the ruck coach that would guide the future stars that are Grundy and Witts. But he went beyond expectations when he managed to replicate Jolly’s hitout and possession figures whenever he was called upon as a replacement. At this moment he has been retained as a rookie and ruck coach for 2014 and there’s no reason why he wouldn’t be.
Ben Johnson: 3 games – averages: 16 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles. 0 goals.
A much loved club stalwart Johnson ended his career at Collingwood midway through the year once he knew his body just couldn’t hold up any more. After 235 games the half back/midfielder had become a fan favourite and will go down as one of the last old school “Collingwood loving” footballers to play for the club. It was fitting that he walks away with a premiership medallion also, BJ was loved by all at the club.
Ben Kennedy: 12 games – averages: 12 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles. 9 goals.
Taking with pick 19 in last year’s draft Kennedy wasn’t expected to play a lot of senior football this season as his small body (174cm and 76kgs) would need to be developed for him to compete at the top level. But the South Australian youngster managed a remarkable 12 games in his opening season, a lot of them as the substitute and with a full pre season in the weights room he could well break into the Magpies senior side for even more games in 2013. His pace and foot skills are his greatest asset and he possesses a great crumbing ability, something missing at the Pies.
Ben Sinclair: 15 games – averages: 13 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles. 2 goals.
Sinclair has been a much maligned player at Collingwood but he finally found his place in the team off half back. After struggling as a defensive forward Sinclair was taught to play off half back in the VFL before returning to the senior side and claiming his place down back. A shoulder injury ended his season prematurely and he was another player badly missed in the finals loss to Port. Sinclair is tough, quick and has a defensive mindset which is why he is a coaches favourite now.
Tim Broomhead: 0 games.
Taken with pick 20 in the national draft Broomhead, like Kennedy wasn’t expected to have a big impact in his first season due to his slight frame. A bout of glandular fever really set him back as he didn’t debut in the VFL until well into the season but on a consistent basis he was in the best players in the reserves. His stand out game was a performance out at Preston where he stood out mainly because he was covered in mud from head to toe, but he was also best on ground in a good win for the VFL team. Expectations around Broomhead are high and you’d expect he will play senior football next year.
Jackson Ramsay: 0 games.
Taken with pick 38 in the national draft Ramsay was a chance to play senior football this year but injuries set him back and he only managed a handful of games in the VFL. What he did show towards the end of the year was his ability as a half back to win the ball and move it with skill and precision. Hopefully he’s ready to go round 1 next season and we can see the potential that Derek Hine obviously saw in him before the draft.
Travis Cloke: 22 games – averages: 15 disposals, 9 marks, 2 tackles. 68 goals, 51 behinds.
Cloke led the way again up forward finishing just 2 goals short of a tie for the Coleman medal. He had more shots at goal than anyone in the competition and took more contested marks. He led Collingwood in marks, contested marks, goals and behinds and is the rock around which a new forward line is being built. He was worth every dollar Collingwood had to throw his way to secure a new deal pre season and is the most physically dominant forward in the AFL.
Jackson Paine: 0 games.
It was a disappointing second season for the developing forward with Paine not being able to break into the senior side at any point. He kicked the most goals for the Pies VFL team but that was more due to playing every week rather than being outstanding on a consistent basis. Jackson seemed to play a similar game every weekend where he would score 2-3 goals but really struggle to break into the next level of performance. He is still young though so there is time but 2014 will be a big year for Paine.
Alan Toovey: 5 games – averages: 12 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles. 0 goals.
The loss of Alan Toovey to a season ending knee injury early in the season impacted Collingwood hard. The Pies came into the season with two reliable one on one defenders in Toovey and Brown and when Toovey went down it really did cause chaos down back. Toovey in his five games started to show a more attacking side to his game too which made his loss an even greater one. The only positive is the injury was sustained so early in the season that he should be right to go by round 1 next season.
Brodie Grundy: 7 games – averages: 12 disposals, 3 marks, 22 hitouts, 3 tackles. 1 goal.
The hype around Brodie Grundy when he slipped to pick 18 in the draft was huge. A back injury pre season set him back a little but when he made his debut in the VFL it was a sight for sore eyes as straight away he showed he was simply something different from the average first year AFL ruckman. After he and Dayne Beams single handedly won a VFL game out at Box Hill it was apparent the Pies had something special on their hands and when he made his debut against GWS he staggered everyone who watched. The amazing thing was he just kept getting better and by the time the finals came around he was keeping Darren Jolly and Ben Hudson out of the senior side, in his first season. He is remarkably well built for a 19 year old and contested against some of the great AFL ruckman in his first 7 games in ways that defied belief. He is now the current and future number 1 ruckman of the football club and is a budding superstar of the competition.
Dane Swan: 23 games – averages: 32 disposals, 6 marks, 4 tackles. 21 goals.
Dane Swan continued on being Dane Swan in 2013 with yet another remarkable season. In the absence of Ball and Beams for long periods of the season Dane and Scott Pendlebury carried the side for a long time and made them competitive when they probably shouldn’t have been. His performance in the losing final when he kicked 3 goals and was simply the reason why the Pies were still in the game late on showed just how important he is to this club. It also showed what his future may hold as Swan could well play on for many years to come as a permanent forward.
Kyle Martin: 4 games – averages: 16 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles. 6 goals.
Kyle Martin is almost certain to win the Pies VFL best and fairest and he led the VFL side into the finals for the first time in 3 seasons. His 4 appearances at senior level also showed that he has what it takes to be a player at the highest level and he will get plenty of chances next season to show that.
Heath Shaw: 20 games – averages: 20 disposals, 6 marks, 3 tackles. 1 goal.
Heath Shaw may have been impacted the hardest by the move of Harry O’Brien up the ground and the loss of Alan Toovey to the backline. Most weeks opposition teams dragged Heath back to the defensive goal square and while Shaw stood up well defensively it meant the side lost his defensive rebounding ability that helped Collingwood so much in previous years. A few misdemeanour in the losing final have since been highlighted but Shaw is still a top level footballer who hopefully is part of the clubs’ future.
Paul Seedsman: 17 games – averages: 19 disposals, 6 marks, 2 tackles. 9 goals.
Seedsman is the type of player Collingwood needs, he’s quick, skilful and can break the lines open off half back. Paul had a good year without having an outstanding one, a bit like the team really. A Collingwood supporter from birth Seedsman will take over the mantle from Ben Johnson as the Pies fan’s representative within the playing group. He has a big future.
Sam Dwyer: 21 games – averages: 17 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles. 15 goals.
The surprise packet and good news story of 2013, the ex Port Melbourne VFL player burst onto the scene in round 1 after being promoted off the rookie list to replace Dayne Beams at the last minute. He went on to play in 21 senior games including the final and at no time did he look like losing his place in the team. He led the team for the season in goal assists and just had a knack for both finding and setting up goals all season. A real find.
Adam Oxley: 2 games – averages: 5 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle. 0 goals.
Oxley looks like a modern day footballer, and the rookie got his reward for consistent performances off half back in the VFL when he was promoted to debut in the seniors. Although he only got two chances at senior level it was an impressive first year for Oxley indeed. He can, and will play as a tall half back or half forward and has shown a propensity to take a contested mark. The club would have high hopes for Adam.
Corey Gault: 0 games.
Corey was always going to be a long term option but with Lachlan Keeffe being promoted to the seniors Gault was forced to play in an unfamiliar position down back in the VFL. He showed more promising signs as a forward and that may be the reason why he has been retained (at this point) for a second season.
Jack Frost: 2 games – averages: 8 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles. 0 goals.
Frost was another one of the very impressive rookies in 2013. With Toovey and Keeffe missing at the time Jack got a chance early on in the season and he didn’t look over awed or out of place at senior level. He was clearly the best defender of the year in the Pies VFL side and as the youngest of the 3 ex VFL players his future as a back man is bright.
Marley Williams: 16 games – averages: 17 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles. 2 goals.
It was a breakthrough season for Marley Williams as he cemented a spot in the Collingwood defense for a long time to come. His pace, toughness and defensive ability makes him a great small defender and he was rarely beaten one on one throughout the season. Unlike most smaller players he isn’t built like a rake with his heritage ensuring he has a strong core to carry him in senior football. The club was so impressed by him that they didn’t waste any time in signing up the Western Australian until the end of the 2016 season.
Caolon Mooney: 2 games – averages: 6 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles. 1 goal.
The Irishman speedster had another good development year at VFL level and made 2 appearances at senior level although he didn’t really shine in either game. He had a few stand out games in the VFL and is developing along well for someone who had never played the game just 2 years ago.
ROOKIES
Ben Richmond: 0 games.
Richmond came to the club as pure project player and was used in all sorts of positions in the VFL. At times he showed some promising signs and probably played his best football late in the season in the backline. Richmond was delisted at season’s end.
Peter Yagmoor: 0 games.
Peter Yagmoor is an interesting case, he made his debut in round 1 of 2012 yet this year for a long time it looked his AFL career was going to be over at seasons’ end. Yet as the year endured in the VFL he got better and was one of the best Pies players in the last few games, including the elimination final loss to Port Melbourne. He has been retained as a rookie at this stage.
Michael Hartley: 0 games.
Hartley was one of Collingwood’s NSW scholarship players but he was never able to fully show what he was capable of at his time at the club due to persistent shoulder injuries. He was delisted at years’ end.
Overall it was a disappointing year for Collingwood but with some smart off season moves and a little bit of luck in the injury department they could push for a top four position in 2014. With the 6 delistings so far and possibly more to come the Pies may also have the opportunity to add both some elite young talent through high draft picks and some experienced players through trades or free agency. How the Magpies approach the off season is one of the most interesting stories of 2013 leading into 2014, as shown by the media’s rabid interest in recent days.
For the Collingwood football club season 2013 has to go down as a failure. At the beginning of the season the Magpies were seen as a genuine premiership contender after finishing fourth last season. Yet after only a few home and away rounds it became quite obvious that this team was clearly missing one thing, consistency in its performance. At their best the Pies could still defeat anyone, as they showed with stunning wins over Geelong and Sydney, yet on their bad days they could lose to anyone, demonstrated in full with the loss to the Gold Coast Suns in round 17. It was a season that was effected by injuries, form slumps and off field issues, but all sides had to deal with something similar, although obviously Collingwood always deals with its issues more publicly. The list of the injured was quite significant at the Pies in 2013 though, with Beams, Thomas (Dale), Fasolo, Jolly, Krakouer, Didak, Johnson and Toovey all missing decent chunks of the season due to injury. The loss of Toovey, Thomas, Johnson and Fasolo for the season hit the club the hardest and by the time the finals came around the Pies weren’t a premiership threat.
Collingwood finished 6th after the home and away season with 14 wins and 8 losses and matched up against Port Adelaide in the Second Elimination Final last Saturday night. Just like the Pies season, from the start it was clear things were not going to plan as Port looked the classier, faster and more desperate side. The Magpies came from behind to take the lead early in the final quarter but it all fell apart from there as the Power had the last 10 scoring shots to run out 24 point victors and end Collingwood’s 2013 campaign in emphatic style. Nothing can be taken away from Port as on the night there were no excuses for a performance like the one that Collingwood put up but it was definitely a shock to see the Power run away with such an easy win in the end.
Since the season ended on Saturday for Collingwood the circus that is the media has really taken it to another level with wall to wall coverage of the first lot of de-listings, a group that includes premiership players Jolly, Didak and Krakouer. There will be harsh calls made at Collingwood over this off season and some of them have already been made.
PLAYER REVIEWS
Below is a small summary of each Collingwood listed players’ season. (In guernsey number order).
Alex Fasolo: 3 games – averages: 11 disposals, 2 tackles, 4 marks. Total goals = 1.
It was a season cut short by injury for Alex as the third year forward broke down early in the season with a footy injury and wasn’t see from again. He was a massive loss to a Pies forward line that seemed dysfunctional for most of the year and will be welcomed back with open arms in 2014.
Jordan Russell: 9 games – averages: 14 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles. Zero goals.
Russell was a cheap recruit from the Magpies and he lived up to his price, only managing the nine games and subsequently being delisted in the last few days. The tall half back came in as a replacement for Alan Toovey but was never really up to the task at senior level.
Brent Macaffer: 22 games – averages: 14 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles. 7 goals in total.
Macaffer was one of the success stories of 2013 for coach Nathan Buckley as he filled defensive gaps in the Collingwood side on a weekly basis. Most weeks he was used in a tagging role, whether that be on an opposition midfielder or running defender. For Brent to play 22 games a year after a knee reconstruction was nothing short of sensational.
Alan Didak: 5 games – averages: 17 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles. 3 goals in total.
Didak, an obvious fan favourite at Collingwood had a frustrating year as he struggled with hamstring injuries for a lot of the season. He returned to the side for the final two games and the final but his impact was limited due to being the substitute on two of those occasions. Unfortunately Alan Didak’s time at the club has come to end but he was a great servant indeed.
Nick Maxwell: 19 games – averages: 15 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles. 1 goal.
The Collingwood captain once again did his best to hold together a defense that went through many changes throughout the season. Maxwell copped a lot of criticism for his play this season but he was still one of the most consistent, and reliable defenders in the team. He may hand the captaincy over soon, but there’s no guarantee of that yet either.
Tyson Goldsack: 13 games – averages: 12 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles. 6 goals.
Goldsack had a delayed start to the year due to injury but once Toovey and Fasolo went down he was always going to play when fit. He played down back and up forward and basically plugged any gaps that needed filling. His versatility is the reason he will continue to get games.
Andrew Krakouer: 8 games – averages: 12 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles. 10 goals.
The mystery of what happened to Krakouer in 2013 may never be answered. He didn’t seem to be injured too often yet only managed 8 senior games as off field problems raised their head once again. His best was outstanding, as he greatly assisted the side in the win over Geelong but a one kick performance in the defeat to the Suns meant it was hard to see him playing for the Pies again, and he was subsequently delisted at seasons’ end.
Harry O’Brien: 19 games – averages: 22 disposals, 6 marks, 3 tackles. 7 goals.
A strange year for Harry, yet on field a successful one. A mid season spat with the coach meant he had a few weeks off for personal reasons but when he played his new more attacking role saw him become a very dangerous player. Harry’s defensive abilities have always been in question but this year we saw a new Harry, and most liked what they saw.
Marty Clarke: 9 games – averages: 17 disposals, 5 marks, 2 tackles. 3 goals.
Marty started the season well and was considered part of the senior team, but the emergence of the likes of Seedsman, Williams and Sinclair down back meant Clarke was resigned to the VFL for most of the second half of the year. He still has one year to run on his contract but it’s hard to see him being part of the best 22 next season.
Scott Pendlebury: 23 games – averages: 30 disposals, 4 marks, 5 tackles. 18 goals.
Pendlebury had a great season really, as shown by being voted as the AFLCA (coaches association) player of the year. Along with Dane Swan he led the team from the middle of the ground as the two once again racked up the disposals and some weeks carried the team on their own shoulders. Could well be the next captain of Collingwood, and would deserve the honour.
Jarryd Blair: 22 games – averages: 17 disposal, 3 marks, 6 tackles. 14 goals.
Blair had a solid year once again, spending most of his time as a forward who would also relief the top tier of midfielders in the midfield rotation at times. His defensive pressure up forward was a team best and that kept him in the side most weeks. Every year the media say Jarryd will struggle to hold his place in the team but yet again he proved them all wrong.
Luke Ball: 13 games – averages: 24 disposals, 3 marks, 7 tackles. 2 goals.
Coming off a knee reconstruction it was always going to be a tough year for Ball but he battled manfully once he returned and made life easier for the likes of Swan, Pendlebury and Ball in the middle. With a full pre season I’d expect him to be back to his best next season.
Dale Thomas: 5 games – averages: 22 disposals, 5 marks, 2 tackles. 0 goals.
The most frustrating year of Dale’s career, that’s the best way to sum up 2013. Thomas just never got going with that ankle injury causing him major troubles whenever he tried to make a return. He was greatly missed by the Pies as his pace ans foot skills were areas that Collingwood really struggled in. He is a restricted free agent now and it will come down to loyalty versus massive pay offers for Daisy. Hopefully he chooses loyalty, but you couldn’t blame him for taking a massive offer considering his injury concerns.
Clinton Young: 2 games – averages: 15 possessions, 4 marks, 2 tackles. 0 goals.
Hamstring injuries ruined Clinton Youngs’ first season at Collingwood. The ex Hawk has the pace and accuracy with his kicking that the Pies desperately need but he simply wasn’t able to put games together at any level in 2013. Hopefully he can get fit over the off season and he should be a big part of the Magpies plans in 2014.
Jarrod Witts: 7 games – averages: 15 disposals, 4 marks, 11 hitouts, 2 tackles. 5 goals.
Jarrod made his senior debut in 2013 and at times didn’t look out of place. He looked tired towards the end of the season though so a big pre season has to be in the plans for the 208cm monster. Along with phenom ruckman Brodie Grundy Witts has a massive future, with the club recently signing him to a 3 year deal.
Nathan Brown: 22 games – averages: 9 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles. 1 goal.
Nathan had a very good year as the club’s full back. Apart from two games where he was beaten easily by Cameron and Tippett he did exactly what the coaching staff asked of him week in, week out. Still relatively young in football terms Brown is the long term full back of the club, there’s little doubt about that.
Dayne Beams: 8 games – averages: 29 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles. 6 goals.
Beams was struck down with a quad injury on the eve of the season opening game and didn’t return until the second half of the season. He has developed into an elite midfielder now and was sorely missed by the senior team. He’s a goal kicking midfielder who can win his own ball and use it well, those are a rare combination of skills in modern day football. Hopefully he plays more games next season.
Darren Jolly: 9 games – averages: 11 disposals, 4 marks, 23 hitouts, 4 tackles. 4 goals.
The Pies premiership ruckman struggled for fitness throughout the season and when he did return to near full fitness late in the season he found himself in the VFL as Brodie Grundy had taken the number one ruck role over. Jolly had a great first 3 years at the club but his fourth clearly didn’t go to plan. Darren was delisted at the end of the season but will always be remembered for helping the pies in that 2010-11 period.
Jamie Elliott: 20 games – averages: 13 disposals, 5 marks, 3 tackles. 30 goals.
In just his second year Jamie Elliott was Collingwood’s second leading goal kicker, not bad for a small forward. The cheeky little forward stood out at times with his ability to take marks that to put it simply someone his size shouldn’t be able to take. With an improved forward line in 2014 almost a certainty, Jamie may find it even easier to kick goals next season.
Ben Reid: 22 games – averages: 15 disposals, 6 marks, 2 tackles. 25 goals.
Ben Reid being moved forward late in the year was one of the revelations of 2013 for the Magpies. The fact he booted 25 goals in only a handful of games as a permanent forward shows the talent he has. The big question is what to do with an All Australian centre half back who also can play forward? He’s a good problem to have.
Quinten Lynch: 18 games – averages: 14 disposals, 6 marks, 7 hitouts, 1 tackle. 9 goals.
Lynch is the latest player who has been tried in the “Leigh Brown” role and since the man himself retired after the 2011 season Lynch has been the most successful in that secondary ruck/forward role. This was very evident whenever Lynch was missing and in the elimination final it became clear that Lynch had been playing a vitally important role for the Magpies all year. Will go around for at least one more year and at the moment he’d start in round one in the same role again in 2014.
Steele Sidebottom: 23 games – averages: 24 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles. 19 goals.
Steele had another very good year, maybe his most consistent yet. He moved from playing as a half forward and midfield relief player to almost being a permanent member of the backline by the finals. His use of the ball off half back was the reason he was placed back there and at times he looked lost while trying to figure out the new role. It does add another side to his game moving forward though, and his defensive side to his game improved greatly because of it. He’s an important cog in the Collingwood machine moving forward for sure.
Lachlan Keeffe: 8 games – averages: 12 disposals, 5 marks, 2 tackles. 1 goal.
Keeffe broke into the team late in the year after some fitness issues in the VFL. Once fit and in form he came into the seniors and enabled Ben Reid to play forward. Keeffe for a 204cm player moves remarkably well and that’s why he’s able to play on various opposition forwards. The move of Keeffe into the Quinten Lynch role of secondary ruck and part time forward in the elimination final was a massive failure, although Lachie showed he does have some ruck ability. Sure to see plenty of senior game time next season.
Josh Thomas: 19 games – averages: 19 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles. 11 goals.
After 3 terrible years with injuries Josh Thomas finally got his opportunity at senior level in 2013 and he took it with both hands. Initially in the absence of Ball and Beams Thomas was crucial to the teams midfield rotations and once those two players returned he continued to play the inside midfielder role as well as anyone. 4th in total clearances in 2013 shows JT’s worth to Collingwood, and he is only going to get better with more senior game time.
Ben Hudson: 7 games – averages: 14 disposals, 3 marks, 21 hitouts, 4 tackles. 1 goal.
Ben Hudson, a sprite 34 year old was bought out of retirement to be Darren Jolly’s backup and to be the ruck coach that would guide the future stars that are Grundy and Witts. But he went beyond expectations when he managed to replicate Jolly’s hitout and possession figures whenever he was called upon as a replacement. At this moment he has been retained as a rookie and ruck coach for 2014 and there’s no reason why he wouldn’t be.
Ben Johnson: 3 games – averages: 16 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles. 0 goals.
A much loved club stalwart Johnson ended his career at Collingwood midway through the year once he knew his body just couldn’t hold up any more. After 235 games the half back/midfielder had become a fan favourite and will go down as one of the last old school “Collingwood loving” footballers to play for the club. It was fitting that he walks away with a premiership medallion also, BJ was loved by all at the club.
Ben Kennedy: 12 games – averages: 12 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles. 9 goals.
Taking with pick 19 in last year’s draft Kennedy wasn’t expected to play a lot of senior football this season as his small body (174cm and 76kgs) would need to be developed for him to compete at the top level. But the South Australian youngster managed a remarkable 12 games in his opening season, a lot of them as the substitute and with a full pre season in the weights room he could well break into the Magpies senior side for even more games in 2013. His pace and foot skills are his greatest asset and he possesses a great crumbing ability, something missing at the Pies.
Ben Sinclair: 15 games – averages: 13 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles. 2 goals.
Sinclair has been a much maligned player at Collingwood but he finally found his place in the team off half back. After struggling as a defensive forward Sinclair was taught to play off half back in the VFL before returning to the senior side and claiming his place down back. A shoulder injury ended his season prematurely and he was another player badly missed in the finals loss to Port. Sinclair is tough, quick and has a defensive mindset which is why he is a coaches favourite now.
Tim Broomhead: 0 games.
Taken with pick 20 in the national draft Broomhead, like Kennedy wasn’t expected to have a big impact in his first season due to his slight frame. A bout of glandular fever really set him back as he didn’t debut in the VFL until well into the season but on a consistent basis he was in the best players in the reserves. His stand out game was a performance out at Preston where he stood out mainly because he was covered in mud from head to toe, but he was also best on ground in a good win for the VFL team. Expectations around Broomhead are high and you’d expect he will play senior football next year.
Jackson Ramsay: 0 games.
Taken with pick 38 in the national draft Ramsay was a chance to play senior football this year but injuries set him back and he only managed a handful of games in the VFL. What he did show towards the end of the year was his ability as a half back to win the ball and move it with skill and precision. Hopefully he’s ready to go round 1 next season and we can see the potential that Derek Hine obviously saw in him before the draft.
Travis Cloke: 22 games – averages: 15 disposals, 9 marks, 2 tackles. 68 goals, 51 behinds.
Cloke led the way again up forward finishing just 2 goals short of a tie for the Coleman medal. He had more shots at goal than anyone in the competition and took more contested marks. He led Collingwood in marks, contested marks, goals and behinds and is the rock around which a new forward line is being built. He was worth every dollar Collingwood had to throw his way to secure a new deal pre season and is the most physically dominant forward in the AFL.
Jackson Paine: 0 games.
It was a disappointing second season for the developing forward with Paine not being able to break into the senior side at any point. He kicked the most goals for the Pies VFL team but that was more due to playing every week rather than being outstanding on a consistent basis. Jackson seemed to play a similar game every weekend where he would score 2-3 goals but really struggle to break into the next level of performance. He is still young though so there is time but 2014 will be a big year for Paine.
Alan Toovey: 5 games – averages: 12 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles. 0 goals.
The loss of Alan Toovey to a season ending knee injury early in the season impacted Collingwood hard. The Pies came into the season with two reliable one on one defenders in Toovey and Brown and when Toovey went down it really did cause chaos down back. Toovey in his five games started to show a more attacking side to his game too which made his loss an even greater one. The only positive is the injury was sustained so early in the season that he should be right to go by round 1 next season.
Brodie Grundy: 7 games – averages: 12 disposals, 3 marks, 22 hitouts, 3 tackles. 1 goal.
The hype around Brodie Grundy when he slipped to pick 18 in the draft was huge. A back injury pre season set him back a little but when he made his debut in the VFL it was a sight for sore eyes as straight away he showed he was simply something different from the average first year AFL ruckman. After he and Dayne Beams single handedly won a VFL game out at Box Hill it was apparent the Pies had something special on their hands and when he made his debut against GWS he staggered everyone who watched. The amazing thing was he just kept getting better and by the time the finals came around he was keeping Darren Jolly and Ben Hudson out of the senior side, in his first season. He is remarkably well built for a 19 year old and contested against some of the great AFL ruckman in his first 7 games in ways that defied belief. He is now the current and future number 1 ruckman of the football club and is a budding superstar of the competition.
Dane Swan: 23 games – averages: 32 disposals, 6 marks, 4 tackles. 21 goals.
Dane Swan continued on being Dane Swan in 2013 with yet another remarkable season. In the absence of Ball and Beams for long periods of the season Dane and Scott Pendlebury carried the side for a long time and made them competitive when they probably shouldn’t have been. His performance in the losing final when he kicked 3 goals and was simply the reason why the Pies were still in the game late on showed just how important he is to this club. It also showed what his future may hold as Swan could well play on for many years to come as a permanent forward.
Kyle Martin: 4 games – averages: 16 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles. 6 goals.
Kyle Martin is almost certain to win the Pies VFL best and fairest and he led the VFL side into the finals for the first time in 3 seasons. His 4 appearances at senior level also showed that he has what it takes to be a player at the highest level and he will get plenty of chances next season to show that.
Heath Shaw: 20 games – averages: 20 disposals, 6 marks, 3 tackles. 1 goal.
Heath Shaw may have been impacted the hardest by the move of Harry O’Brien up the ground and the loss of Alan Toovey to the backline. Most weeks opposition teams dragged Heath back to the defensive goal square and while Shaw stood up well defensively it meant the side lost his defensive rebounding ability that helped Collingwood so much in previous years. A few misdemeanour in the losing final have since been highlighted but Shaw is still a top level footballer who hopefully is part of the clubs’ future.
Paul Seedsman: 17 games – averages: 19 disposals, 6 marks, 2 tackles. 9 goals.
Seedsman is the type of player Collingwood needs, he’s quick, skilful and can break the lines open off half back. Paul had a good year without having an outstanding one, a bit like the team really. A Collingwood supporter from birth Seedsman will take over the mantle from Ben Johnson as the Pies fan’s representative within the playing group. He has a big future.
Sam Dwyer: 21 games – averages: 17 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles. 15 goals.
The surprise packet and good news story of 2013, the ex Port Melbourne VFL player burst onto the scene in round 1 after being promoted off the rookie list to replace Dayne Beams at the last minute. He went on to play in 21 senior games including the final and at no time did he look like losing his place in the team. He led the team for the season in goal assists and just had a knack for both finding and setting up goals all season. A real find.
Adam Oxley: 2 games – averages: 5 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle. 0 goals.
Oxley looks like a modern day footballer, and the rookie got his reward for consistent performances off half back in the VFL when he was promoted to debut in the seniors. Although he only got two chances at senior level it was an impressive first year for Oxley indeed. He can, and will play as a tall half back or half forward and has shown a propensity to take a contested mark. The club would have high hopes for Adam.
Corey Gault: 0 games.
Corey was always going to be a long term option but with Lachlan Keeffe being promoted to the seniors Gault was forced to play in an unfamiliar position down back in the VFL. He showed more promising signs as a forward and that may be the reason why he has been retained (at this point) for a second season.
Jack Frost: 2 games – averages: 8 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles. 0 goals.
Frost was another one of the very impressive rookies in 2013. With Toovey and Keeffe missing at the time Jack got a chance early on in the season and he didn’t look over awed or out of place at senior level. He was clearly the best defender of the year in the Pies VFL side and as the youngest of the 3 ex VFL players his future as a back man is bright.
Marley Williams: 16 games – averages: 17 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles. 2 goals.
It was a breakthrough season for Marley Williams as he cemented a spot in the Collingwood defense for a long time to come. His pace, toughness and defensive ability makes him a great small defender and he was rarely beaten one on one throughout the season. Unlike most smaller players he isn’t built like a rake with his heritage ensuring he has a strong core to carry him in senior football. The club was so impressed by him that they didn’t waste any time in signing up the Western Australian until the end of the 2016 season.
Caolon Mooney: 2 games – averages: 6 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles. 1 goal.
The Irishman speedster had another good development year at VFL level and made 2 appearances at senior level although he didn’t really shine in either game. He had a few stand out games in the VFL and is developing along well for someone who had never played the game just 2 years ago.
ROOKIES
Ben Richmond: 0 games.
Richmond came to the club as pure project player and was used in all sorts of positions in the VFL. At times he showed some promising signs and probably played his best football late in the season in the backline. Richmond was delisted at season’s end.
Peter Yagmoor: 0 games.
Peter Yagmoor is an interesting case, he made his debut in round 1 of 2012 yet this year for a long time it looked his AFL career was going to be over at seasons’ end. Yet as the year endured in the VFL he got better and was one of the best Pies players in the last few games, including the elimination final loss to Port Melbourne. He has been retained as a rookie at this stage.
Michael Hartley: 0 games.
Hartley was one of Collingwood’s NSW scholarship players but he was never able to fully show what he was capable of at his time at the club due to persistent shoulder injuries. He was delisted at years’ end.
Overall it was a disappointing year for Collingwood but with some smart off season moves and a little bit of luck in the injury department they could push for a top four position in 2014. With the 6 delistings so far and possibly more to come the Pies may also have the opportunity to add both some elite young talent through high draft picks and some experienced players through trades or free agency. How the Magpies approach the off season is one of the most interesting stories of 2013 leading into 2014, as shown by the media’s rabid interest in recent days.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Thursday, September 12, 2013
2013 Analysis: Part One
AFL
Summary: Started the season as a big chance for the flag (at least according to the AFL Media pundits) but ended up finishing eighth after a meek surrender to Port Adelaide at the MCG in the elimination final. The Pies had their moments, such as beating Geelong at the MCG and the Swans in Sydney, but on the flip side, never strung more than three wins in a row for the season.
What worked: Travis Cloke kicked 64 goals to come second in the Coleman Medal and enjoyed not carrying the baggage of a difficult season the year before where his contractual status was a constant distraction.
What failed: The rest of the forward line. Collingwood brought Quinten Lynch across from West Coast but he kicked just nine goals from 18 matches and he missed the elimination final through injury. The Pies switched key defender Ben Reid to the forward line later with some success, but he was kept goalless in the elimination final.
Surprise packet: Sam Dwyer stepped in and played 20 games as part of Collingwood's midfield rotation. At 27, Dwyer was another shining example of clubs trawling the state leagues for players mature of mind and body who can step straight in to meet the demands of the AFL.
Disappointment: Injuries cruelled Collingwood in 2013 and in hindsight, kept the club from making a serious assault on the premiership. Last year's best and fairest Dayne Beams didn’t play until round 15 because of a quad injury, important rebounding defender Alan Toovey played just five games before wrecking his knee, while prized Hawthorn recruit Clinton Young managed just two outings for his new club because of his troublesome hamstrings.
MVP: Scott Pendlebury
Best rookie/first year player: Sam Dwyer
Best win: Round 2: Collingwood 17.15 (117) d Carlton 15.10 (100)
Low point: Gold Coast is coming, make no mistake, but the Pies still would have penciled in a win over the fledgling club at the start of the season. However they trailed for most of the round 17 clash at Metricon Stadium before losing by seven points. The next week, they trailed Greater Western Sydney for nearly three quarters at the MCG before finally overcoming the other expansion club.
What needs to improve: Without regulars such as Johnson, Toovey and Reid, the Collingwood backline was in a state of flux for much of the year. Opponents put plenty of work into Heath Shaw's rebound, while Nick Maxwell's best might be behind him. So pencil in the Magpie defence as an area for attention over the summer.
Who's done: Darren Jolly, Ben Johnson, Alan Didak, Jordan Russell, Andrew Krakouer, Ben Richmond (rookie), Michael Hartley (rookie). Apart from Johnson who retired, all were delisted.
What they need: The Pies used 40 players this year, a remarkable figure, and would be pleased with the contribution made by several of their first-year players. But if the Quinten Lynch recruitment didn't quite work to their satisfaction, they may hunt for another key forward to compliment Cloke and send Reid back to defence where he plays his best footy.
Luke Darcy says: "I think you'll see a few of the experienced guys moved on. Nathan Buckley's talking about cultural change – that often comes with some inconsistent results. Nick Maxwell's been great. He's won a premiership for them in the Tom Harley mould, but I think having a gun like [Pendlebury] ready to go - it's probably time to make the change."
The Roar
Collingwood: what went right?
Collingwood won it’s first two games of the season, including it’s the first showdown between Nathan Buckley and former Collingwood head coach Mick Malthouse and Carlton.
Collingwood won both encounters between the clubs, a reversal on last year’s when Carlton took the points in both the 2012 encounters. Collingwood also scored a shock victory over Geelong, despite being 26 points down at half time.
Down at the Pies, Brent Macaffer found himself back in the side after a long lay off with injury and played important shut down roles, and the pies also discovered young and highly talented ruckman Brodie Grundy, who established himself as the number one ruckman at the Pies, ahead of veteran Darren Jolly.
What went wrong?
The Pies suffered a few injuries to key player and clearly require more depth to their squad. While they certainly found a few players that have a large amount of potential, they were not capable of performing at the required level.
While the injuries are certainly major, good clubs are able to cover for injuries and unfortunately Collingwood was unable to do that this season.
Another element of Collingwood’s season that went poorly was when Collingwood lost, they lost with quiet considerable margins. Aside from the Gold Coast and North Melbourne games, where they would have been expected to win, Collingwood’s average losing margin was around 41 points.
Where to for next year?
Collingwood needs more depth across the park, as they rely on a group of players within the group to consistently get them over the line.
However, these players aren’t able to string games together often, usually due to injury. Hypothetically, if Collingwood was able to get these players fit and firing they would once again be in a great position to push for a Top four spot.
Eager to start the next season, Collingwood has already announced a list of players that were being let go by the club, including veteran ruckman Darren Jolly, as well as Andrew Krakouer, Alan Didak and former Blue Jordan Russell.
The message this list sends is loud and clear, Collingwood doesn’t care about past service to the club, or how good you may have been, if you don’t perform on the field, you aren’t being kept on the list, which probably isn’t a bad strategy to have when you still have a decent list.
Summary: Started the season as a big chance for the flag (at least according to the AFL Media pundits) but ended up finishing eighth after a meek surrender to Port Adelaide at the MCG in the elimination final. The Pies had their moments, such as beating Geelong at the MCG and the Swans in Sydney, but on the flip side, never strung more than three wins in a row for the season.
What worked: Travis Cloke kicked 64 goals to come second in the Coleman Medal and enjoyed not carrying the baggage of a difficult season the year before where his contractual status was a constant distraction.
What failed: The rest of the forward line. Collingwood brought Quinten Lynch across from West Coast but he kicked just nine goals from 18 matches and he missed the elimination final through injury. The Pies switched key defender Ben Reid to the forward line later with some success, but he was kept goalless in the elimination final.
Surprise packet: Sam Dwyer stepped in and played 20 games as part of Collingwood's midfield rotation. At 27, Dwyer was another shining example of clubs trawling the state leagues for players mature of mind and body who can step straight in to meet the demands of the AFL.
Disappointment: Injuries cruelled Collingwood in 2013 and in hindsight, kept the club from making a serious assault on the premiership. Last year's best and fairest Dayne Beams didn’t play until round 15 because of a quad injury, important rebounding defender Alan Toovey played just five games before wrecking his knee, while prized Hawthorn recruit Clinton Young managed just two outings for his new club because of his troublesome hamstrings.
MVP: Scott Pendlebury
Best rookie/first year player: Sam Dwyer
Best win: Round 2: Collingwood 17.15 (117) d Carlton 15.10 (100)
Low point: Gold Coast is coming, make no mistake, but the Pies still would have penciled in a win over the fledgling club at the start of the season. However they trailed for most of the round 17 clash at Metricon Stadium before losing by seven points. The next week, they trailed Greater Western Sydney for nearly three quarters at the MCG before finally overcoming the other expansion club.
What needs to improve: Without regulars such as Johnson, Toovey and Reid, the Collingwood backline was in a state of flux for much of the year. Opponents put plenty of work into Heath Shaw's rebound, while Nick Maxwell's best might be behind him. So pencil in the Magpie defence as an area for attention over the summer.
Who's done: Darren Jolly, Ben Johnson, Alan Didak, Jordan Russell, Andrew Krakouer, Ben Richmond (rookie), Michael Hartley (rookie). Apart from Johnson who retired, all were delisted.
What they need: The Pies used 40 players this year, a remarkable figure, and would be pleased with the contribution made by several of their first-year players. But if the Quinten Lynch recruitment didn't quite work to their satisfaction, they may hunt for another key forward to compliment Cloke and send Reid back to defence where he plays his best footy.
Luke Darcy says: "I think you'll see a few of the experienced guys moved on. Nathan Buckley's talking about cultural change – that often comes with some inconsistent results. Nick Maxwell's been great. He's won a premiership for them in the Tom Harley mould, but I think having a gun like [Pendlebury] ready to go - it's probably time to make the change."
The Roar
Collingwood: what went right?
Collingwood won it’s first two games of the season, including it’s the first showdown between Nathan Buckley and former Collingwood head coach Mick Malthouse and Carlton.
Collingwood won both encounters between the clubs, a reversal on last year’s when Carlton took the points in both the 2012 encounters. Collingwood also scored a shock victory over Geelong, despite being 26 points down at half time.
Down at the Pies, Brent Macaffer found himself back in the side after a long lay off with injury and played important shut down roles, and the pies also discovered young and highly talented ruckman Brodie Grundy, who established himself as the number one ruckman at the Pies, ahead of veteran Darren Jolly.
What went wrong?
The Pies suffered a few injuries to key player and clearly require more depth to their squad. While they certainly found a few players that have a large amount of potential, they were not capable of performing at the required level.
While the injuries are certainly major, good clubs are able to cover for injuries and unfortunately Collingwood was unable to do that this season.
Another element of Collingwood’s season that went poorly was when Collingwood lost, they lost with quiet considerable margins. Aside from the Gold Coast and North Melbourne games, where they would have been expected to win, Collingwood’s average losing margin was around 41 points.
Where to for next year?
Collingwood needs more depth across the park, as they rely on a group of players within the group to consistently get them over the line.
However, these players aren’t able to string games together often, usually due to injury. Hypothetically, if Collingwood was able to get these players fit and firing they would once again be in a great position to push for a Top four spot.
Eager to start the next season, Collingwood has already announced a list of players that were being let go by the club, including veteran ruckman Darren Jolly, as well as Andrew Krakouer, Alan Didak and former Blue Jordan Russell.
The message this list sends is loud and clear, Collingwood doesn’t care about past service to the club, or how good you may have been, if you don’t perform on the field, you aren’t being kept on the list, which probably isn’t a bad strategy to have when you still have a decent list.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Era Over: Six Axed
Collingwood News
Collingwood has made six changes to its senior and rookie lists as it prepares for the upcoming trading period and drafts.
Alan Didak, Darren Jolly, Jordan Russell and Andrew Krakouer have been informed that they will not be offered new contracts, with rookies Ben Richmond and Michael Hartley also to depart.
The curtain on Didak’s distinguished Collingwood career falls after 13 seasons. The mercurial number 4, fondly known as ‘Dids’, played 218 games in black and white and was a prominent figure in a period that saw the Magpies play in five grand finals and claim the premiership in 2010.
A two-time All-Australian (2006/2010) and Copeland Trophy winner (2006), Didak was a fan favourite to the end for his once sublime finishing and forward 50 creativity, something that was unfortunately curtailed by injury in his last seasons. The 30 year-old was seen on only 16 occasions across the 2012/13 campaigns.
Nonetheless, Didak is looking to a future in the game, be it as a player or otherwise.
“I’ve had an incredible time at Collingwood. We won a lot of games, won a premiership and I met some lifelong friends. I’ve got a lot to be thankful for and I know I’m going to miss playing in front of the black and white army. I owe them a lot. But I’m not ready for retirement,” Didak said.
“The ride has another lap or two to go, I hope.”
Collingwood Director of Football, Rodney Eade, who coached against Didak on many occasions, remembers a player who needed very few touches to influence a match. Or decide one.
“Alan was such a threat. If he was in the game you were in trouble but even when he wasn’t you were concerned that he was going to conjure something and spark a reaction. A couple of touches from ‘Dids’ and Collingwood would often rally and rise,” Eade said.
The Westpac Centre was Jolly’s third football home, after time with Melbourne and Sydney, and his acquisition at the end of the 2009 season proved to be an astute one.
The ruckman was central to the premiership success of 2010 and a force the following season, when the Magpies lost the grand final to Geelong. The 31 year-old led the ruck division again in 2012 but played only 12 matches, a number that fell to nine this season as injuries bit.
In all, Jolly played 71 matches for Collingwood and 237 across a 12 year career which also included a premiership with Sydney in 2005.
Krakouer’s return to the game with Collingwood was one of the football stories of the year in 2011 and although a knee reconstruction limited him to 35 appearances in black and white across three seasons the silky forward known as ‘Krak’ left a certain mark.
Not least his Mark of the Year in 2011, a chair-lift smooth ride up and over Adelaide’s Luke Thompson at Etihad Stadium.
Krakouer’s story of redemption took on a different hue when he successfully overcame a serious knee injury and reconstructive surgery on the eve of the 2012 season to play the last games of the campaign and finals. He played eight matches this season, his last for the Magpies being on the Gold Coast this year, round 17.
Russell played nine matches in his one season at the Westpac Centre, having previously played 116 with Carlton. A highly popular figure, the South Australian defender played the first five matches of 2013 but got injured and played just four matches thereafter, the last of them in round 23 against North Melbourne.
Hartley, a NSW scholarship recruit, and Richmond, a former basketballer recruited late last year, did not play senior matches with Collingwood.
Eade said the changes were a reality of professional football life.
“In this game, change is constant and often rapid and it doesn’t discriminate. It comes for everyone at some stage, unfortunately,” Eade said.
“Some of the boys made great contributions, some of them small but in their way they all gave something to Collingwood and we thank them for that.”
 |
| GONE |
Alan Didak, Darren Jolly, Jordan Russell and Andrew Krakouer have been informed that they will not be offered new contracts, with rookies Ben Richmond and Michael Hartley also to depart.
The curtain on Didak’s distinguished Collingwood career falls after 13 seasons. The mercurial number 4, fondly known as ‘Dids’, played 218 games in black and white and was a prominent figure in a period that saw the Magpies play in five grand finals and claim the premiership in 2010.
A two-time All-Australian (2006/2010) and Copeland Trophy winner (2006), Didak was a fan favourite to the end for his once sublime finishing and forward 50 creativity, something that was unfortunately curtailed by injury in his last seasons. The 30 year-old was seen on only 16 occasions across the 2012/13 campaigns.
Nonetheless, Didak is looking to a future in the game, be it as a player or otherwise.
 |
| GONE |
“The ride has another lap or two to go, I hope.”
Collingwood Director of Football, Rodney Eade, who coached against Didak on many occasions, remembers a player who needed very few touches to influence a match. Or decide one.
“Alan was such a threat. If he was in the game you were in trouble but even when he wasn’t you were concerned that he was going to conjure something and spark a reaction. A couple of touches from ‘Dids’ and Collingwood would often rally and rise,” Eade said.
The Westpac Centre was Jolly’s third football home, after time with Melbourne and Sydney, and his acquisition at the end of the 2009 season proved to be an astute one.
The ruckman was central to the premiership success of 2010 and a force the following season, when the Magpies lost the grand final to Geelong. The 31 year-old led the ruck division again in 2012 but played only 12 matches, a number that fell to nine this season as injuries bit.
 |
| GONE |
Krakouer’s return to the game with Collingwood was one of the football stories of the year in 2011 and although a knee reconstruction limited him to 35 appearances in black and white across three seasons the silky forward known as ‘Krak’ left a certain mark.
Not least his Mark of the Year in 2011, a chair-lift smooth ride up and over Adelaide’s Luke Thompson at Etihad Stadium.
Krakouer’s story of redemption took on a different hue when he successfully overcame a serious knee injury and reconstructive surgery on the eve of the 2012 season to play the last games of the campaign and finals. He played eight matches this season, his last for the Magpies being on the Gold Coast this year, round 17.
Russell played nine matches in his one season at the Westpac Centre, having previously played 116 with Carlton. A highly popular figure, the South Australian defender played the first five matches of 2013 but got injured and played just four matches thereafter, the last of them in round 23 against North Melbourne.
Hartley, a NSW scholarship recruit, and Richmond, a former basketballer recruited late last year, did not play senior matches with Collingwood.
Eade said the changes were a reality of professional football life.
“In this game, change is constant and often rapid and it doesn’t discriminate. It comes for everyone at some stage, unfortunately,” Eade said.
“Some of the boys made great contributions, some of them small but in their way they all gave something to Collingwood and we thank them for that.”
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