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.