Collingwood: An Analysis

SUPERFOOTY

Collingwood v GWS Saturday August 23, 4.40pm GWS Stadium 7mate / Fox Footy 4.30pm Weather: Min 9 Max 18 Chance of rain 90%: 1-5mm Wind: E 13kph Betting: Collingwood $1.45 GWS $2.75

COLLINGWOOD has flagged the need to add more speed and develop its leadership stocks as part of its preparations for next season.
The club is also preparing to launch a forensic investigation into Ben Reid’s soft tissue problems after the star big man suffered another hamstring setback in the 67-point hammering from Brisbane Lions on Saturday night.
Making matters worse, backman Alan Toovey will miss Saturday’s clash against Greater Western Sydney with a sore groin, while wingman Heritier Lumumba and captain Scott Pendlebury both face tests on corked legs.
Forward Jamie Elliott is unlikely with a hamstring problem, while onballer Dayne Beams (knee bone bruising), spearhead Travis Cloke (ankle) and Reid’s seasons are over.
Former premiership captain Tony Shaw told the Herald Sun midfield accountability must also be addressed after a trio of Lions playmakers got off the chain in the injury-marred defeat.
“Their defensive pressure around the ball was disgraceful,” Shaw said.
“’Pendles’ said it (last year), their midfield don’t defend. They got smashed around the ball and they didn’t put any time into the (opposition’s midfield).”
While the club remains happy with the quality of young talent on its list, football operations manager Rodney Eade said the club wanted to develop its leadership candidates and outside leg-speed as the Pies look to next season.
Eade said injuries to senior figures such as Nick Maxwell and Nathan Brown “exposes the kids”.
“We probably need the experience to be there, we probably need the experience to stand up and the leadership,” Eade said on Triple M.
“From an actual playing list point of view I think if everyone’s standing up we’re not too bad.
“Probably (what we need is) some speed. A quick midfielder, a quick forward-type scenario.
“We’ve got some really good kids, (Matthew) Scharenberg and (Nathan) Freeman haven’t played yet, but I think it’s maybe that leadership type (it can develop) to support ‘Pendles’.”
Among the possible inclusions for Saturday’s clash against the Giants is former Lion Patrick Karnezis, Corey Gault, Josh Thomas and Kyle Martin.
Reid again injured his hamstring in an “innocuous” incident in the opening minutes of Saturday night’s loss and was “shattered”, according to Eade.
He said the club had to thoroughly examine Reid’s horror run of soft tissue injuries.
“He has had a fairly chequered career and so has his brother (Sam), so whether it’s a genetic thing within the family?” Eade said.
“We are very mindful of his body and he has been managed a lot.
“We’ll obviously have to investigate really thoroughly with him, which we haven’t done in the past. Whether it’s just the way he is made we are not too sure.
“But he has had quad and calves and hamstrings (injuries), so it will be an interesting one going for us.
“He is shattered, with just the fact that’s he’s had so many, (it’s) obviously affecting him mentally.”