2015 Season Preview

Triple M Footy

Pre-Season Game 2 Collingwood v Carlton Sunday March 15, 4.40pm Queen Elizabeth Bendigo Fox Footy 4.30pm Weather: Min 10 Max 25 Chance of rain 5%: < 1mm Wind: ESE 17kph Betting: Collingwood $1.45 Carlton $2.75

2014 Result: 11 wins 11 losses (11th)

The potential on this list is scary. In Brodie Grundy, Lachlan Keeffe and Jarrod Witts Collingwood have three talented ruckmen who can swing forward and kick goals. Despite the departure of Dayne Beams and retirement of Luke Ball, the Pies midfield still boasts class in captain Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom and Dane Swan who will be the equivalent of a new recruit for the 2015 season after his poor showing in 2014. The arrival of Levi Greenwood is a real coup after his best ever season for North Melbourne plus Travis Varcoe is capable of playing off half-back, half-forward or pinch-hitting in the midfield. Add to this the abundance of talented youngsters pushing for spots and the Pies are an exciting proposition. If Man Mountain Travis Cloke wakes up on the right side of the bed in 2015 and becomes the dominant key forward that he should be, look out for the Pies to go deep into the finals.

Star Man: Scott Pendlebury – The Pies skipper appears to be doing everything in slow motion yet is rarely caught with the ball in hand. Pendlebury also has that unique ability to find space in the tightest of packs and will once again lead from the front for Collingwood in 2015.

Player to watch: Travis Cloke – Pendlebury may be Collingwood’s best player but it is Cloke who holds the key to victory for the Pies. The sheer power and size of Cloke makes him a daunting proposition for any defender and yet too often in 2014 the big man allowed his opponent to get the better of him. If coach Nathan Buckley can find a way to get Cloke’s swagger back in 2015 expect to see the big man at the pointy end of the goal kickers list.

Make-or-break fixtures:
Round 13: v Fremantle (Away)
Round 14: v Hawthorn (Home)
Round 15: v Port (Away)
Round 16: v West Coast (Home)

Collingwood have the bye in Round 12 and are then greeted by a tough stretch against four other likely finalists. The Pies face two of the toughest road trips in football when they take on Fremantle in Perth and Port at the Adelaide Oval with an MCG blockbuster against reigning premiers Hawthorn wedged in the middle for good measure. This will be a bruising three-week period for the Collingwood players and they could be easy prey for the tall timber of the Eagles in Round 16. After having their batteries recharged by the bye, Collingwood would be happy with two wins in this taxing month of footy.