2015 Season Preview

SPORTAL

Collingwood v Brisbane Saturday April 4, 7.20pm Gabba 7mate / Fox Footy 7.15pm Betting: Collingwood $2.25 Brisbane $1.65

Eddie McGuire’s move to annex Mick Malthouse in favour of Nathan Buckley, was always a bold decision which would go one of two ways. It would be seen as the gamble to prune the tree before the smell of death rolled in, or the hasty interference of an individual who refused to see a club legend go elsewhere.
Perhaps this is unfair to McGuire, but the stakes have never been higher. Collingwood supporters do not fawn over Buckley like their Essendon counterparts and Hird, they merely respect him. The biggest team in the land also has almighty standards. If Buckley hampers or fails to meet those standards, there will be swift and violent retribution.
Collingwood in 2015 have entered the period of regeneration. There are still a swathe of players at their best (Reid, Sidebottom) or coming off their best football (Pendlebury, Swan, Cloke), but there are 29 individuals on the Pies roster who are yet to scratch fifty games of football.
The acquisitions of Levi Greenwood and Travis Varcoe are excellent stop gaps in bumping up the experiencearound the club, but both carry longer term question marks of if they’ll be around when the club peaks again.

Jordan De Goey

When that peak will be, it’s hard to tell. The quality is there within the younger group, Brodie Grundy, Ben Kennedy, Tim Broomhead, Taylor Adams; not to mention debutants Jordan De Goey and Darcy Moore.
There is football pedigree within those mentioned, it’s all depending on how quickly and sustainably the Pies can tease it out of them. Whilst there will be patience from some of the supporter base, the club can’t slip further due to inflated expectations that comes with its reputation.
It may feel like a long year, but it’s all about the more important battle. Nathan Buckley’s job is to keep this team in touching distance of finals contention. Any lower than that and the alarm might start to sound.

Players to watch

Travis Cloke

Travis Cloke
Confidence is precious. Ever since the ink dried on his last deal, it’s come and gone radically. His goal kicking have been incredibly wayward and the seeds of doubt have been planted in his head. If Collingwood are to make an unlikely charge to the 8, Travis has to return to his best.

Jamie Elliott

Jamie Elliott
The high-flying forward pocket could become a genuine midfield option if he can get over his reoccurring injuries. Could become an A grader on output if he can get consistency into his game.

Key games
Round 1 v Brisbane – Nice early test for Collingwood’s midfield post Ball and Beams. Apt the former Magpie will be there in what could be a heated contest.
Round 7 v Richmond – Sunday afternoon blockbuster against another club that will be striving for a position in the 8. Crucial game if both get off to uneven starts.
Round 15 v Port Adelaide – Daunting away trip on the run home to finals. Pies have had an excellent interstate record for a while and will need to draw on that experience to get the points here.

Finishing position – 10th