Pre-Season Game 3
Collingwood v W. Bulldogs
Etihad Fox Footy 7.00pm Weather: Min 10 Max 22 Chance of rain 5%: < 1mm Wind: S 19kph Betting: Collingwood $1.60 Western Bulldogs $2.30 |
It has slid down the ladder from fourth to 11th in the space of two seasons, winning only 11 games in 2014 as Bucks put culture at the forefront of priorities for the Pies.
The strategy regarding player trading and acquisition will be under review as they appear to have taken a different direction to most.
The skill level of the Magpies let them down last season, ranked 16th for maintaining possession, and from what I’ve witnessed throughout pre-season, little has changed.
The acquisitions of Travis Varcoe, Levi Greenwood and Jack Crisp add depth but it’s more of the same.
All three statistically have poor effective disposal numbers so instead of treating the problem it appears to have been exacerbated.
The Magpies have had a high volume of talent in rehabilitation and managed programs throughout the early part of pre-season and immediately post-Christmas, which has alarm bells ringing.
The problem is those affected were the high-end talent including Ben Reid and Travis Cloke.
Nathan Brown played only three games in 2014 and will be a terrific boost for the young and inexperienced back six of last season.
Dane Swan played 17 games but none of them at full fitness and Reid’s season was a complete write-off.
Robbo's view on Collingwood
The rebuild in team and culture is three years started, so youth is the key. That's exciting, but it is accompanied by inconsistency. Broomhead, Adams, Thomas, Seedsman, Kennedy, Frost, Williams, Langdon, Witt and Grundy will be enthralling to watch because they will decide games. Greenwood is a tick, not so sure about Varcoe, and Crisp will get opportunities. Darcy Moore will have expectations and let's hope they don't swallow him in just his first season. Especially can't wait to see Scharenberg. What I dislike List management hasn't been great. White, Armstrong, Young and Carnesis either haven't starred or played, Beams left and Lynch retired. And they forced the hands of Ball and O'Brien. Of those remaining, Cloke asked for the money and has not earned it, Blair dropped off, Grundy stagnated, Witts is young, O'Keefe was dropped from a poor performing team, Fasolo plays too much on his own terms, Seedsman can run and kick but needs more aggression, and too many players were injured. The Pies are not soft, but nor are they super aggressive and not many teams floating in between those two goalposts are preliminary final teams. Indeed, not many are finals teams. Final verdict All eyes are on the Magpies and don't think they are good enough to play finals. Too many questions. |
Collingwood’s biggest issue is converting an inside-50 opportunity into goals.
Cloke desperately needs Reid inside forward 50 to provide another target as Cloke’s impact fell dramatically last year.
They simply cannot win one-on-one contests in attack. Only Brisbane has a poorer percentage.
Sydney wins one in every three, the Pies one in every five.
Ball movement isn’t a major worry at Collingwood as it was fourth in the AFL with ball speed on counter attack but lacked a forward-50 spread of goalkickers, a true indicator of success.
It will welcome father-son selection Darcy Moore, who can take a contested mark inside 50, because the Jesse White project is taking the same path as the Quinten Lynch experiment.
Varcoe has completely taken ownership of some sessions and can create havoc off half-back with his run.
After a full pre-season he’s thriving in a change of environment.
Collingwood has a wealth of young first-round selections largely unsighted to date, but during the summer Nathan Freeman has shown he’s ready.
Eddie says the Pies can pinch a flag. Come on, Ed.
The Pies missed the finals last year for the first time in a decade and you feel their fortunes will be on the back of their skipper and best player, Scott Pendlebury.
A managed pre-season and entering his prime at 27, I believe he’ll challenge Gary Ablett as the AFL’s best.
A favourable early draw means Buckley and his troops can start the year well with Brisbane (away), Adelaide (home), and St Kilda at the MCG.
They could immediately cease any negativity aimed at the club.
So can Collingwood arrest the slide in 2015?
Maybe not this year.
DID YOU KNOW?
From round 1 to 12 the Pies ranked eighth for points for and third for points against. After that they ranked 15th for points for and 16th for points against.
PREDICTIONS
David King: 12th
Mark Robinson: 12th
Dermott Brereton: 10th
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