Collingwood 2015 Season Review

AFL - Ben Collins

What worked

• The Pies showed they can challenge the AFL's best teams and probably should have beaten Hawthorn (at the MCG), Fremantle (Domain Stadium) and the Sydney Swans (SCG), but went down by a combined tally of just 28 points.
• Although it dropped off considerably late in the season, Collingwood's defensive pressure and general team defence continued to be a cornerstone of its game. Finished second in the AFL in tackles, averaging 71.9 a game (just 0.1, or four tackles overall, behind Port Adelaide).
• Debutants Darcy Moore, Jordan De Goey, Matt Scharenberg, Jonathon Marsh and Brayden Maynard provided plenty of cause for optimism, as did the development of ex-Lion Jack Crisp, ruckman Brodie Grundy and former rookies Marley Williams and Adam Oxley.

What failed

• After sitting fourth with an 8-3 record – in the identical position they occupied last year – the Pies won just two of their next 11 games to miss the finals for the second year running.
• Inaccuracy and an inability to gain satisfactory reward for their quality field play cost the Pies dearly in close games, most glaringly in contests with last year's grand finalists, Hawthorn and the Sydney Swans, when they tallied 22.35 to their opponents' 28.20.
• Doping suspensions to big man Lachlan Keeffe and midfielder Josh Thomas robbed the Pies of two players who, at the very least, would have provided welcome relief at various stages.

What we said in the pre-season
We were pretty much spot on, predicting an 11th placing for the Pies as they went through a rebuilding phase.

Overall rating
5.5/10. After 14 rounds – following narrow losses to Hawthorn and Freo – the Pies peaked at about 8.5/10, given the consensus view that they wouldn't figure in the finals. But almost from that moment, they went into freefall.

The coach
When you coach Collingwood, and your name is Nathan Buckley, external pressure is everywhere. So don't expect Buckley to be daunted by the fact that his contract expires at the end of next season. Most gave the Pies Buckley's hope of making the finals this year, so to have them around the top four for two-thirds of the season was some effort. However, late-season losses have many questioning his abilities.

Most Valuable Player
A tie between Scott Pendlebury and Dane Swan Hard to split the prolific Pies pair, with skipper Pendlebury producing another high-quality season, despite battling a calf issue and spending more time forward, and Swan overcoming an injury-hampered 2014 to perform superbly. They amassed remarkably similar stats, with Pendlebury perhaps more consistent and Swan enjoying more standout games. Fellow midfielder Taylor Adams deserves an honourable mention.

Surprise packet
Jack Crisp When superstar midfielder Dayne Beams was traded to the Brisbane Lions in exchange for picks No.5 and 25 and Crisp, not even the Pies could have envisaged the impact the former rookie would have in his first season in black and white. After playing 18 games in three seasons with the Lions, the 21-year-old played every game and was a consistent, goalkicking run-with player.

Get excited
Darcy Moore There is always hype around the son of a gun, and in this case, it's entirely justified. Due largely to injury, we had to wait until round 14 to get our first glimpse of Moore, but in just his second game he bagged a game-high five goals in a loss to the Western Bulldogs, and as a forward/ruckman he continued to display smarts and supreme athleticism reminiscent of his father, dual Brownlow medallist Peter Moore.

Disappointment
Levi Greenwood Not through any fault of his own, though. It was extremely disappointing for the Pies that the former Kangaroo missed the bulk of the season with a broken ankle, and his value was best exemplified by his superb run-with efforts on Richmond captain Trent Cotchin and Geelong skipper Joel Selwood in rounds 21 and 22, nullifying both while winning plenty of the ball himself and even kicking goals. Takes inside heat off Pendlebury, Swan and co.

Best win: 17-point win over North Melbourne, round nine, MCG
The Pies recorded their third-biggest second half comeback, coming from 39 points down to win by 17 points. They piled on 10 successive goals and, after being headed again when they conceded four successive majors, kicked the last three goals.

Low point
If a 37-point loss to battling Melbourne in round 18 wasn't rock-bottom, then a 91-point hiding from Richmond three weeks later certainly was. Surrendered 9.0 to nothing in a horror 18-minute patch in the last quarter.

The big questions

• Will they secure a prized midfielder – or perhaps two – in the trade period?
  The Pies are apparently keen on Adelaide superstar Patrick Dangerfield, the Giants' Adam Treloar and the Lions' James Aish. One would be a great result, two amazing, and all three would be the greatest coup of all time.
• Should Ben Reid play forward or back?
  Presuming he remains free of soft-tissue problems, the Pies have the luxury of playing him at either end. He's a good forward but a better defender and adds much-needed class to the back six.
• Can they fill their leadership void?
  After losing more than 3000 games of experience and much leadership over the past three years, the Pies are crying out for young leaders to emerge. Pendlebury and the likes of Nathan Brown and Steele Sidebottom desperately need help.

Season in a song
Free Fallin' – Tom Petty

Who's done?

• Retirements: At 31, Dane Swan is easily the oldest player on the list but looks like he could play on for at least another couple of seasons. However, others might be forced into retirement if delisted and little interest is shown by rival clubs.
• Delistings: The off-contract quartet of Clinton Young, Sam Dwyer, Patrick Karnezis, Tony Armstrong appears certain to be axed, given Young (29) has endured frustration with injury and form, Dwyer (29) is usually overlooked for younger midfield options, Karnezis didn't play at AFL level after round seven despite strong VFL form, and Armstrong made just one appearance this year.
• Trades/free agents: Anzac medallist Paul Seedsman's name has been mentioned as part of a possible trade deal that could land Brisbane Lions youngster James Aish. If the Pies snare Aish and/or Giants midfielder Adam Treloar, Ben Kennedy could decide to seek more opportunities elsewhere, despite being contracted to the end of next year. Top draft pick Matt Scharenberg could ask to be traded back to his native South Australia.

What they need
A viable second key forward and a key defender who can take the game on. The not-so-simple solution would be to clone swingman Reid. In attack, Jesse White hasn't grabbed his opportunity but it seems only a matter of time before Moore makes the role his own while providing handy ruck support. At the other end, Brown and Jack Frost are solid, percentage players but ideally they wouldn't play together because neither is a natural playmaker. Reid needs to go back.

Premiership clock
The Pies are young but any side that boasts been-there-done-that types like Pendlebury, Swan, Travis Cloke and Steele Sidebottom can never be discounted. If their classy kids make big gains simultaneously, they might just prise open the premiership window.

Early call
Looks can be deceiving. The Pies could be anything next year. With a bit more composure and luck, they might well have been anything this year. Another pre-season into this young, talented list could have it primed for a top-eight tilt.