Roar - Finn Devlin
Great things were expected of Collingwood this year. Bringing in Adam
Treloar, who rated their side as better than Richmond’s – who finished
fifth – and with a list beginning to enter into its prime years, there
were those who predicted the Magpies would run deep into September.
Fast forward to Round 13. Collingwood sits 4-8 heading into the bye,
with wins over lowly Richmond, Essendon and Brisbane complimented by a
surprise win over Geelong.
Their season has been fraught with inconsistency. Awful losses to
Carlton have been followed by comprehensive wins over Brisbane and
Geelong, while a last-gasp victory over the Tigers became a damaging
defeat to St Kilda in just eight days.
Opinion, however, is split over who is to blame for the losses. Some
are blame coach Nathan Buckley, calling for his head over the manner of
the defeats, while others are placing the spotlight firmly on the
players, too often found wanting at critical moments.
The reality is that it is probably a bit of both.
There is no doubt the Magpies have declined under Buckley. Since the
ex-Collingwood captain and club hero took over the reins from
Premiership coach Mick Malthouse in 2012, Collingwood has fallen down
the ladder every single year.
A preliminary final in 2012 was followed by an elimination-final
defeat in 2013, before sliding to 11th in 2014 and 12th last season,
having been in the finals mix at the bye in both seasons. This season
they sit 14th.
With a high list turnover, Buckley can be somewhat forgiven for
trying to rebuild. But considering he inherited such a young side, on
the back of two grand finals and set for a prolonged era of success,
surely questions must be asked of the senior coach.
List management, and Buckley’s involvement in the decision to
regenerate after a home final defeat to Port Adelaide in 2013, are
particular talking points, but the real worry has too often come on game
day.
Collingwood don’t try to play any particular brand of football.
Hawthorn are known for their precision kicking, the Dogs for their
contested ball prowess and high disposal game, Fremantle for their
defensive zone and boundary line play, and Sydney for their ‘bash and
crash’ style, complimented by a classy forward line.
Collingwood does not appear to stand for any football philosophy. It
does not excel at any key statistic. It is neither an attacking, nor
defensive side.
Even the cellar dwellars of the AFL – John Worsfold at Essendon and
Justin Leppistich at Brisbane – have clearly defined game plans. They
are not always executed with precision (Brisbane are particularly
deficient at this), but at the very least, players are given an end goal
to build towards. At the Holden Centre, their does not appear to as yet
be an end goal, a utopian style.
Of course, the other side of this conundrum is that Collingwood lack
the players to play any style of football. This suggestion has merit
when you analyse their list.
Of course, injuries hurt any side, but even a fully fit Collingwood may have been over-estimated to a great extent.
Their back six is lightweight, and collapses when put under pressure.
Nathan Brown is out of form and confidence, and Ben Reid has not
returned, as yet, to his pre-injury(ies) days, although in his defence
he has been solid since stringing more than three or four games
together.
What the lack most, however, is a reliable kick coming out of
defence. Too often we see their half-backs – currently the most
important attacking position in AFL in this article’s opinion –
butchering the ball, gifting central, front-half turnovers for their
opposition to feast on.
At best, that backline is second rate. At worst, it is dead wood.
The Magpies midfield is their strong point, but has deficiencies.
Pendlebury is the only properly elite A-grade midfielder. Steele
Sidebottom and star recruit Adam Treloar can press their cases, while
Dane Swan will probably retire at seasons end. If not, he will spend his
final season forward.
But who else is there? Jack Crisp and Levi Greenwood are good, but
not great, while Taylor Adams is a ball-winner with a poor disposal. He
costs goals. The game has passed Macaffer, while it hasn’t reached Josh
Smith or Tom Phillips yet, though both look like they could be
something. And finally, James Aish is statistically the worst midfielder
in the game right now.
While there’s talent in that midfield, it’s lightweight compared to
the best midfields in the AFL: The Bulldogs, Cats and Swans. Their ruck
stocks lack a true elite player in the form of a Max Gawn or Todd
Goldstein, too. It hurts the Pies.
The forward line is missing stars in Swan and Elliot. That hurts.
It’s missing a key forward too. Moore looks like a real talent, but
needs time, while Cox is still very raw. Other than that, it doesn’t
look great up front for the Magpies. No one else has claims to being
anything more than second or even third-rate.
While Collingwood has a list with some promise on it, a combination
of poor coaching, poor list management and a lack of elite level players
has led to a slide down the ladder. Perhaps they were overhyped at the
start of the season, but for the current side, finals are out of the
question.
It does, however, remain to be seen how the biggest club in the AFL
arrests its decline in the current decade. If Collingwood are to break
their cycle of being perennial also-rans, significant change is needed,
for both the playing list and coaching staff.
Showing posts with label Mid-Season Review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mid-Season Review. Show all posts
Saturday, June 18, 2016
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Mid-Season Report Card
Herald Sun - Jon Anderson
IT was to be a dynasty to match the Hawks and the Lions, the Collingwood class of 2010 that had both youth and skill on its side.
So what went wrong with a group that won a premiership in 2010 when their average age was 24.17 (the youngest since 1978), made a Grand Final the year after and have been on a slippery slide since?
One that looked set to enjoy an era of sustained finals action at the very least rather than struggling to keep in touch with the eight while watching rivals go past them.
And right now that is the most galling aspect of Collingwood's demise, that their position of perceived strength has been eroded to the point where the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne have gone past them, and St Kilda may be pointed towards more immediate happiness.
Even
their long-term hated rivals Carlton sit above them on the ladder, a
Blues side that has achieved very little of note in the past 15 years.
But who would you rather barrack for right now, Carlton or Collingwood?
That it's even a matter for debate is surprising given where the respective clubs were expected to be in 2016. Yes, the Pies have been badly hurt by injury to irreplaceable players in Jamie Elliott and Dane Swan, and a variety of others causing them to use 38 players this season.
But that's now. What about the group that was going to springboard their era? Aren't Nathan Brown, the 2010 kid who did such a fine job on Nick Riewoldt, their go-to man up forward Travis Cloke, running defender Alan Toovey, promising forward/on baller Brent Macaffer and swingman Tyson Goldsack all still at the club?
Correct, the problem being they are shadows of the 2010 versions and spent last weekend in the VFL. It's unprecedented that five players of that ilk should lose form to the degree of this quintet.
Then there are the players they traded out, or in the case of Jonathon Ceglar, delisted. Would Ceglar have played against Melbourne on Monday? In a heartbeat, as would Dayne Beams, Heath Shaw and Sharrod Welllingham. You could also make a case for Chris Dawes, Heritier Lumumba, Paul Seedsman and Dale Thomas, all of whom were traded for differing reasons.
That is the case with every AFL club, although when you trade champions such as Shaw, you put your "judgment hat" right on the chopping block.
Shaw was a popular and influential member of the 2010 team, just as he is now with GWS.
And the value he is providing to Zac Williams, Nathan Wilson, Nick Haynes and Matt Buntine up back is invaluable, just as it would be if providing the same to Marley Williams, Tim Broomhead, Adam Oxley, Matthew Scharenberg and Tom Langdon.
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Pies won the flag in 2010, but the list they began the 2011 season with, poised for a "mini dynasty" according to some, has been turned on it's head.
TRADED
Dayne Beams (Brisbane), Jonathon Ceglar (Hawthorn)*, Chris Dawes (Melbourne), John McCarthy (Port Adelaide), Heritier Lumumba (Melbourne), Paul Seedsman (Adelaide), Heath Shaw (GWS), Dale Thomas (Carlton), Sharrod Wellingham (West Coast), Cameron Wood (Carlton) *Delisted
SUSPENDED
Lachlan Keeffe, Josh Thomas
DELISTED
Daniel Farmer, Luke Rounds, Trent Stubbs, Kirk Ugle, Tom Young
RETIRED
Luke Ball, Leigh Brown, Simon Buckley, Leon Davis, Brad Dick, Alan Didak, Ben Johnson, Andrew Krakouer, Nick Maxwell, Chris Tarrant, Darren Jolly.
STILL THERE BUT PLAYING VFL
Nathan Brown, Travis Cloke, Tyson Goldsack, Brent Macaffer, Alan Toovey.
PLAYED IN LOSS TO MELBOURNE
Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom, Ben Reid, Jarryd Blair, Ben Sinclair.
INJURED
Alex Fasolo, Dane Swan.
IT was to be a dynasty to match the Hawks and the Lions, the Collingwood class of 2010 that had both youth and skill on its side.
So what went wrong with a group that won a premiership in 2010 when their average age was 24.17 (the youngest since 1978), made a Grand Final the year after and have been on a slippery slide since?
One that looked set to enjoy an era of sustained finals action at the very least rather than struggling to keep in touch with the eight while watching rivals go past them.
And right now that is the most galling aspect of Collingwood's demise, that their position of perceived strength has been eroded to the point where the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne have gone past them, and St Kilda may be pointed towards more immediate happiness.
 |
| Collingwood was on the verge of a "mini dynasty" according to some after winning the 2010 premiership. |
That it's even a matter for debate is surprising given where the respective clubs were expected to be in 2016. Yes, the Pies have been badly hurt by injury to irreplaceable players in Jamie Elliott and Dane Swan, and a variety of others causing them to use 38 players this season.
But that's now. What about the group that was going to springboard their era? Aren't Nathan Brown, the 2010 kid who did such a fine job on Nick Riewoldt, their go-to man up forward Travis Cloke, running defender Alan Toovey, promising forward/on baller Brent Macaffer and swingman Tyson Goldsack all still at the club?
Correct, the problem being they are shadows of the 2010 versions and spent last weekend in the VFL. It's unprecedented that five players of that ilk should lose form to the degree of this quintet.
Then there are the players they traded out, or in the case of Jonathon Ceglar, delisted. Would Ceglar have played against Melbourne on Monday? In a heartbeat, as would Dayne Beams, Heath Shaw and Sharrod Welllingham. You could also make a case for Chris Dawes, Heritier Lumumba, Paul Seedsman and Dale Thomas, all of whom were traded for differing reasons.
That is the case with every AFL club, although when you trade champions such as Shaw, you put your "judgment hat" right on the chopping block.
Shaw was a popular and influential member of the 2010 team, just as he is now with GWS.
And the value he is providing to Zac Williams, Nathan Wilson, Nick Haynes and Matt Buntine up back is invaluable, just as it would be if providing the same to Marley Williams, Tim Broomhead, Adam Oxley, Matthew Scharenberg and Tom Langdon.
 |
| Nathan Brown was dropped, and then suffered an injury, after a poor performance against West Coast. Picture: Daniel Wilkins |
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Pies won the flag in 2010, but the list they began the 2011 season with, poised for a "mini dynasty" according to some, has been turned on it's head.
TRADED
Dayne Beams (Brisbane), Jonathon Ceglar (Hawthorn)*, Chris Dawes (Melbourne), John McCarthy (Port Adelaide), Heritier Lumumba (Melbourne), Paul Seedsman (Adelaide), Heath Shaw (GWS), Dale Thomas (Carlton), Sharrod Wellingham (West Coast), Cameron Wood (Carlton) *Delisted
 |
| Travis Cloke is struggling for form and playing in the VFL. Picture: Mark Dadswell |
SUSPENDED
Lachlan Keeffe, Josh Thomas
DELISTED
Daniel Farmer, Luke Rounds, Trent Stubbs, Kirk Ugle, Tom Young
RETIRED
Luke Ball, Leigh Brown, Simon Buckley, Leon Davis, Brad Dick, Alan Didak, Ben Johnson, Andrew Krakouer, Nick Maxwell, Chris Tarrant, Darren Jolly.
STILL THERE BUT PLAYING VFL
Nathan Brown, Travis Cloke, Tyson Goldsack, Brent Macaffer, Alan Toovey.
PLAYED IN LOSS TO MELBOURNE
Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom, Ben Reid, Jarryd Blair, Ben Sinclair.
INJURED
Alex Fasolo, Dane Swan.
Mid-Season Report Card
REAL FOOTY - Jon Pierik
Pre-season expectations: By their own admission, the Pies were expected to contend for the finals. Taylor Adams said the season would be a "100 per cent fail" if they don't feature in September.
Record: 14th (4-8)
What's gone right
Little. They were expected
to seriously challenge for the top eight, and some commentators thought
they were good enough to even finish top four. Darcy Moore, until he
fractured his collarbone against the Western Bulldogs, had shown
glimpses of the player he will become, booting 14 goals. Ben Reid is
finally enjoying a sustained run after terrible soft-tissue injuries,
while former American basketballer Mason Cox has been a revelation as a
marking forward since making his debut on Anzac Day. So good has Cox
been that he took Travis Cloke's spot in the side. Jeremy Howe, after a
frisbee incident over summer, has emerged as a solid defender. Alex
Fasolo, the Pies' leading goalkicker (22), started the season strongly
but is now sidelined with a fractured scapula.
What's gone wrong
Plenty. Finals now appear over. From the opening minutes of the season when Dane Swan's leg and foot crumbled against the Swans, the Pies have been under siege. They have missed his on-field presence and bullocking play. Travis Cloke has endured the toughest year of his career, and it increasingly appears he will be traded at season's end. He has been dropped twice but continues to fight hard in the VFL. The heavy loss to Carlton in round seven even prompted president Eddie McGuire to question his position. He was persuaded to stay by his two boys, who urged him to fight on. Nathan Buckley's pre-season contract extension until the end of 2017 has also been regularly questioned publicly – but Buckley has remained process-driven and of the belief his methods will work. Such was the heat on the Pies after the defeat to the Blues that McGuire said he wouldn't hesitate to sack Buckley if that was the right thing to do for the club. Injuries and the poor form of the team's leaders, including Nathan Brown, Taylor Adams (hamstring) and Brent Macaffer, have also been an issue, and have been highlighted by using 37 players. The Pies have barely had their best six defenders on the field together, and their set-up behind the ball has suffered as a result. Tactically, they have often been opened up when opponents have switched play, exposing their lack of pace and defensive positioning. The plan to counter Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn on Monday with three talls also failed. The Pies have won fewer games each season under Buckley – 17 to 14 to 11. Anything less this year and ... we hold grave fears for anyone associated with the Holden Centre.
Stand-out star
Hard to split Adam Treloar, Steele Sidebottom and Scott Pendlebury. The captain had a tough start to the year when he was forced to play more of a sweeping role across half-back because of a rib injury, but he has been in strong form in the past month, averaging about 30 disposals for the season. However, he has been criticised by former Magpie Mick McGuane for chasing "easy ball". Treloar, the high-priced recruit from Greater Western Sydney, has added much drive through the middle, and also averages 30 touches. Sidebottom is one of the league's best, averaging about 28 disposals, but was beaten by Demons' tagger Tomas Bugg on Monday.
Who is under the pump
Nathan Brown, 27, Alan Toovey, 29, Tyson Goldsack, 29, Brent Macaffer, 28, Cloke, 29, and Jesse White, 28, all face uncertain futures. White has enjoyed a rebirth of sorts as a forward and defender since being recalled for the second time this season. James Aish, the former Lion, will be with the Pies next year but more had been expected of him.
The run home
The Pies will need to win at least eight but, more likely, nine of their last 11 matches to be alive come September. That seems unlikely. They will resume against Fremantle at the MCG, and must win this. Then comes a rematch against the Blues, and even more imposing clashes against Greater Western Sydney (Spotless Stadium), the Crows (Adelaide Oval) and North Melbourne (Etihad Stadium). That's a potentially harrowing run. The Pies have capitulated after the bye in recent seasons, including winning only two matches from round 13 last year. Should that happen again, expect the pressure gauge on Buckley to hit code red.
What coach Nathan Buckley says: "We have got a vision of where we want to go and we have to embody that more often. You're either learners or losers and in many ways we're in that position."
Grading: D
Pre-season expectations: By their own admission, the Pies were expected to contend for the finals. Taylor Adams said the season would be a "100 per cent fail" if they don't feature in September.
 |
| Very little has gone right for Collingwood this season. |
What's gone right
 |
Bad start: Dane Swan went down in round one. Photo: Getty Images
|
What's gone wrong
Plenty. Finals now appear over. From the opening minutes of the season when Dane Swan's leg and foot crumbled against the Swans, the Pies have been under siege. They have missed his on-field presence and bullocking play. Travis Cloke has endured the toughest year of his career, and it increasingly appears he will be traded at season's end. He has been dropped twice but continues to fight hard in the VFL. The heavy loss to Carlton in round seven even prompted president Eddie McGuire to question his position. He was persuaded to stay by his two boys, who urged him to fight on. Nathan Buckley's pre-season contract extension until the end of 2017 has also been regularly questioned publicly – but Buckley has remained process-driven and of the belief his methods will work. Such was the heat on the Pies after the defeat to the Blues that McGuire said he wouldn't hesitate to sack Buckley if that was the right thing to do for the club. Injuries and the poor form of the team's leaders, including Nathan Brown, Taylor Adams (hamstring) and Brent Macaffer, have also been an issue, and have been highlighted by using 37 players. The Pies have barely had their best six defenders on the field together, and their set-up behind the ball has suffered as a result. Tactically, they have often been opened up when opponents have switched play, exposing their lack of pace and defensive positioning. The plan to counter Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn on Monday with three talls also failed. The Pies have won fewer games each season under Buckley – 17 to 14 to 11. Anything less this year and ... we hold grave fears for anyone associated with the Holden Centre.
Stand-out star
Hard to split Adam Treloar, Steele Sidebottom and Scott Pendlebury. The captain had a tough start to the year when he was forced to play more of a sweeping role across half-back because of a rib injury, but he has been in strong form in the past month, averaging about 30 disposals for the season. However, he has been criticised by former Magpie Mick McGuane for chasing "easy ball". Treloar, the high-priced recruit from Greater Western Sydney, has added much drive through the middle, and also averages 30 touches. Sidebottom is one of the league's best, averaging about 28 disposals, but was beaten by Demons' tagger Tomas Bugg on Monday.
Who is under the pump
Nathan Brown, 27, Alan Toovey, 29, Tyson Goldsack, 29, Brent Macaffer, 28, Cloke, 29, and Jesse White, 28, all face uncertain futures. White has enjoyed a rebirth of sorts as a forward and defender since being recalled for the second time this season. James Aish, the former Lion, will be with the Pies next year but more had been expected of him.
The run home
The Pies will need to win at least eight but, more likely, nine of their last 11 matches to be alive come September. That seems unlikely. They will resume against Fremantle at the MCG, and must win this. Then comes a rematch against the Blues, and even more imposing clashes against Greater Western Sydney (Spotless Stadium), the Crows (Adelaide Oval) and North Melbourne (Etihad Stadium). That's a potentially harrowing run. The Pies have capitulated after the bye in recent seasons, including winning only two matches from round 13 last year. Should that happen again, expect the pressure gauge on Buckley to hit code red.
What coach Nathan Buckley says: "We have got a vision of where we want to go and we have to embody that more often. You're either learners or losers and in many ways we're in that position."
Grading: D
Mid-Season Report Card
Fox Sports - Ben Waterworth
THIS season was never supposed to be the one where Collingwood pushed for a premiership. With the 12th-youngest list in the competition but a solid group of senior players, the Pies were expected to push for the top eight, maybe even cement a finals berth.
Twelve rounds into the 2016 season, however, and the Magpies' chances of featuring in September are as likely as a white Christmas in Cairns.
Injuries have decimated them, but the Pies, on paper, are better than a 4-8 side.
Ahead of their Round 13 bye, we reflect on Collingwood's 2016 campaign to date in our mid-season report card.
Pre-season expectations
After two consecutive near finals misses and such busy exchange periods over the past two off-seasons, Collingwood was expected to push for finals, if not sneak into the top eight, this year. In fact, midfield young gun Taylor Adams declared to the Herald Sun that it would be a "100 per cent failure" if the Pies didn't feature in the finals in 2016.
Have they been met? (4-8, 14th)
Certainly not. Halfway through the season — and coming off a humiliating defeat courtesy of the Demons on Queen's Birthday — the Pies sit 14th on the ladder with a 4-8 record. It's a far cry from where the Pies sat at this stage last year (fourth with an 8-3 record) before tumbling out of the top eight.
Best win so far
Collingwood couldn't have been more impressive in its gutsy, morale-boosting win over Geelong at the MCG in Round 9. The Pies gave their fans hope that a top-eight spot was a genuine possibility as they blitzed the Cats in the first term, booting 7.5 to 0.3. They also won the disposals (124-99), inside 50s (20-12), (tackles 24-13) and centre clearances (5-0) in the first quarter. Perhaps the most impressive aspect about their win was how they held their ground when the Cats challenged in the final term, kicking five of the last seven goals of the match to walk away 24-point winners.
Worst loss so far
A few to choose from, but the Pies' 67-point loss to Port Adelaide two rounds ago was as humiliating as it gets. The Pies gave Port countless end-to-end goals as their defensive system and mechanisms were exposed by Ken Hinkley's men on the MCG. Of Port's 19 goals, 12 came directly in front from within 40m, with seven majors kicked from the goalsquare. The Power kicked 4.0 (24) from kick-ins, while they outscored the Pies by 25 points in scores from turnover differential. What made it so disappointing was that Nathan Buckley's men had just put up three brilliant performances, including wins over Brisbane and Geelong and a gallant loss to the Western Bulldogs the week before.
Greatest asset
We haven't seen it enough this season, but Collingwood's defensive pressure on the ball carrier is second to none when the playing group is fully switched on. The Pies are ranked fourth in the competition for tackle differential, proving how damaging they can be without the footy. The midfield group is still full of class, led so wonderfully by Scott Pendlebury, Adam Treloar, Taylor Adams and Steele Sidebottom. And the Pies have found a great little one-two defensive combination in Ben Reid and Jeremy Howe, who have been excellent at intercepting the ball this season.
Greatest weakness
The boys on Fox Footy's On The Couch this year have been all over the Magpies' defensive setup and zone — or lack thereof. The modern game is all about locking the ball in your forward half, intercepting the ball and scoring from there. And the Pies aren't doing that well in 2016, with Buckley's brigade -35 on their opposition for total forward half intercepts — ranked 13th in the competition. Only Fremantle, Brisbane, Richmond, Gold Coast and Essendon are ranked lower than the Pies in this stat. Also, they have a bloke called Travis Cloke — a much-maligned player on a hefty pay packet — unable to get into the senior side at the moment. It's too much cash sitting on the sidelines.
All-Australian chances
Not too many this season. Again the club's ultra-consistent skipper Scott Pendlebury will be in the discussion at the halfway mark, averaging 29 disposals (ranked ninth in the competition), 120 Champion Data ranking points (second) and eight score involvements so far. Former Giant Adam Treloar, who has fitted in at the Pies with aplomb, is the other Pie who should also be in calculations, averaging a career-high 31 disposals, 19 uncontested possessions and six tackles.
How draftees/recruits have fared
If it wasn't for Patrick Dangerfield at Geelong, Treloar would probably be the recruit of the year to date. Despite his new team's poor start, Treloar couldn't have done much more to date, racking up 30 or more touches in eight of his 12 games to date. Jeremy Howe arrived at Collingwood with a preference of playing in the forward line. Injuries have forced the former Dee to defence from Round 7 onwards — and he's thrived, averaging 22 disposals, nine marks, nine intercepts and 108 ranking points from his past six games. Elsewhere, James Aish (five games) has been an early-season flop, while Ben Crocker (six) and Tom Phillips are the only draftees to be blooded to date.
Medical Room
Which Collingwood official keeps walking under a ladder? The medical room is where the Pies have been crucified this season and has undoubtedly played a part in their inconsistent performances. They've been forced to use 38 players to date — the most in the competition — due to the array of injuries they've suffered, particularly to key players. Dane Swan (leg), Jamie Elliott (back), Jackson Ramsay (knee) and Matt Scharenberg (knee) are all out for the rest of the season, while Travis Varcoe (hamstring), Marley Williams (foot), Taylor Adams (hamstring/knee), Tim Broomhead (ankle), Darcy Moore (collarbone) and Tom Langdon (ankle) have all missed stints across the opening half of the season.
Coach pressure gauge
From an external perspective, Buckley is situated towards the high-pressure end of the scale. Since taking them to a preliminary final in 2012, the Pies have slid down the ladder year by year — and are currently heading for another decrease in 2016. Yes the Pies have barely had any continuity about their 22-man line-up throughout the season. But footy is a win-loss industry — and a 4-8 record isn't pretty viewing. After the loss to Melbourne, Steele Sidebottom said he felt "sorry" for Buckley, claiming it was "unfair" Buckley had to bear the brunt of criticism. But if the win-loss ledge doesn't even up, the pressure might start to come for Buckley internally.
Back-half expectations
With a tough draw ahead — they play six top-eight teams in their remaining 10 matches — and finals now close to an impossibility, Collingwood fans must adjust their focus. Most importantly, the Pies must try and accumulate some continuity among their personnel. But if there are players who aren't 100 per cent, it's not worth risking them. Hopefully the likes of Phillips and Crocker continue to get games, while Brayden Sier and Rupert Wills also receive senior opportunities — only if they have earnt them, though.
THIS season was never supposed to be the one where Collingwood pushed for a premiership. With the 12th-youngest list in the competition but a solid group of senior players, the Pies were expected to push for the top eight, maybe even cement a finals berth.
Twelve rounds into the 2016 season, however, and the Magpies' chances of featuring in September are as likely as a white Christmas in Cairns.
Injuries have decimated them, but the Pies, on paper, are better than a 4-8 side.
Ahead of their Round 13 bye, we reflect on Collingwood's 2016 campaign to date in our mid-season report card.
Pre-season expectations
After two consecutive near finals misses and such busy exchange periods over the past two off-seasons, Collingwood was expected to push for finals, if not sneak into the top eight, this year. In fact, midfield young gun Taylor Adams declared to the Herald Sun that it would be a "100 per cent failure" if the Pies didn't feature in the finals in 2016.
Have they been met? (4-8, 14th)
Certainly not. Halfway through the season — and coming off a humiliating defeat courtesy of the Demons on Queen's Birthday — the Pies sit 14th on the ladder with a 4-8 record. It's a far cry from where the Pies sat at this stage last year (fourth with an 8-3 record) before tumbling out of the top eight.
Best win so far
Collingwood couldn't have been more impressive in its gutsy, morale-boosting win over Geelong at the MCG in Round 9. The Pies gave their fans hope that a top-eight spot was a genuine possibility as they blitzed the Cats in the first term, booting 7.5 to 0.3. They also won the disposals (124-99), inside 50s (20-12), (tackles 24-13) and centre clearances (5-0) in the first quarter. Perhaps the most impressive aspect about their win was how they held their ground when the Cats challenged in the final term, kicking five of the last seven goals of the match to walk away 24-point winners.
 |
| Mason Cox starred in Collingwood's win over Geelong. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia |
Worst loss so far
A few to choose from, but the Pies' 67-point loss to Port Adelaide two rounds ago was as humiliating as it gets. The Pies gave Port countless end-to-end goals as their defensive system and mechanisms were exposed by Ken Hinkley's men on the MCG. Of Port's 19 goals, 12 came directly in front from within 40m, with seven majors kicked from the goalsquare. The Power kicked 4.0 (24) from kick-ins, while they outscored the Pies by 25 points in scores from turnover differential. What made it so disappointing was that Nathan Buckley's men had just put up three brilliant performances, including wins over Brisbane and Geelong and a gallant loss to the Western Bulldogs the week before.
Greatest asset
We haven't seen it enough this season, but Collingwood's defensive pressure on the ball carrier is second to none when the playing group is fully switched on. The Pies are ranked fourth in the competition for tackle differential, proving how damaging they can be without the footy. The midfield group is still full of class, led so wonderfully by Scott Pendlebury, Adam Treloar, Taylor Adams and Steele Sidebottom. And the Pies have found a great little one-two defensive combination in Ben Reid and Jeremy Howe, who have been excellent at intercepting the ball this season.
Greatest weakness
The boys on Fox Footy's On The Couch this year have been all over the Magpies' defensive setup and zone — or lack thereof. The modern game is all about locking the ball in your forward half, intercepting the ball and scoring from there. And the Pies aren't doing that well in 2016, with Buckley's brigade -35 on their opposition for total forward half intercepts — ranked 13th in the competition. Only Fremantle, Brisbane, Richmond, Gold Coast and Essendon are ranked lower than the Pies in this stat. Also, they have a bloke called Travis Cloke — a much-maligned player on a hefty pay packet — unable to get into the senior side at the moment. It's too much cash sitting on the sidelines.
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| Scott Pendlebury is one of Collingwood's rare All-Australian contenders this season. Picture: Wayne Ludbey. Source: News Corp Australia |
All-Australian chances
Not too many this season. Again the club's ultra-consistent skipper Scott Pendlebury will be in the discussion at the halfway mark, averaging 29 disposals (ranked ninth in the competition), 120 Champion Data ranking points (second) and eight score involvements so far. Former Giant Adam Treloar, who has fitted in at the Pies with aplomb, is the other Pie who should also be in calculations, averaging a career-high 31 disposals, 19 uncontested possessions and six tackles.
How draftees/recruits have fared
If it wasn't for Patrick Dangerfield at Geelong, Treloar would probably be the recruit of the year to date. Despite his new team's poor start, Treloar couldn't have done much more to date, racking up 30 or more touches in eight of his 12 games to date. Jeremy Howe arrived at Collingwood with a preference of playing in the forward line. Injuries have forced the former Dee to defence from Round 7 onwards — and he's thrived, averaging 22 disposals, nine marks, nine intercepts and 108 ranking points from his past six games. Elsewhere, James Aish (five games) has been an early-season flop, while Ben Crocker (six) and Tom Phillips are the only draftees to be blooded to date.
Medical Room
Which Collingwood official keeps walking under a ladder? The medical room is where the Pies have been crucified this season and has undoubtedly played a part in their inconsistent performances. They've been forced to use 38 players to date — the most in the competition — due to the array of injuries they've suffered, particularly to key players. Dane Swan (leg), Jamie Elliott (back), Jackson Ramsay (knee) and Matt Scharenberg (knee) are all out for the rest of the season, while Travis Varcoe (hamstring), Marley Williams (foot), Taylor Adams (hamstring/knee), Tim Broomhead (ankle), Darcy Moore (collarbone) and Tom Langdon (ankle) have all missed stints across the opening half of the season.
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| Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley is facing the brunt of external criticism. Picture: Wayne Ludbey. Source: News Corp Australia |
From an external perspective, Buckley is situated towards the high-pressure end of the scale. Since taking them to a preliminary final in 2012, the Pies have slid down the ladder year by year — and are currently heading for another decrease in 2016. Yes the Pies have barely had any continuity about their 22-man line-up throughout the season. But footy is a win-loss industry — and a 4-8 record isn't pretty viewing. After the loss to Melbourne, Steele Sidebottom said he felt "sorry" for Buckley, claiming it was "unfair" Buckley had to bear the brunt of criticism. But if the win-loss ledge doesn't even up, the pressure might start to come for Buckley internally.
Back-half expectations
With a tough draw ahead — they play six top-eight teams in their remaining 10 matches — and finals now close to an impossibility, Collingwood fans must adjust their focus. Most importantly, the Pies must try and accumulate some continuity among their personnel. But if there are players who aren't 100 per cent, it's not worth risking them. Hopefully the likes of Phillips and Crocker continue to get games, while Brayden Sier and Rupert Wills also receive senior opportunities — only if they have earnt them, though.
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