Preview Round 1: Collingwood v Swans

SportsMatt

Round 1 COLLINGWOOD v SWANS Saturday March 26, 7:25pm SCG 7mate 7:00pm Fox Footy 7:20pm Weather: Min 18 Max 25 Chance of rain 60%: 1-5mm Wind: ESE 26kph Betting: Collingwood $2.30 Swans $1.62

Footy is back, and not a moment too soon. The 2016 AFL home and away season gets underway this week as 18 teams begin their quest for the ultimate, the AFL premiership. Once again the off season has been dominated by off field events mainly surrounding one club, Essendon, so it's a relief in many ways to get back to what the league, and the sport is all about, the actual game itself. The season starts on Thursday night with a predictably one sided game between Richmond and Carlton at the MCG but there are plenty of mouth watering matchups in round 1.
One of those is in Sydney on Saturday night when the Sydney Swans welcome the Collingwood Magpies to the S.C.G. This game was initially scheduled to be played at the Olympic stadium (ANZ stadium) but the AFL, the Swans and stadium directors in Sydney got together and negotiated a shift to the Sydney Cricket Ground. In terms of pure football it's the best move for the AFL and the Swans, even if the change of venue came a little too late and inconvenienced traveling fans. Either way the game will be played at the S.C.G. on Saturday night, and the Swans will start the game as favorites at home.
The Sydney Swans had a decent year last year, well at least until the finals came about. They finished in 4^th position after the home and away season but lost both their finals to rather embarrassingly go out in straight sets. They had injury and off field problems that were partially to blame but in the end it was a disappointing end to a promising season. Of course Swans fans will point out that at least they played finals, something that Collingwood hasn't achieved for the past two seasons. The Magpies have followed the same pattern for the past two years, they've started will to be inside the top 4 after 11 rounds, only to collapse and miss the finals altogether. 2016 is a big year for both clubs. These two clubs met only once last season, in round 20, with the Swans coming away with an 11 point win at the S.C.G.

Collingwood Preview
The past two seasons have been failures for the biggest club in the land, let's not beat around the bush. Missing the finals never achieves a pass mark at any club, but especially one who had made the finals in every season from 2006 to 2013. There are signs of life though at the Holden Centre (Collingwood's training facility) with a list that includes some of the standout young players in the competition looking to dramatically improve on the output of previous seasons.
The young Magpies pre season (7^th youngest list in the AFL) has been impressive with three close wins over classy, more experienced opponents. What has been noticeable in the Pies pre season is the game plan has become more open in both attack and defense. This has led to the Pies being dominated and dominant in patches throughout each of their 3 NAB Challenge games. Whether that game plan is adjusted a little for the regular season will be interesting to observe.
The three close pre season wins are important for the young Pies because last season they lost most of their close games, especially against the better sides. A three week stretch after the mid season bye saw losses to Hawthorn, Fremantle and Port Adelaide by a total of 20 points. This hurt the Pies in more ways than one and they never really recovered.
Coming into the opening round of season 2016 though Collingwood is in a relatively healthy state. In past seasons they've started the year well than fallen away mainly due to not having enough depth to cover a rash of injuries. This year though they seem to have a deeper list to choose from, apart from Jamie Elliott and Matthew Scharenberg everyone on the list is available for selection. However there was a setback on Monday with Travis Varcoe suffering a hamstring strain and training and the tough ex Cat will miss at least 2 weeks. Varcoe had been in stellar form in the NAB challenge and his loss is a blow to the Pies for sure. The Magpies midfield will lead the way for them this year and that's in large part to the addition of an elite 23 year old, Adam Treloar. The recruitment of Treloar was one of two massive moves in the off season (Dangerfield to Geelong the other one) and he's shown already what he will offer the Pies in 2016 and in years to come.
Against the Swans this Saturday night the Magpies coaches have a tough job on their hand selecting a final 22. There's the new interchange rules to consider, with the number of changes reduced to 90 and the abolition of the controversial, and silly substitute rule. How that effects the final selection is yet to be known but it may mean that Collingwood's two promising young rucks, Brodie Grundy and Jarrod Witts get to play together, which was a rarity last season. Other tough choices include who to select in the key position roles down back with Ben Reid getting through an intra club match last Friday and putting his hand up to play at centre half back. No matter what the final selection is for this Collingwood team they will believe a win is within their grasp and will come away disappointed with anything other than the 4 premiership points.

Sydney Preview
The Sydney Swans looked like a premiership contender for most of season 2015 but fell away rather quickly at the end. They were only outside of the top 4 once (after round 1) yet when it came to finals they were unable to win any. It was a sour end to what could have been another strong year.
Sydney will look to once again be up the pointy end of the table in 2016, the Swans have however lost some experience and talent from their list in the off season. The loss of Adam Goodes, Rhyce Shaw, Mike Pyke, Lewis Jetta and Craig Bird will effect their depth. It's kind of a mini rebuild for the Swans with a reliance now on their talented youth to regenerate what was an aging list.
Their best 22 is still a very strong unit and if they can keep their best players on the park they will be formidable again this season.
The undoubted strength of the Swans is their midfield. Rolling off the names of their ball winning brigade is mouth watering. Kennedy, Jack (times 2), Mitchell, Heeney, Mills, Parker, Hannebery and McVeigh all get together to create the toughest central grouping in the AFL. In 2015 the Swans were the best pressure side in the competition and the 4^th best clearance team. With the addition of young Callum Mills and Isaac Heeney having one year under his belt this midfield may be about to get even better. The ruck has been an area that the Swans have maintained a competitive rating in for several years, mainly due to the work of Canadian Mike Pyke. But with Pyke retiring they needed to find a replacement, so they went out and got Callum Sinclair, an Eagles ruckman who managed 20 games last season, although it was at the expense of losing Lewis Jetta. The midfield is the area of the ground the Swans will look to dominate in during the 2016 home and away season.
The Swans defense is still holding up it's end of the bargain. Last season Sydney conceded just the 6^th most total points in the home and away season. They actually led the lead for restricting sides inside 50 attacks too, allowing scores at a rate of only 43% per inside 50 entry. Ted Richards, Heath Grundy and Jarrad McVeigh led the way there and it kept the Swans in a higher position than they would have been otherwise. The problem for Sydney is two of those three players won't be available this weekend with McVeigh and Richards still recovering from injuries. That presents an opportunity for another new recruit to come in and make his Swans debut though. Michael Talia made the move north in the off season after a bizarre incident at the Western Bulldogs that saw him accused of insider trading with his brother. Talia managed 14 games for the Dogs last season and will fill in nicely for Sydney.
The Sydney forward line should be an area that frightens opposition defences. With names like Franklin, Tippett, Heeney, Reid (likely to miss) and McGlynn it really should be better than it was at times last season. When the Swans brought in Franklin and Tippett to the club on huge contracts, they expected it would increase their output straight away up forward. In fact it's had the opposite effect with the Swans total points decreasing over the past 3 years. They still managed to score the 6^th most points in 2015 but were significantly off the pace with the three time reigning premiers, Hawthorn. The loss of Adam Goodes from that forward line also creates another hole that needs to be filled. Of course Lance Franklin is back though after missing the back half of last season due to mental issues. Buddy has looked back to his old self in the NAB Challenge and along with a few youngsters may be able to fire up the Swans struggling attack.
Sydney will go into this game worse off than the Pies in terms of the health of their list. The absence of Mcveigh, Reid, Richards and Rohan will leave a hole that may not be able to filled to full effect. Long term though this might be a good thing for a Swans team that wants to quickly regenerate it's list while still staying competitive. Many have tipped Sydney to slide down the ladder in 2016 so this first game is of vital importance to one of the AFL's most important clubs.

Tip
Sydney will start favourites for this game and they have earned that right. They finished above Collingwood in the past few seasons, have a more mature list and are playing at their home ground. The Magpies have a good record in Sydney though, having won 9 of their past 10 games against the Swans. Of course most of those games have been at the Olympic Stadium and this game will be at the S.C.G. due to a controversial late switch in venue. Even last season though, the Magpies, a team who struggled immensely in the second half of the year, almost beat the Swans on this very ground, only going down by 11 points in the end.
Then there's the relative health of each teams' list, which favours the Magpies. With only Varcoe and Elliott missing from their best 22 this Collingwood outfit is as strong and fit as it has been for many a year leading into the opening game. Ultimately that's the reason why I can see the Magpies coming away with a valuable round 1 win.

MAGPIES BY 9 POINTS

2016 Season Preview

Fox Footy - Tiarne Swersky

COLLINGWOOD’S rebuild under Nathan Buckley has been well documented, but 2016 looms as the most crucial test for the Pies under the Buckley regime.

The Magpies fly into the new season as one of the most puzzling teams to predict for experts, fans and commentators.
Mike Sheahan has tipped the Pies to finish 2nd on the ladder in 2016. Yes, you read that right — 2nd. Others however, see the Pies finishing anywhere from 4th-12th come September.
That doesn’t make things any clearer now does it? If only the predictions about the Pies could be as black and white as their uniforms.
However, perhaps this uncertainty adds to the mystery and excitement that 2016 is shaping up to be. Before we kick off round 1, here are five things Collingwood needs to do in 2016 to avoid a third consecutive year of no finals action.

It’s a crunch season for Magpies coach Nathan Buckley. Source: Getty Images

1) In: Moore & Gault, Out: Cloke & White
He may only be 20 years old, but Collingwood’s forward line hopes lie in the hands of Darcy Moore. And those are a good pair of hands by the way.
Like Melbourne’s Jesse Hogan; after one season, Darcy Moore has become the most exciting key position player in Collingwood’s forward half.
It may be fast tracking their development a little too soon, but it’s time for Corey Gault and Darcy Moore to be played deep in the forward 50, and for Travis Cloke and Jesse White to get well out of their way.
Moore and Gault are young, athletic; can both take a contested grab, and are showing very early signs of being reliable in front of goal. Admittedly, the breaks do need to be pumped. Between them, there are only 13 games of AFL experience. But if the NAB Challenge was anything to go by, these young men can compete at this level.
Travis Cloke is at his best when he’s on the lead, taking a contested mark anywhere between the arcs.
Newsflash: Keep Cloke out of the forward 50 ... for now.
This doesn’t have to be the case for the whole season, but at least for the first few games so he can build up confidence in his marking, his running patterns and of course, his goal kicking.
Cloke shouldn’t be OUT of the team all together, but perhaps Jesse White should be. Corey Gault has been upgraded to the senior list and Jeremy Howe is knocking on White’s door, ready to take his position in the forward half.
Along with the array of small-medium offensive threats they have in the forward line, Collingwood’s goalkicking prowess doesn’t look too bad on paper. However, lets see how this new, fresh-faced forward crew works together in the heat of the battle.

Scott Pendlebury exudes class, composure and leadership. Source: News Corp Australia

2) Make Pendlebury the quarterback & Swan the X-factor
Collingwood’s midfield runs deep, and it’s time for them to use their depth effectively and to their advantage. Without mentioning Pendlebury or Swan in the conversation, the Pies have one of the most balanced midfields in the competition.
Steele Sidebottom, Adam Treloar, James Aish and Travis Varcoe provide class, skill and speed. Jack Crisp and Brent Macaffer are the defensive midfielders; the taggers. And Taylor Adams, Levi Greenwood and Jordan De Goey are the contested, in-and-out, hard-hitting midfielders that give the Pies midfield a tough edge.
Enter Scott Pendlebury — a top 5 player in the AFL. He exudes class, composure and leadership. There’s no doubting Pendlebury is in the prime of his career — but as the Pies fight for a top eight spot this year, it’s time to utilize Pendlebury in a different and more strategic manner.
Age journalist, Michael Gleeson hit the nail on the head last week when he called for Scott Pendlebury to become Collingwood’s Luke Hodge. As evident in the Pies’ NAB Challenge game against the Western Bulldogs, Collingwood struggle to skilfully move the ball from defence to attack. This is where Pendlebury will be most effective. He needs to become the Magpies’ attacking weapon off halfback. Along with Varcoe, the ball movement would excel from defence to attack under the leadership and control of Scott Pendlebury.
Forget about Alex Fasolo and Jamie Elliot as your offensive threat Collingwood — Dane Swan should be your x-factor marquee man for 2016. Dane Swan’s career has entered its twilight years and Swan has even gone as far as saying 2016 may be his last. In his 257 games, Swan has always been a goalkicking midfielder, notching 211 career goals. Last year, with more time spent in the forward half, Swan kicked 21. The Pies are looking for different avenues to goals this year, and Swan could provide another spark in the forward half. He may be in his thirties, but Dane Swan can run all day and out muscle you in a 1-on-1 deep in the forward line.
Pendlebury and Swan have been one of the best midfield duos of the last five years. There’s no suggestion here to completely remove them from the midfield rotations. However, as much as Collingwood fans salivate at the thought of Swan and Pendlebury running the midfield group, perhaps it’s time to step aside and use them in the most effective, not attractive way, to ensure the Pies march deep into September.

Pies 'in good stead'

3) Don’t ‘swing’ Ben Reid
This one is short and simple. Do not use Ben Reid as your ‘swingman’. If Collingwood are desperate for a swingman, throw Jesse White or Jeremy Howe into the mix, but leave Ben Reid out of those conversations.
26-year-old Reid has had an injury crippled run in the last few years. Since Nick Maxwell retired and Ben Reid’s injuries have hit, the Pies’ once formidable defensive unit has looked outclassed, outmuscled and outplayed under Nathan Buckley.
So if Ben Reid is able to get his latest injury scare under control (and hopefully stay injury free), it’s time for Ben Reid to once again cement his place as one of Collingwood’s key defensive pillars, alongside Nathan Brown.
Collingwood’s forward line has options. Ben Reid does not need to be one of them.

4) Avoid a second half collapse of the season ... for the third time in a row
8-3.
A win-loss column only familiar to those who don the black and white during the footy season.
8-3 is the painful reminder of Collingwood’s past two seasons. Two consecutive seasons that collapsed due to succumbing to pressure, injuries and the inability to win close games.
Collingwood’s fixture is favourable. They play 14 games at the MCG, three at Etihad and only travel interstate five times. However, in the first eight rounds, they travel three times, including their season opener at ANZ stadium against Sydney.
No team wins a premiership by making excuses. And Collingwood is no exception. The first half of the season will be another test. How will they perform?
Simply put, they must avoid another rendition of their now ‘classic’, second half season collapse.

Nathan Buckley on Flag chance

5) Play Mason Cox
211cm. 110kg. Games: 0, Goals: 0.
International Rookie. American. #46.
If you still don’t know who I am talking about, the name you need to learn is Mason Cox.
After picking up the game only two years ago, Cox was one of the stand out performers in Collingwood’s NAB Challenge game against Geelong.
The big man threw himself into the contest, crashed packs and took four marks, and kicked two goals.
Brodie Grundy is Collingwood’s clear number one ruckman. However, the second-choice ruckman isn’t so apparent. Jarrod Witts has played 38 games, and at 23 years of age, he is still finding his role in Collingwood’s line-up.
Enter Mason Cox. I’m not suggesting Cox should be played for 23 games straight. But if you can get 10-12 games into this giant by the end of the season, that will be a massive tick towards his development.
Gerard Healy believes Cox is a no-brainer selection for Round 1, while Jason Dunstall has also sung his praises.
I don’t know if Mason Cox is Collingwood’s next big thing, but one thing I do know is: the Pies must play him in 2016.

Injury List

Injury Update Tuesday, March 22, 2016			Round 1 COLLINGWOOD v SWANS Saturday March 26, 7:25pm SCG 7mate 7:00pm Fox Footy 7:20pm Weather: Min 18 Max 25 Chance of rain 60%: 1-5mm Wind: ESE 26kph Betting: Collingwood $2.30 Swans $1.62
Player	Injury	Status
Tim Broomhead	Shoulder	Test
Jamie Elliott	Back	Indefinite
Tyson Goldsack	Knee tendinitis	Available
Jeremy Howe	Finger and foot	Available
Ben Reid	Calf	Available
Matt Scharenberg	Knee	Season
Josh Smith	Ankle	Test
Travis Varcoe	Hamstring	3 weeks

Collingwood News Travis Varcoe will be a notable exclusion from Collingwood's round one side after suffering a hamstring injury at training on Monday. Varcoe ended an impressive preseason on a negative note, departing the field about half an hour into the Magpies' first session of the week. Director of Football Neil Balme later confirmed that Varcoe would require time on the sidelines. "He was training very well, playing particularly well and for some reason he does his hamstring," Balme told Collingwood Media's 'Blackmores Injury Update'. "It's not serious but he'll miss some weeks. He would be medium term." Varcoe was one of just four Magpies to play all 22 home and away games in 2015. He played all three NAB Challenge games, averaging 16 disposals per game and kicking four goals. With the 2016 home and away season ready to begin, Balme confirmed positive news for a number of recovering players. Adam Treloar, Jeremy Howe, Ben Reid and Tyson Goldsack have all been declared fit and ready to play. Treloar and Reid will be available for AFL selection, while Balme confirmed that Howe and Goldsack will most likely play in a VFL practice match at the Holden Centre on Saturday afternoon. "Jeremy Howe hasn't done quite enough work (to play round one), but is now ready to play so he'll play in the VFL side," he said. "Tyson Goldsack has been having a little bit of trouble with that knee. "Now he's in a very good spot and will certainly play VFL this week." Two players who will most likely remain on the sidelines this weekend are Tim Broomhead and Josh Smith. Balme listed both as 'short term' injuries, describing Broomhead's situation as "optimistic". "Josh Smith who played in the first NAB Challenge game has just about recovered from his ankle (injury). "He probably won't play this week. He's still a touch sore but just about ready to go." "Tim Broomhead is a little bit sore in the shoulder still. We probably won't play him this week but he's not that far away. We're very optimistic about how he will go." Balme's injury update assures that Collingwood will effectively have 39 of it 44 active players fit and available for some form of selection in the opening week of the season. Matthew Scharenberg continues the long rehabilitation program stemming from a second knee reconstruction, while Jamie Elliott recovers from a back injury. "He's started running this week," Balme said of Elliott. "It'll take him a little while to get back to playing… He would still certainly be medium to long term." Collingwood will hold an open training session at the Holden Centre on Thursday before flying to Sydney for Saturday's round one clash with the Swans.

Injury List

Injury Update Wednesday, March 16, 2016			Round 1 COLLINGWOOD v SWANS Saturday March 26, 7:25pm SCG 7mate 7:00pm Fox Footy 7:20pm Weather: Min 19 Max 25 Chance of rain 50%: <1mm Wind: ENE 23kph Betting: Collingwood $2.35 Swans $1.60
Player	Injury	Status
Jamie Elliott	Back	Indefinite
Tyson Goldsack	Knee tendinitis	Test
Jeremy Howe	Finger and foot	Test
Brent Macaffer	Calf	TBC
Ben Reid	Calf	Test
Matt Scharenberg	Knee	Season

Collingwood News Collingwood football manager Neil Balme has given Magpies midfielder Adam Treloar the all clear after he limped off the track early at the Holden Centre on Friday. The 23-year-old participated in match simulation but caused some concern when he reported to the club's medical team just before the session ended. However Balme reassured fans via Collingwood's official Twitter feed that Treloar, who had surgery in the off-season to alleviate a groin issue, was unscathed. "All players got through training. Adam Treloar left the track a couple of minutes early but he's fine," Balme said. The 23-year-old stood out in the Magpies' final NAB Challenge match against the Western Bulldogs and the club hopes he will play against the Sydney Swans in round one at the SCG. Balme also said he was pleased to see Ben Reid get through the session. Reid suffered a slight setback to his calf a month ago but the Magpies have remained adamant that it was only minor and he would be back on track to play early part of the season. He remains however in doubt for round one. "It's good to see Ben Reid get through the session. We're happy with the way the squad is looking as we move towards our first game," Balme said. Collingwood has officially ruled out Jamie Elliott and Jeremy Howe ahead of round one.

2016 Season Preview

The Guardian - Russell Jackson

Round 1 COLLINGWOOD v SWANS Saturday March 26, 7:25pm SCG 7mate 7:00pm Fox Footy 7:20pm Weather: To come Betting: Collingwood $2.40 Swans $1.57

Collingwood
2015 ladder position: 12th
2016 predicted ladder range: 4-6th

Just as no club was more blighted by injuries than Collingwood in 2015, it's possible that none will face greater expectations for rapid improvement in the current campaign.
A top-four side at the half-way mark of the past two seasons, the Pies have failed to reach the finals both times.
That simply won't do this year and if we're honest, given a clean bill of health it's unlikely to.
Genuine contenders don't use injuries as excuses but Collingwood truly did endure a nightmare run in 2015, losing five games by under two goals in the second half of the year after they'd been cushioned by a soft draw for the first half.
But even when hobbled they pushed the top sides hard. That bodes well for a first-string side.
This is a list that should theoretically move to the billing of flag contender across the next 4-5 seasons, a point midfielder Steele Sidebottom made well after the Pies locked him in until the end of 2021. Collingwood's re-signing of Taylor Adams, Jack Crisp and Adam Oxley can't hurt to that end, either.

Adam Treloar should be a dynamic addition to Collingwood's midfield in 2016.
Photograph: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

When you look down this playing list and the murderer's row of high profile off-season recruits, it's hard to temper expectations.
In come brutish midfielder Adam Treloar, high-leaping defender Jeremy Howe and the classy but unfulfilled James Aish, the last of whom is now placed in the best possible position given the support around him.
Whether he can break into the senior line-up and stay there remains to be seen.
At present he's well down the pecking order behind the likes of Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan, Adams and Sidebottom.
There's good news for Collingwood within existing ranks, too. Hopes remain high that highly-rated swingman Ben Reid has fully recovered from the various ailments that restricted him to just nine games in the past two seasons.
Pies assistant coach Scott Burns was ebullient in his praise for Reid over the pre-season period. "However important you think [Alex] Rance is to Richmond," Burns said, "I reckon Ben Reid is not far off that important at Collingwood."

Jordan De Goey (left) and Darcy Moore are among a host of talented young Pies who should put the club in Premiership contention over the next half-decade. Photograph: Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images

Treloar will add another dimension to this side and Jordan de Goey looks a genuine star in the making.
The latter is one of many players given extended runs in the seniors in the past few years, a move that should start reaping rewards now. Unburdened by having to be too many things at once, Howe could do anything.
Another thing Collingwood has going for it is a developing list of legitimate forwards to form a multi-faceted scoring plan, one that doesn't just rely on Travis Cloke and his wonky kicking. Darcy Moore's putting meat on his bones and has already shown his undisputed class, but Corey Gault and giant American Mason Cox have been the pre-season revelations.
They could provide match-up nightmares, especially 211-centimetre Cox. The latter will nevertheless compete with the likes of Jarrod Witts and Brodie Grundy for a ruck slot.
Expectations have well and truly set in for Nathan Buckley and this side, but they're now also well placed to challenge for the next half-decade thanks to canny recruitment off the back of losing the likes of Dale Thomas, Heath Shaw, Dayne Beams and Sharrod Wellingham.
Everywhere you look there's a younger player who provides a spark; Tom Langdon, Marley Williams, Jack Frost and Oxley in defence, Adams, Treloar, Crisp and Jarryd Blair in the middle, and De Goey, Moore, Alex Fasolo and Jamie Elliot in front of goal.
Considering the blend of established senior stars and top young talent on display here, Collingwood's long odds in Premiership betting are perhaps generous. If any side from outside last season's eight finds itself in a preliminary final this year, it could well be the Pies.

Pre-Season Game 3: Collingwood 107 Western Bulldogs 105

THE FACTS

COLLINGWOOD               0.3.3.21   0.5.4.34   1.12.7.88   1.15.8.107
WESTERN BULLDOGS    1.5.3.42   1.9.7.70   1.11.9.84   1.14.12.105

SUPERGOALS - Collingwood: 1 (Fasolo)
GOALS - Collingwood: Moore 4, Varcoe 2, Gault 2, Cloke 2, Treloar 2, Fasolo, Blair, Crisp

BEST - Collingwood: Treloar, Adams, Moore, De Goey, Pendlebury, Sidebottom, Swan

INJURIES - Collingwood: Nil

REPORTS - Collingwood: Nil

OFFICIAL CROWD: 12,594 at Etihad Stadium

THE MEDIA

AFL COLLINGWOOD'S boom recruit Adam Treloar has reinforced his enormous value with a best-afield performance in his first pre-season hitout. Teammate Darcy Moore bagged four goals as the Magpies remained undefeated in the NAB Challenge, courtesy of a two-point win over the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Saturday. In a remarkable contest for a pre-season match, the Dogs – powered by dominant 33-disposal display from dashing defender Jason Johannisen and a three-goal effort from young key forward Tom Boyd – played the frenetic football that made them one of last season's bolters, leading by 40 points midway through the second term. But the complexion of the game changed after half-time when the seemingly undercooked Pies upped their rotations, piling on seven successive goals to storm to an eight-point lead just 17 minutes into the third term. Bulldogs sharpshooter Jake Stringer missed a flying shot in the dying moments as the Pies won 1.15.8 (107) to 1.14.12 (105). Ex-Giant Treloar, whose only official match practice had been three quarters in the VFL last week, showed no sign of any lingering groin problems, amassing 26 disposals and two goals. After starting on the bench, Treloar was soon showing his class and work ethic, often starting a chain of handballs and getting on the end of it 60m downfield, as he did when he nailed a lovely running shot after 21 minutes. Treloar later slotted a goal from outside the arc, and combined well with skipper Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom, Dane Swan and former Giants teammate Taylor Adams. The Bulldogs will sweat on the fitness of ruckman Tom Campbell, who left the field in the second term with a right foot injury and didn't return, raising a possible selection dilemma for the Dogs with veteran ruckman Will Minson nursing a hamstring strain that could sideline him for round one and Jordan Roughead being left out of the clash with the Pies. High-priced Boyd has emerged as a possible ruck option after his impressive showing, with the talented 20-year-old contesting the first centre bounce and acquitting himself well around the ground. However, Boyd did his best work in attack, taking two superb contested marks in the first quarter, the second being a huge, floating pack mark in the goalsquare, which he converted. At the other end, fellow forward hope Moore showed he might be ready to assume the key role of second tall forward alongside spearhead Travis Cloke, who had a quiet day, kicking two easy goals from the goal line in general play. A major concern for the Pies on the eve of the premiership season was their sloppy play in the first half when they made numerous elementary skill errors, particularly in defence where a series of kicking blunders under little or no pressure provided the Dogs with scoring opportunities. WHAT WE LEARNED Collingwood: Good teams take advantage of basic skill errors, and the Pies had too many fumbles and missed kicks when under little pressure in the first half. In the third quarter their midfield got on top and the Magpies fought back, showing Collingwood can match it with the best teams in the middle. NEW FACES Collingwood: Adam Treloar was involved in a scoring chain starting from half-back in the first quarter, finishing the play with a goal. Another burst through the middle in the third quarter saw Treloar kick perfectly to Darcy Moore while running flat out. Moore didn't convert but that combination should excite Collingwood fans. James Aish only came on in the last quarter, and didn't do much in the time he spent on a wing. NEXT UP The home and away season beckons. Collingwood will play the Sydney Swans at the SCG on Saturday, March 26.                                  REAL FOOTY When the Western Bulldogs and Collingwood met in the final, let's-get-serious game of the 2015 pre-season, Dogs' fans were given a window to the excitement to come via a stunning 10-goal win. At half-time on Saturday they were humming "here we go again". The Bulldogs' speed and skill had spirited them to a six-goal lead and made the opposition look flat-footed. For their part, the Magpies' calamitous kicking had the effect of quite literally shooting themselves in the foot. Premature extrapolators had the Bulldogs winning the premiership and Collingwood destined to slide rather than, as is widely expected, soar back into contention. That Collingwood was in front 16 minutes into the second half further franked the wisdom that pre-season football can be an entree as light as a souffle. The end result was a two-point win to Collingwood in a finish as stirring as could be possible in mid-March, but with nothing up for grabs it was the seeds of promise that mattered most. For the Magpies Adam Treloar was all class as his build towards round one was completed with a 26-possession, two-goal outing, Jordan De Goey did little to soften the fizz of expectation around him, and Darcy Moore provided the focal point that Travis Cloke couldn't with four goals. The great tale of hope in Bulldogs' colours was the man they most hope will match his billing,Tom Boyd, who was prominent both up forward and in the ruck where he shared duties with Jack Redpath as Tom Campbell sat out the second half with an ankle injury. Elsewhere Jason Johannisen continued his rise in stature in a highly respected defence, Marcus Adams showed a bit in some big back-half one-on-ones, Caleb Daniel was lively and Tom Liberatore got through another outing at the coalface. Practice matches are for fine-tuning and an opening notable for errors by foot betrayed that it's very much mid-March. Jake Stringer for the Dogs and Corey Gault and Jarrod Blair at the other end all missed what they should have kicked, Jarrod Witts gifted the Bulldogs their first when he picked out Lachie Hunter, and Tom Langdon and even Scott Pendlebury found the wrong side of the boundary line. When Dane Swan got his first touch after 20 minutes, a free 15 metres out, his centring ball went straight to the Dogs, who promptly ran it to the other end where Lin Jong, all alone inside 50, dropped a chest mark. Back it pinged and finally found safe hands, Treloar kicking his first goal in Collingwood colours. The Benny Hill music rolled on as Alex Fasolo hit the post from 20 metres straight in front. The Magpies kicked the first six of the second half in a startling turnaround in which they turned the Bulldogs' centre clearance dominance on its head, Moore twice dragged the ball out of the sky, Fasolo landed a nine-pointer from 60 metres and Gault got hold of one so close it was a formality. His drop punt from the goalsquare put Collingwood in front. The last quarter was tit-for-tat, the industrious Mitch Wallis's third reclaiming the lead for the Bulldogs before Cloke's second gimme snatched it back. The black and white transformation was exemplified in Travis Varcoe twice running down opponents, the second putting Jake Stringer sufficiently off his kick to miss from the top of the goalsquare when a goal would have pinched it for the Bulldogs.

SUPERFOOTY COLLINGWOOD moved heaven and earth in the off-season to secure midfielder Adam Treloar and his first official match with the Magpies against Western Bulldogs on Saturday showed precisely why. Treloar produced an outstanding debut as the Magpies kept their unbeaten preseason run alive with a two-point win in an entertaining and even contest against the Bulldogs. The 23-year-old had 26 touches, kicked two goals and helped to inspire a second-half comeback from what was a seemingly hopeless position after their opponents dominated the first half. He kicked a key goal in the first term, then followed it up with a superb shot from just inside 50m in the all-important last term. In contrast to Thursday night's clash between Richmond and Port Adelaide, which brought criticism of the preseason series, this one was an impressive one for fans of both sides looked at the season ahead. This was one of the most entertaining NAB Challenge games this season with both sides seemingly getting plenty out of the contest. Treloar aside, the Magpies would have been delighted with four goals to Darcy Moore, the forward line functioned well even if the back half looked shaky at time, and the likes of Taylor Adams, Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan and Steele Sidebottom showed what a deep midfield they have this season. The Dogs were best served by Jason Johannisen, who was brilliant from start to finish, Lachie Hunter was impressive, Matthew Boyd and Robert Murphy were good across half back, and Tom Boyd showed a fair bit, kicking three goals and helping out in the ruck after Tom Campbell was injured. The Magpies may have kicked the first goal of the game via a Travis Varcoe run down, tackle and free kick from 35m, but it was Bulldogs who dominated the first half. For the most part that came from the slick run from the back half, and from its midfield edge in those first two terms, though it was also aided by a strangely sloppy Collingwood defence which turned the ball over so often that it must have had coach Nathan Buckley fumed in the coaches' box. The rusty disposal in defence brought about the Dogs' first goal, through Lachie Hunter, and it became a theme for much of the day. Pies fans appeared as if they were cheering that Hunter goal. They weren't, it just happened to coincide with boom recruit Adam Treloar's entry onto the field from the interchange bench. Treloar went straight into the middle and worked his way into the game, showing his incredible workrate late in the term when he took part in a passage from half-back that ended in his first goal in black and white. By that stage, the Dogs had the early ascendancy, and Tom Boyd had played an unlikely role in that. Boyd would have delighted Dogs' fans with his performance on Saturday, kicking three goals overall, and dragging down a couple of impressive marks in attack. Importantly, he was able to help out in the ruck, especially when Tom Campbell went off injured during the second term. Former Hawk Matt Suckling showed why he was targeted by the Dogs in the free agency window when he slotted through a superb super goal late in the first term to make the difference 28 points. By the middle part of the second term, that margin had bloated out to 40 points, and the Magpies appeared to be a fair way off the pace of what appeared to be a much slicker Bulldogs' outfit. Marcus Bontempelli iced a goal just before half-time across the left side of his body, making the difference six goals, but at stages it looked like it could have been more. But just as they did down at Geelong in the first NAB Challenge game, the Magpies transformed the state of the game with a stunning third term. It was an 11-goal third stanza against the Cats, which turned the game, and it was as almost as powerful this time around with eight goals in that same period, including a sensational super goal from Alex Fasolo. Seven of them came in succession, and Treloar played a big part in this turnaround, as Collingwood went from looking like also rans to taking the lead just 16 minutes into the term with a Corey Gault goal. The Magpies held a slight edge at the final change — four points — as both sides threw themselves into a frantic final term that impressed the fans of both sides. And they managed to close out the game, but only just after a wayward kick-in from Marley Williams gave the Dogs one last chance to steal the match back, Time beat them in the end, as the Magpies held on.                               COLLINGWOOD NEWS Collingwood recruit Adam Treloar's strong performance against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon was to be expected, Magpies coach Nathan Buckley says. Treloar, 23, had hip surgery at the end of last year. The match against the Dogs was his debut for the Magpies' senior team and he excelled, racking up 26 disposals, including 10 contested. A pair of goals capped his game. His run through the middle and class with his kicking was pivotal to the win, while a goal from long range late in the last quarter showed what a weapon he can be. The former Greater Western Sydney midfielder played three quarters of a VFL practice match last Sunday – his first game of 2016. Buckley said the Pies did not need to limit Treloar's minutes. "He's put a lot of work in and he's in good shape. We couldn't be happier with his progress to this point and he's ready to attack the season," Buckley said. "We were only going to expose him to what he was ready for." Collingwood was undefeated in the NAB Challenge and Buckley said that form was advantageous, despite the Pies' biggest winning margin through the pre-season competition being eight points. "For whatever it's worth – which is not a great deal – but to be able to have been in those positions and take the learning from the last two or three minutes from each of the games will stand us in good stead," he said. The Pies went 1-6 in games where the margin was two goals or less last season. Brent Macaffer came off the ground late in the contest with what appeared to be a cramp in his calf, although the exact nature of what happened is not known at this stage. Collingwood will have a practice match next Friday, with defender Ben Reid expected to play. "He's (Adam Treloar) put a lot of work in and he's in good shape. We couldn't be happier with his progress to this point and he's ready to attack the season. We were only going to expose him to what he was ready for."                                                     Nathan Buckley

Squad Pre-Season Game 3

Collingwood News

Pre Season Game 3 Collingwood v Western Bulldogs Saturday March 12, 1:10pm Etihad Stadium Fox Footy 1:00pm Weather: Min 20 Max 25 Chance of rain 90%: 1-5mm Wind: SSW 20kph Betting: Collingwood $2.35 Western Bulldogs $1.60

The first chance for Collingwood supporters to see the Magpies in Melbourne will also be the first opportunity to witness Adam Treloar in the AFL side.
Treloar is one of a number of big name inclusions for Collingwood's NAB Challenge match against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday at Etihad Stadium.
He will join what appears to be a full-strength midfield, with Steele Sidebottom, Jordan De Goey, Dane Swan and Brent Macaffer also among the notable inclusions.
Marley Williams will play his first game of the season against the Bulldogs, while Nathan Brown will return to defence after a week on the sidelines.
After stacking the team with talls in the first two NAB Challenge games, Nathan Buckley has opted for a smaller line-up this week.
Brodie Grundy will miss, while Jesse White and Mason Cox have also been left out of the side.
After experiencing their first taste of AFL football in Wagga Wagga, Tom Phillips, Brayden Sier and Matthew Goodyear will remain on the sidelines this weekend.
They may join teammates Ben Crocker, Tim Golds and Darrean Wyatt in the VFL, with the VFL Magpies set to play a practice match against Footscray at the Holden Centre on Saturday afternoon.

Collingwood 27-man squad

1. Alex Fasolo 2. Jordan De Goey 3. Brent Macaffer 7. Adam Treloar 8. Tom Langdon 10. Scott Pendlebury 11. Jarryd Blair 13. Taylor Adams 14. James Aish 15. Jarrod Witts 16. Nathan Brown 17. Jonathon Marsh 18. Travis Varcoe 19. Levi Greenwood

22. Steele Sidebottom 25. Jack Crisp 26. Marley Williams 28. Ben Sinclair 30. Darcy Moore 31. Jackson Ramsay 32. Travis Cloke 34. Alan Toovey 36. Dane Swan 37. Brayden Maynard 43. Adam Oxley 44. Corey Gault 45. Jack Frost

Preview Pre-Season Game 3: Collingwood v Western Bulldogs

SportsMatt

Pre Season Game 3 Collingwood v Western Bulldogs Saturday March 12, 1:10pm Etihad Stadium Fox Footy 1:00pm Weather: Min 20 Max 25 Chance of rain 80%: 1-5mm Wind: S 21kph Betting: Collingwood $2.55 Western Bulldogs $1.48

It's not long now until the start of the 2016 AFL premiership season, with just over two weeks until the first round begins. First though, there's one more weekend of the pre season to get through, with several more NAB Challenge games being played around Australia. On Saturday at Melbourne's Etihad Stadium, Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs will come together to round off their preparations for the regular season. The two clubs have each played two games so far in the pre season with varying results.
The Bulldogs had an easy win over the Giants in their opening game and looked set for another against Melbourne on Saturday before the Demons over ran them late to win by 12 points. The Magpies have won both of their games in similar fashion, producing big third terms before holding on to win by small margins against quality opposition, in Geelong and North Melbourne.
Of course Collingwood are looking to get back into the finals in 2016 something which the Bulldogs achieved in 2015, although they did lose their first final and were knocked out straight away.
With this being the last hitout before the season starts both teams are sure to field strong squads on Saturday.

Collingwood Preview
The Magpies pre season form has been impressive, especially when you consider that they are yet to field anything close to their best 22 in any given game. The win over Geelong in their opening game included a stunning 11 goal third term, which is yet to be matched in the entire NAB challenge by any other team. The win last Saturday over North Melbourne up at Wagga Wagga was more workmanlike but none the less impressive. In stifling heat Collingwood at times dominated the midfield battle versus a side that has been to the last two preliminary finals. Levi Greenwood and Taylor Adams especially thrived against a physically tough Kangaroos midfield and it was arguable as to which was best on ground on that day. Up forward Corey Gault (3 goals) continued his very impressive pre season and is really pushing for a rookie upgrade and selection in round 1 versus the Swans.
Before last season began, senior coach Nathan Buckley made the bold comment that he wanted his side to be the best at transition play in the entire league. Last season they didn't even come close to that, but what the young Pies have shown in the NAB challenge is that they are heading in the right direction. It is clear as day to see that this Collingwood outfit is going to move the ball quicker and more direct than they have in previous seasons. Ranked 1^st for using the boundary and last for scores from defensive 50 in 2015 there had to be a shift of mindset and approach coming into 2016. What that should translate into is more one on one chances for the Magpies talented forwards. There's always been the complaint that the Pies bomb the ball in to Travis Cloke who then has 3 defenders hanging off him, and it's mostly been true. That should change in 2016.
The biggest positive of the NAB challenge so far for the Pies though is the lack of any new injuries, especially in games. The last few seasons Collingwood has gone into the regular season missing a plethora of players that were key to its' chances. This season, with only Jamie Elliott, Tyson Goldsack and Jeremy Howe ruled out for round 1, they are tracking much better on the injury front.
With a relatively healthy list Collingwood should field a very strong squad versus the Dogs with the likes of Swan, Macaffer, Brown and Williams all certain to come in. Finally the Magpie army will get to see Adam Treloar too, after the star recruit got through a VFL practice match unscathed last Sunday. The ex Giant impressed two before leaving the ground after the three quarter time huddle to get ready for this game. It is the last chance for the coaching staff to get a real guide on who is ready to play in round 1 so you'd expect a strong performance from the Pies no matter who is out on the field.

Western Bulldogs Preview
Going into season 2016 the Western Bulldogs are arguably the most exciting prospect. They are a young side on the up as they showed last season and there's clearly more improvement in their list yet. The standouts of course at the irrepressible youngsters Jake Stringer and Marcus Bontempelli, Entering their 3^rd and 4^th seasons respectively there's very few clubs who have two players like this that you would pay money alone to watch. Of course there's plenty of other talent on the Dogs list and while they couldn't manage to win their first final since 2010 last year they did show that their future is indeed bright. The Dogs pre season has been average, they've been impressive in patches but senior coach Luke Beveridge has hinted that he will play his strongest team yet this Saturday versus the Pies.
Many see the Dogs apparent weakness as being their defense. While they seem to lack key defenders outside of Jordan Roughead what their defensive unit does best is rebound the ball if the opposition can't score at the first opportunity. With the likes of Murphy, Wood, Boyd, Johannisen and a new addition in Matt Suckling the Dogs are as good as anyone in turning defensive inside 50's into scoring opportunities at the other end. Adding Suckling, a multiple premiership winner with the Hawks, to that already damaging rebounding defense can only mean bad news for any forward line that fails to take it's first chance with a forward 50 entry.
The Bulldogs ability to score is well known, and with the assistance of that mentioned defense as well as a strong midfield they ranked 4^th for total points in 2015. They should improve again on their attacking output in 2016 as some of their youngsters have more experience under their belt. The one addition that might help comes from within the club. Tom Liberatore, who was in the elite category for clearances in season 2014 missed the entire 2015 campaign after suffering a knee injury. Liberatore adds grunt and drive to a midfield that at times last year struggled when it came to winning the contested ball.
With the Western Bulldogs likely to field as strong a team as possible on Saturday it really will give us a good look at just how far this team might be able to go in 2016.

STATISTICS	COLLINGWOOD	WESTERN BULLDOGS
Score from forward 50 entry	18.6% – 12th	22.7% – 1st
Forward 50 entries	9th	1st
Score from centre bounce	10.6% – 13th	8.8% – 18th
Wing ball movement use	31.7& – 17th	34.7% – 1st
Kick rating	-0.2% – 12th	+0.9% – 5th
Marks inside 50	13 – 5th	10.9 – 12th
Pressure differential	+0.06 – 5th	-0.07 – 15th
Defensive 1 on 1 (against)	24.4% – 2nd	31.8% – 15th
Forward 1 on 1 (for)	30.2% – 4th	25.2% – 16th
All clearances	7th	9th

Pre-Season Game 2: Collingwood 85 North Melbourne 77

THE FACTS

COLLINGWOOD           0.4.3.27  0.7.5.47    0.11.9.75    0.12.13.85
NORTH MELBOURNE   0.2.1.13   0.6.5.41     1.8.7.64      1.10.8.77

SUPERGOALS - Collingwood: 0
GOALS - Collingwood: Gault 3, Varcoe 2, Fasolo 2, Adams 2, Pendlebury, Goodyear, Blair

BEST - Collingwood: Adams, Greenwood, Varcoe, Fasolo, Pendlebury, Gault

INJURIES - Collingwood: Langdon (finger)

REPORTS - Collingwood: Nil

OFFICIAL CROWD: Approx. 6000 at Robertson Oval, Wagga Wagga

THE MEDIA

COLLINGWOOD NEWS IT WAS billed as the day North Melbourne regained Daniel Wells, but it could be remembered as the moment another star was born after Taylor Adams propelled Collingwood to a hard-fought eight-point NAB Challenge win on Saturday. In oppressive conditions at Robertson Oval in Wagga Wagga, the Pies outlasted the Roos in an entertaining and see-sawing contest, 0.12.13 (85) to 1.10.8 (77). On the day his mentor Paul Couch passed away suddenly, Adams drove Collingwood's second win of the pre-season, showing his true class booting two goals and racking up 26 disposals. Adams drilled a spearing shot on the run to nail the game's opening goal and never took his foot off the pedal, despite the mercury soaring to 38 degrees. The 22-year-old's poise in traffic and exquisite skills made those around him look better, and the speedster seems ready to take the next step in his career. Teammate Levi Greenwood, facing his old side for the first time, was another of Collingwood's best with 25 disposals in a typically hard-working effort. After slamming on 21 goals against the Cats last week, the Magpies' transition from defence to attack was slick again. Pleasingly for Nathan Buckley, the Pies again had numerous avenues to goal – among them Travis Varcoe, skipper Scott Pendlebury, rookie Corey Gault (three goals) and a rejuvenated Alex Fasolo. However, Travis Cloke's goalkicking woes continued with the spearhead missing two very gettable set shots in the second term and finishing goalless. WHAT WE LEARNED Collingwood: The Pies' powerhouse 21-goal display against Geelong wasn't a one-off. Nathan Buckley has built an array of weapons into his forward setup, with Alex Fasolo, Taylor Adams, Darcy Moore, Corey Gault, Travis Varcoe, Jarryd Blair, Mason Cox and resting skipper Scott Pendlebury offering strong support for birthday boy Travis Cloke. Throw Jamie Elliott (back), Jeremy Howe (finger) and Dane Swan (rested) into the mix and there aren't many more versatile or dangerous line-ups. NEW FACES Collingwood: James Aish racked up plenty of disposals in another encouraging outing in black and white. Tom Phillips copped a knee to the back in a marking contest early, but in a positive sign he buttered up at the next stoppage and played well. Brayden Sier spent the opening half on the bench and the No.32 pick did some nice things. NEXT UP The Pies take on the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on March 12.                                  REAL FOOTY Collingwood's new-look multi-faceted forward line has again given hope to Magpie supporters that finals could be on the cards this season, after they emerged with an eight-point win over North Melbourne on Saturday. In sweltering 38-degree conditions in Wagga Wagga, which forced the heat-rule policy to be embraced, the Magpies followed up their win over Geelong last weekend with another impressive performance. However, the Pies propensity to kick the ball to the "hot spot" about 40 metres from goal will have rivals now plotting the best way to negate this. While Travis Cloke and young key forward Darcy Moore were held goalless, Corey Gault provided three and their midfielders and half-forwards were all dangerous. Both teams tired towards the end of a match in which each unveiled key figures for the first time this season. The Magpies had Scott Pendlebury, Moore and Cloke rejoin the side, while the Roos gave valuable game time to Daniel Wells, Todd Goldstein and Nick Dal Santo. Wells, having endured injury issues in the past two seasons, has trained consistently over summer and showed the benefits from the moment he had the first clearance of the match. Having dropped weight over summer, he would finish with 17 disposals and the hope he could be the dynamic match-winner the Roos need if they are to advance a step further this year. Travis Varcoe, the former Cat, has improved since crossing to the Westpac Centre and had two goals before half-time. He would be best on ground, with his his run and creativity strong throughout the day. He was instrumental in the Magpies' generally excellent transition from half-back into attack. "It's nice to practice what we have been doing over the pre-season and to do it against good opposition is a credit to the boys," Varcoe said. Alex Fasolo was another to shine for the Pies – and appears set for his best season yet. Having returned to the forward line, Fasolo has shown great form, greater discipline and a willingness to run hard, prompting former Geelong star Cameron Mooney on Fox Footy to declare "this guy could be anything". Former Lion James Aish was impressive on the wing, Levi Greenwood, lining up against his former team for the first time, and Taylor Adams were busy while Matthew Goodyear showed promising signs inside attacking 50. Kangaroos skipper Andrew Swallow was typically solid, as were Jack Ziebell and Sam Gibson through the midfield and Aaron Black put his case forward. The Pies began in a free-flowing manner, and slipped out to a 20-point lead late in the first term. Adams opened the account after the Pies capitalised on a turnover, and Pendlebury added the second when, rested up forward, he edged the ball forward in a marking contest, scooped it up and balanced himself to kick accurately. Pendlebury is slick no matter what position he is in, and can expect to spend more time forward this year. Goldstein provided the Roos' opening goal with a clever snap but the Pies had too much run, and Varcoe and Fasolo were instrumental in this. The Roos responded well in the second term, and also benefited from Cloke missing successive set shots at goal from about 35m. The Pies would hope his yips have not returned. "He (Taylor Adams) just goes flat out all the time, which is why he's so well respected by his teammates."                                                     Nathan Buckley

SUPERFOOTY NORTH Melbourne midfielder Daniel Wells made a strong return in his first game back in almost a year, but it was Collingwood's Taylor Adams who stole the show in his club's eight-point NAB Challenge win in Wagga Wagga on Saturday. While Wells was rapt to be back playing again in his first game since Round 2 last season, Adams turned in a best afield performance, inspired by the loss of one of his close mentors, Geelong Brownlow Medallist Paul Couch, who died on Saturday. Adams tweeted his deepest sympathy to the Couch family before Saturday's clash at Robertson Oval, then followed it up with a game-high 26 touches as the most influential player on the ground. The new member of the Magpie leadership group was brilliant from start to finish, and looks as if he is ready to take his game to the next level in his third season in black and white. In sweltering conditions, with the mercury reaching 38 degrees, the Magpies led from start to finish, but had to withstand a number of Kangaroos' comebacks that threatened to steal the game. Wells had not played against a rival side in 328 days after an Achilles injury wrecked his 2015, but he was able to get the first effective possession of the game, and continued throughout the match with 17 touches. Importantly, he got through the match unscathed and looks to be moving as well as ever, which could be a huge win for the Kangaroos as they head into the season desperate to push beyond a preliminary final. Adams gave Collingwood a perfect start, kicking the first goal of the game within two minutes. The Magpies' midfield was full of eager young players, and that allowed Scott Pendlebury to spend some time forward, which produced immediate rewards as he slotted through the Pies' second goal. North Melbourne got on the board with a nice goal from Todd Goldstein, courtesy of some nice work from Aaron Mullett, and a super snap from the ruckman. Alex Fasolo was lively in attack, following on from his good work against the Cats last week, and other Magpies to shine in the opening stanza were Adams, Travis Varcoe, Levi Greenwood and Jarryd Blair.' Darcy Moore showed the nous that excites Collingwood fans when he offered up a slick handball to Varcoe to set up the Pies' fourth goal of the game to open up a 20-point break. Robin Nahas stemmed the damage with a late goal to cut the difference back to 14 points at the first change. North Melbourne had the better of Collingwood in the second term and it started from the outset when Mullett took a strong mark in attack and nailed a goal from directly in front. But the good start was immediately followed by a howler from Lachie Hansen whose kick went askew, and it ended up in a second goal to Varcoe, after a slick handball from Mason Cox. Then Drew Petrie and Andrew Swallow helped to drag the Kangaroos back into the contest. Swallow had 12 touches for the term and Petrie kicked three goals in that same stanza. Petrie's third goal put the Roos in front by six points. But the lead didn't last long. Matthew Goodyear kicked his first goal in black and white, and then Corey Gault showed how good he can be overhead with a fine mark and goal after a strong pass from Travis Cloke. From Cloke's point of view, that at least made up for two set-shot misses that had the Wagga crowd groaning. The difference was only a goal at halftime, as both sides trudged from the field after seeking shade from the scorching sun. Corey Gault kicked the first two goals of the second half to further enhance his case for an upgrade to the primary list. The first came from Pendlebury, who beat two opponents, and gave off to the young Magpies' forward, and the second was from a courageous mark and goal. But the Kangaroos kept coming, with a second goal to Nahas and a further to Sam Gibson. Then 15 minutes into the third term the Roos were able to kick the only super goal of the game when Lindsay Thomas nailed a tackle and gave off the ball to Mullett, who slammed the ball from outside 50m to narrow the gap. Blair immediately responded with a goal a minute later, and the difference at the final change was 11 points. With both sides struggling to close out the game in the heat, the Magpies scored the opening goal of the final term thanks to Adams, who was having a day out as he pushed the difference to 17 points. Lindsay Thomas cut that back further with a goal less than a minute later, before there was a deadlock until late in the final term when a Ben Brown goal brought them to within nine points. But the Magpies had enough to hold on, to win their second NAB Challenge match, following on from last week's victory over Geelong.                               AAP Collingwood have overcome a dogged North Melbourne and heatwave conditions to record an eight-point NAB Challenge win in southern New South Wales. Once again there was encouraging form displayed by 23-year-old forwards Alex Fasolo and Corey Gault as the Pies eked out a 12.13 (85) to 1.10.8 (77) win on Saturday in oppressive conditions at Wagga Wagga's Robertson Oval. Fasolo and Gault, who contributed eight goals between them in last week's win over Geelong, combined for five majors and 14 marks. Gault, who has played just four senior games, followed up his three-goal haul from last week with three more majors either side of halftime. Fasolo followed up his five-goal haul against the Cats with two against the Kangaroos. It gave Pies coach Nathan Buckley further food for thought over his forward options and support for established spearhead Travis Cloke, who went goalless on Saturday. Taylor Adams and Levi Greenwood tallied 26 and 25 possessions respectively and Travis Varcoe was another strong Collingwood performer. Adams supplemented his ball getting with two goals and had had a very strong pre-season, according to Buckley. "He's a leader of the team and I don't think he knows the difference between a NAB Cup game and a home-and-away game," Buckley said. "He just goes flat out all the time, which is why he's so well respected by his teammates." For the Kangaroos, veteran key forward Drew Petrie bagged three goals, all in the second quarter, and Nick Dal Santo accumulated 20 touches. Collingwood led at every change and two Gault goals early in the third term put the Pies' lead out to 19, but the Kangaroos crept to within six after Aaron Mullett kicked the only Super goal of the game. The Pies stayed ahead in the final term to inflict North's first defeat of the pre-season.

2016 Season Previews

 Real Footy

Pre Season Game 2 Collingwood v North Melbourne Saturday March 5, 4:40pm Robertson Oval Wagga Wagga Fox Footy 4:30pm Weather: Min 20 Max 38 Chance of rain 40%: < 1mm Wind: WSW 9kph Betting: Collingwood $1.67 North Melbourne $2.15

Recent history suggests that at least one team per season confounds the pundits and comes from outside the previous year's top eight to march all the way into the top four.
Geelong, buoyed the addition of Patrick Dangerfield to the mix and a swag of other senior-experienced recruits, is a popular pick to do so in 2016. But perhaps there's another candidate also to be considered this season.
Collingwood has almost rebuilt by stealth under Nathan Buckley, but the Magpies as a result might now have the talent and list demographics to not only challenge the top eight status quo, but take it a bit further even than that.
Four times in the past five seasons, a team has come from not being a part of the previous year's finals to reach at least the next year's preliminary final.
West Coast went better still in 2015 to make it to grand final day. And if their emergence last year is a template of sorts, it is one which in terms of their senior list, Collingwood is also following faithfully.
Pivotal to it is the recruitment of two more readymade midfielders in Adam Treloar from Greater Western Sydney and James Aish from Brisbane. Treloar, who turns 23 on Wednesday, and Aish, 20, bolster further an on-ball army growing rapidly, offering Buckley far more flexibility not only around the centre square.
Their introduction follows the recruitment of two more young but still AFL-seasoned mids in Jack Crisp and Taylor Adams, that 22-year-old pair finishing third and fourth respectively in last season's best and fairest.
It's a quality quartet to partner skipper Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan, Steele Sidebottom, the dash of Travis Varcoe and rapidly emerging Jordan De Goey, and the Magpies' forward line might benefit just as much.
Swan had only 10 disposals in Collingwood's first NAB Challenge hit-out against Geelong last week, but playing forward, managed to turn three of those touches into goals. His nous and ball-winning ability closer to goal looks more and more like a huge wildcard for the coach alongside a potentially reborn Alex Fasolo and "wunderkid" Darcy Moore.
Potentially Collingwood's biggest weapon, however, is youthful experience. The Magpies remain in the bottom half of the AFL for age of their list (ranked 12th) but their average games per player mark of nearly 70 is more than the league average, and significantly more than other rivals around the same mark for age.
It's the third year in a row the Magpies have ranked 12th or lower for age. They have only one player – Swan – older than 30, yet still have 12 players who have racked up 100 games or more.
And the pumping of games into youngsters over four Buckley-led pre-seasons has paid off. Over the same period, only GWS, St Kilda and Brisbane have debuted more players.
The result is another 13 players between the 40-80 game mark, and a vast bulk of a list which has at least had some sort of taste of senior football.
Only the Western Bulldogs have fewer players on the books yet to make a senior debut, and the Pies' figure of eight is in stark contrast to the likes of seasoned campaigners Sydney and Hawthorn, who have 15 and 13 players respectively yet to get a taste of AFL action as the veterans continue to hold the fort.
Collingwood's collapse in the second half of the past two seasons from the strong point of 8-3 has been a big talking point. But the bald statistics from 2015 don't reflect narrow defeats at the hands of finalists Fremantle, Hawthorn, the Bulldogs and Sydney, and another narrow loss away to the very capable Port Adelaide.
That's form which suggests a team better than one which finished 12th on the ladder. And some further list tweaking and the accompanying greater selection options at Buckley's disposal also suggest a side which may cause more than a few surprises in 2016.

Fox Footy

COLLINGWOOD has teased its fans over the past two seasons — and it can't afford to do it again in 2016. The Magpies have been sitting pretty at the halfway points of their past two home and away campaigns with 8-3 records. Yet they have flopped in the second halves, finishing 11th (2014) and 12th (2015) at the end of both seasons. That can't happen in 2016. And with the list it has assembled over the past few years, the club is determined to take the next step this year. Yet there are ample burning questions for the Magpies as they approach this season. Can Adam Treloar have an immediate impact? Will Darcy Moore cement his spot in the best 22 this year? How will Dane Swan and Scott Pendlebury perform spending more time outside of the midfield? After a couple of September-less years, it's time Collingwood bucks the trend and finishes inside the top eight.

2015 WAS …
Almost exactly the same as 2014. The Magpies finished 12th on the ladder at the end of the 2015 home and away season with a 10-12 record. On paper, it was an admirable effort for a club that had the sixth-youngest list in the league. But for a club that sat fourth on the ladder with an 8-3 record halfway through the season — just like it did after Round 11 the year before — it was a disappointing finish. The Pies suffered five consecutive yet close losses to high-quality teams — Fremantle, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide, West Coast and the Bulldogs — after their Round 12 bye. But Collingwood has never made an excuse for itself — and young, relatively inexperienced would've learned plenty during that streak. Top draft pick Jordan De Goey managed 16 games, while exciting father-son prospect Darcy Moore burst onto the scene late in the season to make an immediate impact. Fellow youngsters Matt Scharenberg, Brayden Maynard and Jonathon Marsh also made their debuts in 2015.

PASS MARK
Eighth. For now, the Pies aren't a premiership threat, as they have the 12th-youngest list in the competition. But after two consecutive near finals misses and such busy exchange periods over the past two off-seasons, it's crucial the Magpies feature in the finals this year — and it would be a "100 per cent failure" if they don't play finals, according to midfield young gun Taylor Adams. After bringing in the likes of Adam Treloar, James Aish and Jeremy Howe during the off-season and with a good mix of youth and experience now on the list, Collingwood fans should enter 2016 with an expectation of featuring in September.

BEN DIXON SAYS ...
"I expect to see some young kids rise through and to be pretty consistent across the year. Last year they dropped nine games under 10 points, so if they can make up that gap this year, top four is not out of their reach."

CHAMPION DATA'S TAKE
"One major factor to the imbalances win-loss ledger last year was an unbelievably unbalanced draw. The Magpies had the easiest draw of any side through the first 12 rounds … (but) the tide changed in their final 11 games where they had six games against top-eight teams and four against top-four sides. Their opposition's average percentage jumped to 110.4 per cent — the highest in the league by five per cent. What a turnaround!" — AFL Prospectus

THE TRADE PERIOD
"I'm really pleased with what Collingwood did here. Their list has been transitioning really well over the last couple of years. In Adam Treloar and James Aish they've got very, very, very good players for the next 10 years." – former St Kilda and Hawthorn list manager Chris Pelchen

THE COACH
We keep hearing the signature on a new deal is imminent, but Nathan Buckley remains out of contract at the end of the 2016 season. Hopefully the deal can be finalised during a barramundi fishing trip involving Magpies chief executive Gary Pert and Buckley's manager Craig Kelly north of Cairns this week. Nonetheless, the current Magpies crop is undoubtedly Buckley's team — and he has the respect of a high percentage of the list. There are two major positives for Buckley: Collingwood's board wants him as the long-term senior coach and the young list is one of the most promising in the AFL. As Buckley approaches his fifth season as the Magpies' coach, expect him to continue to develop even further as the playing group develops as well.

THE GUN
It's difficult for non-Pies supporters to conjure up any kind of admiration for Collingwood players. But Scott Pendlebury — the club's only 'elite' player according to Champion Data — is an undoubted exception. Silky, clean-cut and classy, the Magpies skipper leads by action and example and is a wonderful representative of the game. As aesthetically pleasing as he is to watch on the footy field, Pendlebury's reliability should never be underestimated, racking up 22 disposals or more in 81 of his past 83 full games for the Pies. An out-an-out superstar of the game.

THE NEXT BIG THING
Of all the players Collingwood has drafted or traded in over the past decade, Darcy Moore is arguably the most exciting talent of the lot. What makes Moore such a promising player is his ability to win the ball both in the air and on the ground. He has strong hands overhead — he average one contested mark in his nine games in his debut season — but can also win the footy on the deck, rating elite for forward 50 ground ball-gets in 2016. Moore is incredibly athletic for a 200cm kid and super competitive for a 20-year-old who only has nine games to his name to date. After a pre-season campaign that has seen him train close to goal, Moore could produce a 20 to 30-plus goal season.

BEST 22
B: Jack Frost, Nathan Brown, Alan Toovey HB: Marley Williams, Ben Reid, Tom Langdon C: Travis Varcoe, Scott Pendlebury, Jack Crisp HF: Dane Swan, Travis Cloke, Jeremy Howe F: Jamie Elliott, Darcy Moore, Alex Fasolo FOLL: Brodie Grundy, Adam Treloar, Steele Sidebottom INTER: Taylor Adams, Jordan De Goey, Tyson Goldsack, Jarrod Witts

IT'S A BIG YEAR FOR …
Yes, big bags of goals are becoming harder to produce in the modern game, but Travis Cloke's gradual demise over recent years is a concern for Collingwood fans. Cloke has booted 59, 68, 39 and 34 goals in the four seasons since — although his 2015 tally came from just 17 games. And after leading the competition for average contested marks for four straight years, Cloke has dropped down that list over the past two seasons as well. Now 28 years old, is Cloke still the elite big-marking, goalkicking tall forward we have come to know? Maybe not. However, in a sign he could be set for a role further up the field in 2016, Cloke has shed up to 6kg this summer. Can he return to the elite category in the potential new role?

SUPERCOACH MUST-HAVE
A bit of a left-field choice, but Mason Cox — like he was last season — should be an automatic selection as your bench ruckman. Why? Firstly there aren't too many ruckmen — if any — priced at $117,300 who are chance to play this year. And after Cox's outstanding NAB Challenge performance against the Cats — a display where he showed off great athleticism, strong hands and an accurate kick for goal — expect him to be blooded at some stage this year. And when he does play his third game, he'll be able to make you a little cash in the process. Lock and load.

DID YOU KNOW?
The 2016 season will be Jack Frost's first as officially a senior listed player at Collingwood. He was drafted as a rookie for the 2013 season then temporarily upgraded for 2014 and 205, racking up 42 games. Frost was finally officially elevated off the rookie list at the end of last season.

WHY SHOULD IT BE YOUR SECOND CLUB?
"Second club" and "Collingwood" shouldn't be put in the same sentence. You either love them or hate them. But if you're prepared to break footy supporter tradition and adopt the Pies as your second-favourite team, jump on the bandwagon, because the Pies have the 12th-youngest yet seventh-best list in the competition according to Champion Data — and they'll only get better. In the slightly modified words of Robbie Williams, "let (them) entertain you".

Squad Pre-Season Game 2

Collingwood News

Pre Season Game 2 Collingwood v North Melbourne Saturday March 5, 4:40pm Robertson Oval Wagga Wagga Fox Footy 4:30pm Weather: Min 20 Max 38 Chance of rain 40%: < 1mm Wind: WSW 9kph Betting: Collingwood $1.67 North Melbourne $2.15

Scott Pendlebury and Travis Cloke will travel to Wagga Wagga for the Collingwood's second NAB Challenge match against North Melbourne.
The Magpies' have named a 29-man squad to make the trip north of the border for Saturday's clash at Robertson Oval.
Pendlebury and Cloke watched from the stands in Geelong as their teammates notched an eight-point victory over the Cats at Simonds Stadium.
They will play their first match of the year in Wagga, while experienced teammates Dane Swan and Steele Sidebottom will sit out.
Darcy Moore and Tom Langdon have been named to play their first game of year, while a number of untried Magpies have also been named.
The most notable of which is Collingwood's first selection in the draft, Brayden Sier.
Selected with pick 32, Sier was arguably one of the big surprises of the 2015 National Draft.
The big-bodied midfielder was 17-years-old when his name was called, with just two games for TAC Cup side the Northern Knights under his belt.
He remains a largely unknown quantity after not playing in Collingwood's intra-club game on Thursday 18 February.
Fellow draftee Tom Phillips will join Sier in the squad to travel to Wagga, as will second-year rookie Matthew Goodyear and the recently acquired Tim Golds.
Another Magpie preparing to make his Collingwood debut this weekend is former GWS Giant Adam Treloar.
While Treloar will not make the trip to Wagga Wagga, Nathan Buckley announced on Tuesday that the 22-year-old will line up for the VFL Magpies in a practice match against Werribee.
"We'll get 70 or 80 minutes of footy into him with a view of having him up for NAB 3," Buckley told the media.
"His last five weeks have been pristine. He's been in really good shape."

Collingwood 29-man squad

1. Alex Fasolo 2. Jordan De Goey 3. Brent Macaffer 4. Brodie Grundy 8. Tom Langdon 9. Jesse White 10. Scott Pendlebury 11. Jarryd Blair 13. Taylor Adams 14. James Aish 15. Jarrod Witts 17. Jonathon Marsh 18. Travis Varcoe 19. Levi Greenwood 21. Tom Phillips

25. Jack Crisp 27. Matthew Goodyear 28. Ben Sinclair 30. Darcy Moore 31. Jackson Ramsay 32. Travis Cloke 34. Alan Toovey 35. Brayden Sier 37. Brayden Maynard 41. Tim Golds 43. Adam Oxley 44. Corey Gault 45. Jack Frost 46. Mason Cox