Collingwood 2010

[hearts on fire]

Reckon the pies will have another good year, finishing around the top 4.

Have been a regular in the finals in recent years and will continue this year.

[Mr66]

Runners up

[NO-MERCY]

Premiers.

[Turbo]

Colli-wobbles

[the big bang]

finish 3rd or 4th.

lose prelim to geelong.

yay.

[westozfalcon]

Any finish below 4th would be a serious underachievement with the set of fixtures they've got.

[stan]

Collingwood with the additions of Luke Ball into the midfield and Darren Jolly into the ruck should be looking at top 4 and possibly top 2.

There is a question mark around there forward line. Travis Cloke is steady, John Anthony goes alright but they are missing something. Perhaps Fraser will be pushing forward this season to add an option
for them.

My tip is that they will finish in the top 4 considering they wont get travel sickness this year, I would be expecting a top 2 finish from them.

[the big bang]

you're right stan.

up forward you didnt mention that there is nearly always (at least 2 out of) Didak, Medhurst and Davis. Didak was probably set to play more of a role in the middle than in previous years, but i guess that has changed with the addition of lukey ball.

and with jolly now, i'd expect fraser to spend a lot more time up forward or dropping back to pick up a 2nd or 3rd tall against some opponents such as hawhorn, rotating in the ruck to give jolly a breather. but also, i'm not sure who picked him up, but in an internal trial, jolly went forward for a quater and kicked 4 or 5 himself, so if he was to pinch hit in the goal square, good things may come.

hopefully the backlines can just "do what they do". presti on his last legs, but hopefully can remain servicable for what i assume will be his final season. maxwell and harry obrien back there holding it down, with heafy shaw doin that hard running and penetrating* that he has become reknown for.

all in all, with the additions off ball and jolly, another year under the belt of pendlez, beams and jack anthony,hopefully dids,neon leon and medhurst can carry on from last years form, throw into that the freakish ability of dane swan to rip sh!t up, i'm as exited as i've ever been at this time of the season.

[stan]

you're right stan.

up forward you didnt mention that there is nearly always (at least 2 out of) Didak, Medhurst and Davis. Didak was probably set to play more of a role in the middle than in previous years, but i guess that has changed with the addition of lukey ball.

and with jolly now, i'd expect fraser to spend a lot more time up forward or dropping back to pick up a 2nd or 3rd tall against some opponents such as hawhorn, rotating in the ruck to give jolly a breather. but also, i'm not sure who picked him up, but in an internal trial, jolly went forward for a quater and kicked 4 or 5 himself, so if he was to pinch hit in the goal square, good things may come.

hopefully the backlines can just "do what they do". presti on his last legs, but hopefully can remain servicable for what i assume will be his final season. maxwell and harry obrien back there holding it down, with heafy shaw doin that hard running and penetrating* that he has become reknown for.

all in all, with the additions off ball and jolly, another year under the belt of pendlez, beams and jack anthony,hopefully dids,neon leon and medhurst can carry on from last years form, throw into that the freakish ability of dane swan to rip sh!t up, i'm as exited as i've ever been at this time of the season.

Actually your forward line looked fairly dangerous last night. Cloke looked fit and his work rate was good. Also Brown looked like he was going to stay down there all season, considering Jolly and Wood took the ruck last night. The only thing is where oh where is Fraser going to play this year? I would expect he will 2nd ruck in front of Wood, and stay down forward for a bit. Still reckon the pies will be hard to beat this year.

Still only early but you get the feeling Collingwood will be looking at a top 4 spot.

[NO-MERCY]

Collingwoods fwd line is at times a worry, not enough key talls, plenty of smalls.
The inconsistancy of Davis is a worry, he was outstanding during 70% of the minor round in 09 but come finals he goes missing.
Cloke is a bloke that should be kicking 50-60 goals a year with the amount of shots he has, he seems to kick the hard ones & miss the easy ones.
I think they need 1 more key fwd & Collingwood is a real threat for a flag.
After last nights game ( i know its a NAB Cup game ) but Collingwood proved if they can post some more accuracy & gain some cosistancy from their forwards ( Medhurst, Davis, Cloke etc ) they'll kick some big scores in 2010, they get enough of the ball won from the midfield clearances, they also rebound well from defence which gives their fwds quick entry & chances before the opposition can get numbers back.
I like what i see so far with the Woods but i also realise this is the NAB pre-season comp.

[hearts on fire]

SNAPSHOT
Coach: Mick Malthouse
Captain: Nick Maxwell
Finished 2009: fourth (16 wins, nine losses)
Best and fairest: Dane Swan
Leading goalkicker: John Anthony (50 goals)
Leading possession winner: Dane Swan (769)

NEW PERSONNEL
On-field: Darren Jolly (traded from Sydney Swans), Luke Ball, Ben Sinclair, Josh Thomas, Simon Buckley (NAB AFL Draft), Jack Carter, Tom Hunter, Shae McNamara (NAB AFL Rookie Draft)
Off-field: Nathan Buckley (forward line coach), Scott Watters (backline coach), Max Hudghton (backline, part-time)

BEST 22
B: Tyson Goldsack, Simon Prestigiacomo, Heath Shaw
HB: Harry O'Brien, Nick Maxwell, Alan Toovey
C: Dale Thomas,Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom
HF: Leon Davis, Travis Cloke, Alan Didak
F: Paul Medhurst, John Anthony, Brad Dick
Foll: Darren Jolly, Dane Swan, Luke Ball
I/C: Josh Fraser, Dayne Beams, Tarkyn Lockyer, Leigh Brown

MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER
Remember that Travis Cloke is still young, so his up-and-down 2009 could be forgiven. Having just turned 23 and now grown into his man’s body, the Pies will come to rely on their centre half-forward week in, week out. While he will get support this year from a resting ruckman, the Collingwood forward line is built around Cloke - the Pies’ only true big man in attack - and they will need him to fire if they’re to go at least as well as last season.

UP AND COMER
Look for Steele Sidebottom to play more of a role in the Pies’ midfield this season. Like 2008 draftee Dayne Beams the young gun has had a big summer and, with a big engine and smooth skills on either side of his body, Mick Malthouse will step up his game time in 2010.

NEEDS A BIG YEAR
Finding a permanent role for Dale Thomas isn’t easy for the Collingwood coaching staff, but perhaps that is the beauty in the Pies’ pin-up boy - his versatility. Last season saw less of the freakish goals and high marking but more of the solid, 20-possession games. But if the former No.2 draft pick could go to a new level it would also help his side reach new heights.

CHANGING TACK
Onlookers at pre-season training might have noticed the Pies moving the ball a little more quickly but don’t expect Mick Malthouse to tinker too much with what he knows best. However one suspects he has a little more arsenal at his disposal this year. Darren Jolly and Luke Ball’s arrival will have the coach feeling he is better equipped than past seasons. Jolly’s arrival will make Josh Fraser and Cameron Wood’s 2010 a subject of interest - especially if the coach opts to use both of them alongside the former Sydney Swan.

Alan Didak, who will again play forward and through the midfield, was also trialled off half-back in a recent pre-season match. Is it a sign of things to come? Consider too that new assistant and senior coach-in-waiting Nathan Buckley was in charge of that NAB Challenge match. All eyes will be on the Buckley-Malthouse relationship to see if any friction is caused by the Pies' succession plan.

INJURY LIST
Cameron Wood (finger) - 6 weeks
Josh Thomas (calf) - 6-7 weeks
Brad Dick (shoulder) - 10-12 weeks

WHAT THE CLUB SAYS
"Every single club out there doesn't do four or five or six months of pre-season not to come out and win a premiership; I mean everyone does it. Secretly, I think everyone is obviously out there to win a premiership and I don't think we're any different this year to last year." - VFL coach Gavin Brown

CRYSTAL BALL
Collingwood will again be aiming for a top-four finish, but there's no disputing a draw the coach himself described as "daunting" will makes things tougher. The first month of the year will tell a tale as to how the Pies are progressing. The last seven matches - while all at the MCG - look to be against quality opposition and will decide if the Pies play finals football and, if they do, whether they gain a double chance.

SEASON OPENER
March 29 v Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/ ... fault.aspx

[The Dark Knight]

Runners up

Agreed

[Rik E Boy]

Any finish below 4th would be a serious underachievement with the set of fixtures they've got.

Have another look at the draw. Hawthorn, Geelong, St Kilda, Western Bulldogs twice. Compare that to the draw that Adelaide, Bulldogs, St Kilda and Geelong have. They have a large number of games in Victoria twice but their draw is much tougher than some of their top four rivals.

regards,

REB

[Bum Crack]

Any finish below 4th would be a serious underachievement with the set of fixtures they've got.

Have another look at the draw. Hawthorn, Geelong, St Kilda, Western Bulldogs twice. Compare that to the draw that Adelaide, Bulldogs, St Kilda and Geelong have. They have a large number of games in Victoria twice but their draw is much tougher than some of their top four rivals.

regards,

REB

Well there's 8 losses straight up. I'll say 6th - 8th

[Rik E Boy]

Dunno about eight losses as I do rate the Pies but it will be enough for the Crows to swoop IMO.

regards,

REB

[Gozu]

Collingwood season preview, "New hope, new recruits, new tatts":

http://blogs.crikey.com.au/sports/2010/ ... new-tatts/

[zipzap]

I think Mr Humphries has been working on Collingwood's injury list this week:

COLLINGWOOD
Brad Dick (shoulder) - 8-10 weeks
Tyson Goldsack (virus) - test
Josh Thomas (calf) - 4-6 weeks
Cameron Wood (finger) - 4-6 weeks

I wonder if Ball is in? Ooh matron!

[Q.]

Great start. Go you Woodsmen!

[the big bang]

very happy. as predicted, the "mosquito fleet" in our forward line of Didak, Davis and Medhurst combining for a measly 11 goals would be too much for most teams.

would be nice if travy cloke would earn a living.

[Punk Rooster]

very happy. as predicted, the "mosquito fleet" in our forward line of Didak, Davis and Medhurst combining for a measly 11 goals would be too much for most teams.

would be nice if travy cloke would earn a living.

would've been nice to watch the game...