Current Ladder Position 7th
Flag odds $15.00
Top 8 odds 1.10
Top 4 odd 3.00
ContestedFooty’s start of the year preview
3rd to 5th. We expected the Pies to do well providing that their experienced group play at a decent and consistent level not seen in previous years. See the preview here.
Current Situation
The Pies currently sit at 7th place on percentage, with a game in hand on most around them.
Its 6 & 5 win/loss record could and should be 8 & 3, if it wasn’t for the close losses that were snatched from the jaws of victory against Adelaide and Essendon.
Two embarrassing losses against the Saints and Carlton by a combined total 139pt’s threatened to spoil their season. Given that it coincided with a glut of injuries to their forward-line; it’s not hard to see why they struggled at the time. The season seems to be back on track after three victories in a row after the low of the Carlton loss.
Backline
One of the major positives for Collingwood this year has been its unheralded backline which according to the stats is the 3rd best, conceding 86pt’s a game. It’s not really much of a surprise given the lack of injuries that the Pies have had in that area. The excellent stopping form of Simon Prestigiacomo has been a particular highlight, along with the improvement in Nathan Brown. Apart from the consistent efforts of Harry O’Brien, the backline has been lacking in run‘ and creativity, although the return to form of Heath Shaw and Shannon Cox has helped in that issue.
First-year captain Nick Maxwell’s efforts as the 3rd man up, as well as his new-found ability to beat his direct opponent in the last three weeks has been a big reason for the Magpies turnaround.
Midfield
The Pies have gone from a team lacking major ball-winners, to a team that, by the end of the round will have the top two ball-winners in the comp with Dane Swan and Scott Pendlebury. Add Leon Davis being in career best form, and the Pies midfield has gone from its weakest area, to one of its strongest areas. Davis has been a bit off the boil over the last few games against Port and Melbourne but this has led to emergence of Sharrod Wellingham who has been essentially covering for Leon.
If Wellingham can continue with his form, the Pies will have another talented midfielder to add to its rotation mix.
Josh Fraser as polarising as he is, has done okay as a ruckman but very well as a follower around the ground averaging 19 possessions as a link man.
The lack of a tagger is an issue against the better teams, but due to its heavy-rotations, it’s just not possible for them to have one. This as we have seen, really hurts them against teams like the Blues, Geelong and the Saints who have dominant midfielders who have long-stints in the midfield.
Forwards
The Collingwood forward line has had its issues with some out-of-form players in Cloke and Thomas and its injured All-Australians Alan Didak and Paul Medhurst.
This has led to the emergence of John Anthony as a decent forward and whilst he is definitely not a number-one target, he is damn dangerous with his sticky-hands and excellent finishing.
Tarkyn Lockyer’s best season yet has been a great help with his hard running game leading to 18 goals so far this year.
Brad Dick may be able to replace Leon Davis’s presence up forward as shown with 8 goals in his past two games, but given his inexperience and that he’s coming off a knee’, it would be a surprise to see him keep this form up.
The lack of involvement from Didak, Medhurst and Cloke shows the improvement left in the team which is good news for Pie fans.
Coach
Even though he has lost 5 times this year, Malthouse hasn’t coached too badly.
His failure to put someone on McLeod in the first round against Adelaide, for me lost the game and his inability to coach a team against the zone’ was seen by everyone against the Saints.
The ANZAC day embarrassment was down to a lack of on-field leadership rather than bad coaching you would think.
His win against Brisbane at the GABBA would have to be his best coaching effort of the year with a typical back’s against the wall performance after falling to a 4-gaol deficit late in the first quarter.
It’s looking extremely likely that he will get another contract going by reports but still, a top-4 finish is a must if he want’s to keep the supporters on his side.
Best Performed Player
Considering that he is playing with an injured knee at the moment, Dane Swans performances have been exceptional. His ability to be a link man in the stoppages has been very helpful in clearing the ball.
Scott Pendlebury, Simon Prestigiacomo and Leon Davis are others that are unlucky here but deserve mentions.
Looking Forward
There is a heap of improvement left in this team due to the lack of input from the likes of Didak, Medhurst, Cloke and Thomas and the stats show as much with them having the 3rd most inside-50’s but the 10th most points scored.
If injuries stay away to their key mids’ and defenders, Top-4 should definitely be their aim and anything less will be considered a failure.
You can find more of our AFL mid-season reviews here.
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