Former Demons great Garry Lyon has predicted that Collingwood will be the 2019 premiers on SEN radio this morning.
The Magpies made a stunning resurgence in 2018, coming from 13th the season prior to a grand final appearance.
After going through a full-scale review of the club 18 months ago with Nathan Buckley's head on the guillotine, the Pies ultimately recommitted to their coach. And it paid massive dividends.
Lyon highlighted the Magpies' star power and depth in 2019 and the addition of Dayne Beams as reasons why they can go one step further from last season.
“I’m starting to think, and I’ll say it today, Collingwood is my tip for the premiership,” he told SEN Breakfast.
“I love what they’ve done and I love what they continue to do, and I can’t see how they’re not going to be stronger.
“They’ve just got depth everywhere.
“Brodie Grundy sits right at the pointy end, and then that midfield that is well recognised has just got deeper because they’ve added Dayne Beams to it.
“When you’ve got Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom, Adam Treloar, Taylor Adams and Brayden Sier, Jordan de Goey floating through and Tom Phillips on a wing – then you throw Beams into the mix, Beams is a top 10 player in the competition.
“I don’t think you can factor him in, but imagine if Daniel Wells gets going.”
Although Collingwood's undersized makeshift defence was a weakness last year due to injuries, Lyon believes they've found enough cover and development from within.
“The area they’ve been a bit vulnerable is in the back half and having said all of that, their back half included Jeremy Howe, Tom Langdon, Jack Crisp, James Aish developed and now you’ve got Jordan Roughead and Lynden Dunn coming back potentially,” he said.
“I think it’s just so terribly exciting for this Collingwood side.”
