Former Demons great Garry Lyon has predicted that Collingwood will be the 2019 premiers on SENย 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.
โIโm starting to think, and Iโll say it today, Collingwood is my tip for the premiership,โ he toldย SEN Breakfast.
โI love what theyโve done and I love what they continue to do, and I canโt see how theyโre not going to be stronger.
โTheyโve just got depth everywhere.
โBrodie Grundy sits right at the pointy end, and then that midfield that is well recognised has just got deeper because theyโve added Dayne Beams to it.
โWhen youโve got Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom, Adam Treloar, Taylor Adams and Brayden Sier, Jordan de Goey floating through and Tom Phillips on a wing โ then you throw Beams into the mix, Beams is a top 10 player in the competition.
โI donโt think you can factor him in, but imagine if Daniel Wells gets going.โ
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.
โThe area theyโve 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 youโve got Jordan Roughead and Lynden Dunn coming back potentially,โ he said.
โI think itโs just so terribly exciting for this Collingwood side.โ