Collingwood has reached new heights in 2023 under Craig McRae. The second-year coach took them to a preliminary final in his first season for what was a fantastic achievement and return for a club that finished 17th the year prior.
The turnaround the entire club has undertaken is something to be admired. Changing not only the coach but learning and growing after many off-season distractions. Listening to the players, the club culture is something that they love and are proud of, it's a testament to McRae's coaching ability.
Despite the club's success over the majority of the season, it's clear that McRae has no intention of slowing down regarding improvement. After their Round 21 loss against the Hawks, he spoke on his belief that "our best is in front of us", noting the teams' mantra that they can always get better. The loss to Hawthorn definitely threw a spanner in the works. Injuries to Pies superstar Nick Daicos and key defender Nathan Murphy have sent the club into a selection debacle.
Whilst most would shy away from the challenge, coach Craig McRae is seemingly always in control. His mentality behind always improving is something to be greatly admired and means more now than it ever has. The second-year coach has a strong relationship with his playing group and it's clear that the feelings of admiration are mutual.
Speaking post-game to the media after the Hawthorn loss, McRae still remained hopeful and confident that the team will turn things around, noting his side's best days are still to come.
"Win, lose or draw, we're in the growth mindset business. I hate losing...and I'll do anything to make this group better and improve ourselves, this is not the end of the world," said McRae.
"We're a work in progress. This is not the last game of the year and neither's next week so we're working towards find out some answers. Some of these questions upon us, we've got to find out quickly.
"Our best is in front of us, I'm confident in that."
So what does Collingwood's ideal side look like? It seemed in Round 21 against the Hawks that they were at full strength, but with the injury concerns now creeping back into Olympic Park, it's going to take something special from McRae.
Here we assess how the Pies can possibly improve ahead of their pursuit in September.
Backline
There's no doubt that the Collingwood team has its superstars. The Daicos brothers, Jordan De Goey and Darcy Moore make up just a handful across the list. However, it's the rest of the list that needs to be highlighted here. The 'role-players'. The ones who tend to be overlooked at every other club. McRae has utilised every single one of them to be the best or as close to the best that they can be.
The Pies' backline is of course led by skipper Darcy Moore, who is on track for his second All-Australian blazer. Teammate Brayden Maynard also has a blazer to his name. Veteran Jeremy Howe missed plenty of footy after suffering a horrendous injury in Round 1 against the Cats, but it's 'the others' in the backline who have stood up tremendously.
Isaac Quaynor is a standout. In 2023, he has taken his game to an entirely new level. He was always a good player for the Pies but he has now become a premier defender in the competition.
Quaynor is currently sitting 12th in the competition for intercept marks and has lost just 13.6% of his 22 one-on-one contests. His defensive efforts along with another 'role-player' in Nathan Murphy have been a pivotal reason for the Magpies' 2023 success.
Only one real change could be viable for the Pies backline and that is the inclusion of tall Billy Frampton. Whilst Darcy Cameron was out injured early in the year, Frampton was a crucial piece of McRae's puzzle. He played as both a key defender and ruckman, even moving forward on a handful of occasions. The 26-year-old can most definitely contribute to the side and has occasionally seemed to be overlooked.
Although Darcy Moore is the standout tall defender, the team doesn't really have a second tall option. Nathan Murphy and Jeremy Howe play as undersized talls, however, come September a genuine tall might be needed. Seeing as Howe can be utilised up forward also, the chances of Frampton getting a game towards finals could be the right call. Sides such as Carlton who have two key talls in Charlie Curnow and possibly Harry McKay could overrun the Pies based on height alone. Frampton could alleviate some of the pressure off his skipper and bolster the defence in the process.
With the injury to Nathan Murphy that will keep him out until at least Round 24, Billy Frampton seems to be the ideal replacement. He was a late out for the Pies in the VFL on Sunday along with defender Will Kelly. The latter has played two games as the sub for the Pies - a win against the Bombers on Anzac Day and a win against the Crows back in Round 7.
Midfield
Throughout midfield and on the wings is where things stay relatively similar for the Pies. Heading into September, not much can realistically be changed in the middle for McRae's men. The midfield is arguably the strongest aspect of the Collingwood side. The inclusion of Tom Mitchell at the end of 2022 has seen the Magpies improve on their clearance game, something they struggled with in seasons past. The Pies are sixth in centre clearances in 2023, a huge improvement from 2022 where they sat at 17th.
McRae's decision to utilise Nick Daicos as a genuine inside midfielder has taken his game to another level. The 20-year-old has drawn comparisons to his own teammate and idol Scott Pendlebury whilst also being the favourite for this year's Brownlow Medal. Midfield bulls Jordan De Goey and Taylor Adams have also been impressive, especially in their ability to hit the scoreboard when required. At multiple stages this season, both players have moved into the forward line when needed, and have delivered.
On the wings is where some change could possibly occur. Josh Daicos has solidified himself as one of the league's best but the other wing slot in the Pies outfit is up for grabs. Veteran Steele Sidebottom often begins on the wing, however, he doesn't always have the ability to run all game like he once could. This is where players like Patrick Lipinski and Will Hoskin-Elliott come into effect. As of Round 20, Hoskin-Elliot has been kept out of the starting squad in favour of Lipinski. These two players are relatively similar, if anything Hoskin-Elliott has more versatility for the team. McRae uses these two players all over the ground where needed, it just seems as though there's only enough room for one in the squad.
Another viable wing option is speedster Oleg Markov, a fan favourite since stepping foot into the AIA Centre. Markov has been an impressive player for the Pies after being picked up from the outer of the AFL landscape following his delisting from the Suns. Noted for his speed off half-back and on the wing, it's clear he's in Craig McRae's plans in one form or another. He has been utilised as a starter in 12 out of his 17 appearances for the club, a sub in the remaining five. As soon as Nick Daicos was moved into the midfield, it was clear Markov was the one to replace him as a half-back. His speed is crucial in the Pies' transition game and he could be utilised as a pure winger. There have been glimpses in 2023 of Markov as a winger but whether that's in McRae's grand plan is yet to be seen.
So what do the Pies do now with the injury to Nick Daicos? It's a question McRae will be pondering over with the entire coaching staff. How can the club replace such an important player in their system? The 20-year-old is arguably the best player in the competition in the best side in the competition. Replacing him isn't an easy feat and it will most likely take a number of changes and adjustments just to match his influence.
The first possible change is moving Josh Daicos into his younger brother's role. As good as Josh Daicos has been on the wing, playing him as an inside midfielder could add a whole new dynamic to the Pies' lineup.
Depending on the extent of his injury, it soon could be the perfect time for Finlay Macrae to break into the side. He has been the standout for the Pies' VFL side, averaging just shy of 25 disposals and six tackles per game. His dominance in the midfield along with his ability to hit the scoreboard is much needed for the AFL side, now more than ever. He is currently sidelined with a thumb injury, requiring at least another week or two in recovery before potentially earning his first appearance of 2023.
With the potential to move the older Daicos into the middle, it leaves a gap on the wing. As previously stated, Oleg Markov could possibly fill that role. Despite Jack Ginnivan being excluded from the side in recent weeks, he is consistently developing his game at VFL level as more of a half-forward role rather than in the pocket. His services could come in handy for McRae and the newfound injuries may be his chance. Pressure forward Beau McCreery has spent plenty of time running up and down the wings, chasing the footy. A move to the wing permanently for the foreseeable future is also an option, his pressure is immense for the side and his inclusion would allow Ginnivan to come into the forward line to hit the scoreboard.
Regarding ruck stocks, Darcy Cameron is the clear number one. When Cameron is fit and playing, the majority of the time he's paired with Mason Cox. Whether Cox maintains his spot is something McRae is indeed mulling. Throughout the year, Billy Frampton, Ash Johnson and Dan McStay have all had their share of ruck time, it's just a matter of which pairing McRae prefers.
Forward
The forward line has always been an issue for the Pies since the days of Travis Cloke and Chris Dawes. The Magpies have had to make do without a genuine tall forward, with makeshift tall Brody Mihocek having done most of the heavy lifting. In the 2022 off-season, the Pies acquired ex-Lion Dan McStay to become that tall target. Whilst he missed a fair chunk of season 2023 with injury, McStay has shown his strong marking ability and strength up forward. The Pies desperately needed a big-bodied forward to take some of the brunt work off Mihocek, and McStay could very well be that man.
One of the most electric players in the competition is new recruit Bobby Hill. The ex-Giant joined the Pies along with McStay and Frampton at the end of 2022 and has been a livewire in the forward line. His speed, marking ability and goal craft has put him ahead of the Magpies' second-highest goalscorer in 2022, Jack Ginnivan. Another Pie who is in McRae's good books is Beau McCreery. The 22-year-old applies a significant amount of pressure both up forward and around the ground. On multiple occasions this season, McCreery has run the ball down the line and set up a great goalscoring opportunity for his side.
Mihocek and Jamie Elliott are workhorses for the Pies. They consistently put in their best efforts and are consistently hitting the scoreboard. Mihocek is relishing his new role as he can share the forward work with new recruit Dan McStay. Similarly, Elliott is doing the same with Bobby Hill. When the Pies forwards get going, they're very difficult to stop. They're simply too quick and can score in waves, something the rest of the competition has struggled to contain.
Mason Cox's impact in the forward line has also been quite insignificant in 2023. He has had a handful of games this season where he has looked like his famous 2018 Preliminary Final self, however, he's been relatively inconsistent. In Round 20 against Carlton, Cox was subbed out of the game due to his lack of impact. The Pies swung defender Jeremy Howe up forward who did surprisingly well. He booted three and could be a surprise addition to the Magpies' forward line. Whether that means Cox stays out of the side is for the coaching team to decide.
With that being said, there are a handful of changes that could occur in the Pies' forward line and it's all due to form. It's a fantastic problem for Craig McRae really. Having too many decent or good players in one position instils competition in the side. In previous years, a player having a down few weeks would hold his spot as there were little to no replacements on offer. In 2023, it's the complete opposite. The Pies have weapons ready to go at all times in the forward line. Recently re-signed forward Ash Johnson puts in stellar shifts in the VFL every week, threatening the senior-placed key forwards. Consistency is key for Johnson however, his handful of subpar performances throughout the season could see him out of the side.
September is the time for teams to bring their absolute best, and McRae has just three rounds to conjure up a lineup that will take the Pies to premiership glory. It'll take something truly special, but if anyone can do it, it's Craig McRae and his 'never say die' Pies.
