Season Preview: Collingwood

2020 Recap The Magpies' 2020 will long be remembered for the tumultuous off-season period which saw the club lose star midfielder Adam Treloar, flashy forward Jaidyn Stephenson, wingman Tom Phillips and youngster Atu Bosenavulagi in ugly fashion. On the field though, the 'Pies weren't great, but they weren't terrible. The club was riddled with injury and suspensions to key players for big parts of the year and as a result, were in a dog fight for a finals berth for most of the season before clinching a finals spot on the eve of the finals series, finishing 7th on the ladder. Collingwood ultimately played their Grand Final in the first week of the 2020 finals series in an elimination final in Perth against the Eagles team. West Coast hadn't lost a game in Perth all season and the Magpies had their backs against the wall, but pulled off a major upset, winning by one point. [caption id="attachment_64765" align="alignnone" width="696"] PERTH, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 03: Brody Mihocek of the Magpies celebrates the win during the 2020 AFL First Elimination Final match between the West Coast Eagles and the Collingwood Magpies at Optus Stadium on October 03, 2020 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)[/caption] The Magpies' first week success was short-lived though after they were comprehensively beaten by Geelong in their semi-final clash at the Gabba by 68 points. Off-Season Moves In - Oliver Henry (draft), Finlay Macrae (draft), Reef McInnes (draft), Caleb Poulter (draft), Liam McMahon (draft), Beau McCreery (draft) Out - Flynn Appleby (delisted), Dayne Beams (retired), Atu Bosenavulagi (traded to North Melbourne), Tim Broomhead (delisted), Lynden Dunn (retired), Tom Langdon (retired), Tom Phillips (traded to Hawthorn), Ben Reid (retired), Matthew Scharanberg (delisted), Jaidyn Stephenson (traded to North Melbourne), Adam Treloar (traded to Western Bulldogs), Travis Varcoe (retired), Rupert Wills (delisted) [caption id="attachment_70440" align="alignnone" width="696"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 13: Adam Treloar poses during a Western Bulldogs AFL media opportunity at Whitten Oval on November 13, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)[/caption] Off-Season Grade C- Collingwood's hands were tied due to a tight contract budget, having to let go key players that they were desperate to retain. They had a solid draft night and will look to move on quickly from the noise surrounding the state of the club after the off-season period. The Magpies still have enough talent and experience on their list to be a contender and remain in the finals hunt, but the question marks surrounding the nature of the off-season and the club as a whole also make Collingwood's 2021 a tricky situation to predict. [caption id="attachment_70015" align="alignnone" width="696"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 16: Ned Guy, List Manager of the Collingwood Magpies speaks with media during the Telstra AFL Trade Period at Marvel Stadium on October 16, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)[/caption] It's certainly not a pass, but a handy draft period saved them somewhat. Defining Period The opening month of the 2021 season will be the most defining period for the Pies. Given the nature of their off-season and the consistent noise and backlash surrounding the club in all facets, the fans will be looking for something to get excited and cheer about. [caption id="attachment_31670" align="alignnone" width="696"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 6: Scott Pendlebury of the Magpies and Patrick Cripps of the Blues compete for the ball during the 2018 AFL round 03 match between the Carlton Blues and the Collingwood Magpies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 6, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)[/caption] A solid first month could just give the club and its fans the hope they will be looking for and show the football world that the Magpies have quickly moved on from all the events that had taken place prior to the season. Best 22 B: Jack Crisp, Jordan Roughead, Brayden Maynard HB: Isaac Quaynor, Darcy Moore, Jeremy Howe C: Chris Mayne, Scott Pendlebury, Josh Daicos HF: Callum Brown, Brody Mihocek, Will Hoskin-Elliott F: Jordan De Goey, Mason Cox, Jamie Elliott Foll: Brodie Grundy, Taylor Adams, Steele Sidebottom I/C: Tyler Brown, Brayden Sier, John Noble, Levi Greenwood [caption id="attachment_33536" align="alignnone" width="696"] PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JULY 12: Brayden Sier of the Magpies kicks the ball during the 2019 AFL round 17 match between the West Coast Eagles and the Collingwood Magpies at Optus Stadium on July 12, 2019 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)[/caption] Strengths and Weaknesses Collingwood's strengths lay within their backline and midfield. For a fair chunk of the 2020 season, the 'Pies were the hardest team to score against, and with the return of star Jeremy Howe, who was in All-Australian form before his season ending knee injury, they will be well placed to continue building from a strong defence. Their midfield is also a major strength, with plenty of depth and talent running through the engine room, led by star ruckman Brodie Grundy, captain Scott Pendlebury, 2020 best and fairest winner Taylor Adams and a returning Steele Sidebottom, who can all change a game at any given moment. [caption id="attachment_29894" align="alignnone" width="696"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 11: Mason Cox of the Magpies celebrates a goal with Taylor Adams (right) and Jordan De Goey of the Magpies during the 2018 AFL round 12 match between the Melbourne Demons and the Collingwood Magpies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 11, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)[/caption] The biggest weakness for the Pies is going forward. Despite starting off 2020 in cracking form and scoring at will, Nathan Buckley's side really struggled from then on going forward and were unable to consistently put up a big score. The club was unable to address their need for a match-winning key forward in the off-season and lost rising star Jaidyn Stephenson to North Melbourne in the process, so the forward line is still an area that needs a bit more consistency. Prediction 9th Collingwood will be in another fight for a finals spot in 2021 and have a list that's very capable of making it. [caption id="attachment_56071" align="alignnone" width="696"] BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 15: The Magpies react after the loss of the round 12 AFL match between the Melbourne Demons and the Collingwood Magpies at The Gabba on August 15, 2020 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Jono Searle/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)[/caption] But with fears that the off-season period has the potential to damage the club early on, mixed with a number of other clubs fighting it out for a similar position on the ladder, we have them finishing just outside the top-eight.

		P	W	L	PTS	%
1	HAW	8	6	1	26	121.2
2	SYD	7	6	1	24	178.1
3	FRE	7	6	1	24	137.6
4	MELB	7	5	2	20	102.8
5	COLL	8	4	3	18	108.6
6	BL	7	4	3	16	118.8
7	NMFC	7	4	3	16	115.9
8	GC	7	4	3	16	114.4
9	GEEL	7	4	3	16	108.6
10	WB	7	4	3	16	91.8

Season Preview: Collingwood

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