The questions and critiques about Collingwood's depth of youth are starting to be stifled and drowned out by the sheer noise of the performances by a group of young Magpies.
Craig McRae's side has been depicted as being too old and far too reliant on ageing stars such as Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom, Jeremy Howe and co for a few years now.
While those criticisms remain fair, Collingwood as a club is still performing on the field, and its group of young guns, which many thought didn't exist, has shone through in an impressive second half of the season.
Nick Daicos, at 23-years-old, wants a contingent of emerging stars to join him over the next decade as the league's powerhouse looks to break through and become the first club to 17 flags.
In recent weeks, the likes of midfielder Ed Allan (22), winger Roan Steele (24), midfielder Angus Anderson (23), key defender Liam Puncher (22), key forward Charlie West (20), and midfielder Sam Swadling (19) have all impressed.
Saturday night's thrilling draw between Collingwood and Hawthorn saw that group demonstrate their talent with Swadling (29 disposals at 83 per cent), Allan (28 disposals, one goal, six tackles, seven score involvements), and Steele (17 disposals, 2.2, five tackles) particularly prominent.
West and Hayes both scored two goals.
Speaking on 3AW on Sunday, Richmond legend Matthew Richardson was full of praise for the Magpies' growing group of talented youth.
"You looked at (Collingwood) last night, and you thought, Hawthorn lost last week, you just thought (Hawthorn) are playing for top four," Richardson said.
"They probably, might be too good. You look at Collingwood's team; they had five players under 10 games last night. Puncher seven games, Charlie West eight, (Noah) Howes too, Will Hayes in his 10th, and Sam Swadling, what a player he is. Five players under 10 games, the future is actually looking really good at Collingwood, isn't it, with their young guys?
"Everyone thought at the start of the year they didn't have any good young players. They certainly do. It didn't look like it at the start of the year, but gee, they found some players and (McRae's) got their system drilled down so well. They are in every game the Pies."
