Predictions/Analysis of our hopes in 2025 via The Hun -- BULLET IN BOARD

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Date Posted: 07:21 07/01/25 Tue
Author: Annabelle
Author Host/IP: 139-216-204-154.sta.dodo.net.au / 139.216.204.154
Subject: Predictions/Analysis of our hopes in 2025 via The Hun

Collingwood season 2025 preview: Josh Barnes breaks down where the Pies sit
Collingwood has a determination to reset without rebuilding, so will it be the young guns or the old heads that push them back into the premiership frame? JOSH BARNES previews their season.

@Josh__Barnes

January 7, 2025 - 5:00AM
Where do the Pies sit?

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A 9th placed finish last year from the 2023 premiers surprised many but reiterated how tough it is to stay at the top. After another fruitful trade period and a determination to reset without fully rebuilding, can the Pies bounce back while veterans Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom are still in the side? Josh Barnes looks at the big issues for Collingwood in 2025.

SURPRISE PACKET OF 2024
Darcy Cameron was already a premiership player before the 2024 season but he vaulted from an OK ruck to a top-liner, landing in the All-Australian squad for the first time. Any questions lingering about the Magpies jettisoning Brodie Grundy’s salary all those years ago have been certainly answered now that Cameron’s steady ruck work and marking have settled in.

INS AND OUTS
IN: Joel Cochran (No. 47 draft pick), Will Hayes (No. 56 draft pick), Dan Houston (trade, Port Adelaide), Tim Membrey (delisted free agent), Harry Perryman (free agent, Greater Western Sydney), Charlie West (No. 50 draft pick)

OUT: Aiden Begg (delisted), Jack Bytel (delisted), Josh Carmichael (retired), Josh Eyre (delisted), Nathan Kreuger (delisted), Nathan Murphy (retired), John Noble (trade, Gold Coast), Joe Richards (trade, Port Adelaide)

PIES' 2025 BEST 23
FB: Brayden Maynard, Darcy Moore, Isaac Quaynor
HB: Josh Daicos, Jeremy Howe, Dan Houston
C: Steele Sidebottom, Scott Pendlebury, Ed Allan
HF: Bobby Hill, Dan McStay, Pat Lipinski
FF: Jamie Elliott, Brody Mihocek, Beau McCreery
FOLL: Darcy Cameron, Nick Daicos, Jordan De Goey
INT: Lachie Schultz, Jack Crisp, Harry Perryman, Wil Parker, Will Hoskin-Elliott

The glaring thing with this side is the lack of height in defence. Craig McRae will surely find a place for Billy Frampton or Charlie Dean, but squeezing them in is tough. The Pies love young Ed Allan and the team needs more young legs in the midfield. Wil Parker added some dare to the backline and the Pies need more of that, which will be bolstered by Dan Houston’s arrival and Josh Daicos playing back there more. When fit, the Magpies midfield is still strong, but getting them fit at their age is the battle. This is a strong team - even recruit Tim Membrey is relegated to back-up status - but everyone needs to be firing.

Flourish logoA Flourish chart
WHO’S PLAYING FOR A CONTRACT?
A trade story that came from nowhere was North Melbourne’s interest in Brayden Maynard. The tough backman is beloved by Pies fans and didn’t pursue the trade, but it put a target on his back. The premiership Pie comes out of contract at the end of 2025 and as a leader of the group, could be due a raise. A big group of veterans also come off deals, all of which could be coming to the end of strong careers. How many of Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom, Jaime Elliott, Tom Mitchell, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Jeremy Howe, Brody Mihocek and Mason Cox will still be around in 2026? If most of that group plays well enough to earn new deals, the ageing Magpies will be back in September. Unfounded rumours had Bobby Hill looking to move to WA in the off-season but contract talks are expected to get moving on a deal beyond 2026.

COACH STATUS

A 2023 premiership and a contract until the end of 2026 means there is no heat on Craig McRae. But there are some question marks about the coaching box after Collingwood shifted around assistants last season and with footy boss Graham Wright taking the year off – before leaving the club – too much change engulfed the Pies. Justin Leppitsch is now locked in to list management with newcomer Charlie Gardiner footy boss. Injuries can be blamed somewhat, but a bit of the McRae magic faded in 2024 as the Magpies couldn’t replicate the thrilling runs of the previous two years. And Collingwood has gone all the way in, recruiting three win-now players – Houston, Perryman, Membrey – at the expense of draft picks. This premiership window won’t stay open forever.

LAST YEAR IN CONTRACT

Brayden Maynard, Jamie Elliott, Tom Mitchell, Scott Pendlebury, Billy Frampton, Fin Macrae, Tew Jiath, Iliro Smit, Oscar Steene, Steele Sidebottom, Reef McInnes, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Lachie Sullivan, Harvey Harrison, Oleg Markov, Jeremy Howe, Ash Johnson, Brody Mihocek, Charlie Dean, Ned Long, Wil Parker, Mason Cox.

POSITION THAT NEEDS TO BE FILLED AND WHO CAN FILL IT?
Collingwood never really filled the tall defensive post left empty by Nathan Murphy’s pre-season retirement. Billy Frampton and Charlie Dean got the best chance to pair with Darcy Moore but neither could match Murphy’s chemistry with the skipper. And the Pies didn’t go out recruiting for a new tall back either, instead bringing in runners Dan Houston and Harry Perryman, as well as tall forward Tim Membrey. The Moore-Murphy pairing was a huge part of the 2023 premiership success and either the personnel or the system needs to adapt.

BURNING QUESTION
Will the young or the old step up? Plenty of the older Magpies were injured last season and their output dropped from the year before. The problem for the Pies was the youngsters not filling those gaps. Outside of Nick Daicos, few players in a younger age bracket had a good year. So either the older players need to be back to their best, or the youngsters need to step up big time. Maybe the Magpies need both to happen to contend again.

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Replies:

Best 23 -- KAISTAR, 07:49 07/01/25 Tue
In a perfect world... -- DT, 09:06 07/01/25 Tue
- Reef. It's Reeef time! Backline bolter. -- the seer, 10:43 07/01/25 Tue
  - interesting he wasn't mentioned in the Hun article -- DT, 11:17 07/01/25 Tue
    - Maybe since they havent seen him play the role he is training -- Jen2310, 11:45 07/01/25 Tue
Of the younger players -- Rocket surgeon, 09:32 07/01/25 Tue
- If we are hanging for reef to play tall either end, we'll finish outside the 8 -- Optimax, 10:02 07/01/25 Tue
  - Disagree. Reef is not a key position player but -- Rocket surgeon, 11:14 07/01/25 Tue
    - Spot on Rocket. -- JtP, 12:33 07/01/25 Tue
- And if he does become an effective defender … -- Pieman, 12:27 07/01/25 Tue
  - The Atlanta Hawks Dyson Daniels is leading the NBA is steals and is known as The Great Barrier Thief -- Pyeman WPBD, 13:14 07/01/25 Tue
I love how unfounded rumours in the HS and most media organisations tbf get a mention anyway -- Pyeman WPBD, 10:08 07/01/25 Tue

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