Collingwood won eight of its first 11 games before then losing eight of the next 11. Injuries cruelled the club, with key players lost at key times, which requires an internal review. At their best, the Pies were impressive and they played just three shockers. Simply put, the club was not good enough to make the eight. 

 

An impressive public performer, Nathan Buckley kept pushing the line that the Magpies' best was good enough but 2014 was always going to be a transition year. Buckley challenged players to perform and was frustrated at times with injury and the inevitable inconsistency of youngsters but he kept his nerve. The win against Greater Western Sydney showed the players were involved and committed.

Buckley introduced a new generation of defenders, with Jack Frost and Tom Langdon showing promise after being forced to do much more work than anyone could have reasonably expected. Jamie Elliott made the high half-forward role his own and Steele Sidebottom played at an elite level of consistently after being given more responsibility. Collingwood beat five teams in the top eight, so its best form was very good.

Records might show fewer games were missed through injury this season than in 2013 but it didn't feel like it to the fans. Perhaps it was the cumulative effect of recent struggles but the absence of Ben Reid, for all but four games, and No.10 pick Nathan Freeman, for the season, hurt while the loss of No.6 pick Matt Scharenberg and Brent Macaffer to knee injuries for 2015 in the second last week of the season added salt to the wound. Considering those that did take the field, the Magpies did not get enough bang for their buck from free agents to smooth the transition from its top-four era and its heavy reliance on young rucks Brodie Grundy and Jarrod Witts exposed them. Those two players, however, should be better for the run.

   

Sidebottom has been an excellent player since he made his debut in 2009, but he responded to the challenge to take another step in 2014. He joined the leadership group and became an on-field general, winning the ball in and outside the contest. A three-week mid-year suspension hurt the team but it was uncharacteristic and his performance against Hawthorn when he battled the odds for four quarters showed he is primed to only get better. Obviously Travis Cloke and Scott Pendlebury are critical but Sidebottom's absence underlined his value.

 

After the round one loss to Fremantle, most lumped Frost among the reasons the Magpies were battling. But he responded immediately, beating Lance Franklin in round two and then growing in confidence as the season wore on. Frost has pace and strength and became willing to back himself to rebound quickly. He needs to improve his kicking but the natural competitor showed he is capable of playing good AFL football.

Not much was expected of Langdon after he was overlooked in the 2012 NAB AFL Draft before being selected at No. 65 the next year. However, he showed enough poise early to get an opportunity in round one because of injuries to experienced players. He was excellent in the first half of the season, earning a Rising Star nomination, before fading late. However, his resilience during that latter period impressed the Magpies hierarchy as continued to put his hand up despite his body screaming for a rest.  He eventually played 19 games.

Swan had his first forgettable season since he emerged as a player in 2006. Whether injury issues and an interrupted pre-season caused it or whether he was, as he said himself, simply battling to get a kick, he was unable to have a serious impact. Given he has finished no lower than fourth in the past four Brownlow Medal counts, he was entitled to a flat patch but his struggles certainly left a hole in the Magpies midfield. Having rested up, he could be a handy 'recruit' if he has an uninterrupted pre-season leading into 2015.

Collingwood went into quarter-time five goals down after being held goalless in the first term. By half-time, scores were level and the Pies went on to record a comfortable victory. Most notable were the performances of Frost and Langdon in defence while Sidebottom and Dayne Beams showed they could turn a game with their work rate.

Collingwood faced the Lions in round 21 with high hopes of playing finals. By half-time the Pies were 24 points down and their season was in disarray. Elliott was a late withdrawal and then Scott Pendlebury became a shock omission when a corkie flared in the warm-up. His replacement Tony Armstrong, who began as the substitute after playing VFL earlier in the day, was on the ground after Reid did a season-ending hamstring three minutes into the game. Travis Cloke (ankle) and Beams (knee) didn't make it through the game either and were ruled out for the rest of the season as Collingwood's finals hopes plummeted in the 67-point thrashing.

 

Injury management is the top agenda item and Collingwood can't afford another season like the past two. Buckley has not had a chance to consistently assemble a line-up that reflects the talent on the list and it makes assessing Collingwood's future difficult. On-field, it needs to win clearances and contested ball more often than it was able to in the last half of the season. The playing group must also improve its disposal. At times in 2014, Collingwood's ball use was very poor.

 

It needs speed on the outside, although Freeman promises that when fit and Collingwood requires another goalkicking forward to complement Elliott and Cloke. The retirements of Nick Maxwell and Luke Ball possibly puts the Magpies in the market for experience. Against Adelaide in round 19, its oldest player was 28-year-old mature-aged recruit Sam Dwyer. It also needs a couple of good kicks in defence. A player with the qualities Hawthorn's Matt Suckling or Sydney Swans' Nick Malceski possess would be handy.