The side that took on the Saints last Saturday night comprised of 11 players who have played three years or less of senior footy.
Chief of football, Geoff Walsh, spoke to collingwoodfc.com.au on Wednesday regarding the youth coming through the club.
“I suppose in some respect the youth has developed quicker than expected,” Walsh said.
“We have had nine debutants last year and we have had five this year. They are all, bar one (Daniel Nicholls), still with the football club.
“It indicates they all have a strong future. A lot of those boys that have been introduced in the last two years have become regular fixtures in the team very quickly.”
Dale Thomas is considered the “senior” member of the clan and has already amassed 60 games since debuting back in round one in 2006.
“Thomo has been a real fixture since he has made his debut in 2006. He is one of the real talents of the game. I think one of the things we admire internally about Dale, is his courage to run which has become a real feature of his play.
“I think as he builds his body pre-season after pre-season he will be able to do that in even a more pronounced fashion. He is going to be a wonderful player for a long time.”
Walsh noted how important it is that the younger players have been able to maintain their spot in the side.
“Sometimes when you introduce youth they are up and down, in the side and out. So it’s encouraging that they have been able to remain and display enough talent and stand up to the rigours of the game pretty well. To hold their spot is very good.”
Nathan Brown has been a revelation down back for Collingwood’s defence this year and has played every game since he debut in round one this year.
“Browny has done a great job given this is his first year at senior footy and the fact that he has played on a lot of the big forwards. I don’t think there has been too many who have escaped him.
“He has done some great work on his body, building himself up into a real strong key position player. To show the durability that he has over the season has been a real feather in his cap. It says a lot about his character and it says a lot about his fitness base.”
Since Collingwood’s successive trips to Grand Finals in 2002 and 2003, the team did not taste serious finals success until last year.
Walsh believes that while there wasn’t a concerted effort to change the list after the ’03 Grand Final, the club did focus on finding some key position players.
“I think talking to others who were here at the time; it was probably thought the sides of that era did a remarkable good job to make a grand final because they might have been not as well equipped in terms of raw talent. But they were tremendously disciplined unit and the coaches were able to get the most out of them most of the time.
“I think in a drafting sense we might have had a lack of key position players and Hiney (national recruiting manager Derek Hine) has been able to introduce over the last couple of years Dawes, Brown and the Ben Reid to that list.
“It’s a natural attrition that sides in grand finals do fall away. You can’t go out and buy players anymore because it is all done through the draft.
“The system throws up year after year sides that can climb multiple places on the ladder especially when you get some concessional choices. You can look at Carlton who has climbed a few places this year. West Coast was able to climb into two Grand Finals and a premiership not so long after being at the bottom. Using concessional choices, the system allows you to rebound easier these days.”
With 2007 finals success and potential 2008 finals, there is no doubt the young talent will keep Collingwood in the mix over the next few years.
“Having the same group of young players contribute as a team will become especially important year after year, Walsh said.
“It’s an exciting time for the club and I look forward to what our team will produce in the ensuing seasons.”
