The continued development of youth at Collingwood means the Pies will have high hopes for a few years to come yet. Draftees Dayne Beams and Steele Sidebottom both look to be 10-year players, so impressive were they in their debut seasons. Brad Dick also overcame his knee injury and looks set to play an integral part of the Collingwood forward line in years to come. These players allowed the likes of Leon Davis and Alan Didak to play more midfield-based games. The result? All-Australian jumpers for both.
Before the year started Cameron Wood’s emergence in the ruck was taking too long for many Pie fans, but he’s now showing why the club traded pick 14 a couple of years back to land the big man. Just who the club’s No.1 ruckman is – Wood or Josh Fraser – will need serious thought next year.
Off the field – and perhaps unlike last year – there were several success stories. The Pies’ key playmakers all seem locked away with contracts, while president Eddie McGuire orchestrated the deal that will not only see Mick Malthouse continue in his role, but a succession plan that will see Nathan Buckley join the club as an assistant next season and take over from Malthouse in 2012.
What went wrong
While Collingwood spent the large majority of the season relatively injury-free, the loss of Scott Pendlebury in September was a big blow. While the classy midfielder's absence alone did not explain the defeat by St Kilda – nor the shellacking at the hands of Geelong – it did highlight a deficiency of pace and skill around the stoppages that ended up exposing the Magpies badly at the business end.
Despite being able to kick some good scores throughout the season, the Pies certainly had to share the load as most of their big guns in attack failed to fire consistent shots. After an All-Australian season in 2008, Paul Medhurst struggled as a result of an interrupted summer, while Travis Cloke and Dale Thomas didn’t impact the scoreboard as much as the coach would have liked.
Whether it had an influence or not is hard to gauge, but perhaps Brad Scott’s departure late in the regular season did have an impact at the Lexus Centre. The new North Melbourne coach vacated his role as midfield coach the day after being appointed at Arden Street. The Magpies did a re-shuffle but were a coach down from that point on.
Most valuable player
Alan Didak isn’t yet the Pies’ most consistent, but there can be no questioning his value. Generally, if Didak touches the footy enough, Collingwood will win. Dane Swan was outstanding all season, but Didak is far more lethal with the ball in his hands.
Coach's award for one-percenters
Before his appointment as captain Nick Maxwell did everything right, on and off the field. His ascension to Magpie leader this year seemed to only strengthen his on-field resolve. Maxwell was brave in every match, while the example he set his men in doing the tough stuff often inspired.
Needs a big pre-season
Dale Thomas was solid throughout the year, although there were fewer highlight reels this season compared to others from the former No.2 draft pick. That’s fine, as he’s often given a set role and perhaps not credited enough for his hard work. But one would like to see more from the man whose talent is seemingly still untapped. Another summer in the gym, along with an even bigger fitness base, might make him the week in-week out star many think he could become.
Overall grade: A
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
