In the clinical light of the off-season, it would be simple to make the following assessment of Collingwood’s 2009 season: the Pies’ stated aim was a premiership, and in that objective they failed. Yet as is the case in most things life and football, it is arguably not as crystal clear - not as black and white - as all that.
A preliminary final finish is respectable enough; the manner of defeat that September day was not, as coach Mick Malthouse later admitted. Still, a stretch of 12 wins in 13 games turned the Magpies’ season around after a shaky 3-5 start as the club dealt with off-field adversity. While the Pies fell to both Grand Finalists, Geelong and St Kilda, during the season, by most measures they improved as they embedded games into a list that has lost an appreciable amount of senior talent in the last three seasons.
While the turnstiles kept clicking and the ratings soared, the Magpies confronted a year of ups and downs. There was improvement in some areas, slippage in others, while the reputation of others held their ground. Along the way, Collingwood fans saw the emergence of exciting rookies Dayne Beams and Steele Sidebottom, plus the continued improvement of Harry O’Brien, Jack Anthony and Sharrod Wellingham.
A pleasant surprise came in the form of recruit Leigh Brown, whose ability to pinch-hit was an obvious benefit as the season unfolded, while Brad Dick returned from a knee injury to show the flashes of brilliance that inspired his draft selection with the 44th pick in the 2006 National Draft.
Copeland Trophy winner Dane Swan was the standout, yet almost as influential was new skipper Nick Maxwell, who added an attacking element to his first class defensive game and became a launching pad from half-back. And the leap to elite status of Scott Pendlebury was only highlighted by his injury in
the finals, a leg broken early in the St Kilda Qualifying Final loss being a sour finish to a superb season.
Joining him in the blue chip category was Leon Davis - an All-Australian for the first time - whose late season fadeout will drive him to better things in 2010. Before 2009, Davis had never had more than 382 possessions in a season, so his 471 touches and career-high 35 goals was a breakout year by any measure.
To read the full article purchase a copy of the 2009 'In Black and White' Yearbook.
