Collingwood were last season’s big surprises and they’ve been further bolstered during the off-season with numerous recruits headlined by Tom Mitchell, while Nick Daicos’ rise is ominous.
Author: Nathan Scoble @ScobeyBryant36
Pies fan and SuperCoach gun Nathan Scoble offers his two cents on Collingwood’s likely Round 1 line-up.
Defence
Billy Frampton coming across from the crows for a packet of chips may have been a steal in some people’s eyes, or it was overs, depending on how you view the bloke, but right now he’s potentially pushed Nathan Murphy out of a Round 1 starting position. Murphy was extremely solid, courageous, and reliable last year, so that’s saying something as to how good Frampton has been training and presenting himself in match simulation also.
| Jeremy Howe | Billy Frampton | Brayden Maynard |
| Isaac Quaynor | Darcy Moore | Scott Pendlebury |
Midfield
Expect recruit Tom Mitchell to slot into the midfield along with Nick Daicos, albeit on a wing, having spent plenty of time through the middle in pre-season. Darcy Cameron seems fine for Round 1 despite a minor pre-season injury worry and will take over full-time from the departed Brodie Grundy.
| Josh Daicos | Taylor Adams | Nick Daicos |
| Darcy Cameron | Jack Crisp | Tom Mitchell |
Forwards
Bobby Hill and Beau McCreery are neck and neck for that small pressure forward spot, right now it is very hard to split them both, but with the credits in the bank, I’m leaning towards Beau getting the nod round one, with Hill potentially still in the side or starting as our sub. But Jack Ginnivan‘s two-game ban opens the door for Hill to get an early crack, off the bench at least.
| Steele Sidebottom | Brody Mihocek | Jordan De Goey |
| Jamie Elliott | Daniel McStay | Beau McCreery |
Bench
Will Hoskin-Elliot has had a change of role, moving down back and attacking the ball more head on as a rebounding half back flanker, which is probably a move that has had to happen with the small forward, pressure player stocks we have at the club now. Albeit he is competing with an ever reliable and speedy Noble and IQ who in my opinion, are above him at the current time, WHE is another sub candidate.
| Patrick Lipinski | John Noble | Mason Cox |
| Bobby Hill | Will Hoskin-Elliot (sub) |
Notable absences: Johnson, McInnes, Macrae, Murphy, Bianco, Kreuger, Ginnivan (suspended)
Ash Johnson, who looked amazing late last season is unlucky to miss out, with McStay coming in and assuming that position of the big full-forward, which we haven’t had since Travis Cloke retired means Johnson, I don’t think starts Round 1 unless there are injuries.
Reef McInnes after his injury last year to the collarbone/shoulder will find it hard to get back into the team with the depth now that we have, albeit he has looked very sharp and straight in front of goals in the match simulation training.
Josh Carmichael did a wonderful job as the “in and under” type last year when Taylor Adams was out with injury, with the addition of Tommy Mitchell I think he has gone down the pecking order and once again, may only get an audition due to injury.
Fin Macrae who has been on light duties since last season, won’t be featuring too early into the season one would have thought. Nathan Kreuger who has been injured this offseason is aiming for a Round 3 return, if everything goes to plan, which we all know probably won’t. Once he returns it will bolster the forward stocks and add competition to Mason Cox, Mihocek, Johnson and McStay.
Trent Bianco has done some nice things in match simulation and training, but at this stage seems to be down the pecking order. Even in comparison with new draftee Ed Allen, who could be a late bolter for a Round 1 debut, he looks to be around the same mark as Bianco, unless injuries happen, I don’t see either lining up, of course things can change this far out from the opening round.
