If this is true, expect him to be a dark horse for the Brownlow come season’s end with his disposals increasing and the opening created to demonstrate his footy nous. It’s been widely reported that the 20-year-old Rising Star winner will be exposed to more time in the midfield. Safe to say, nothing was more unexpected than the incredible rise of Nick Daicos, who ran the show at half-back with his raw skill and talent which surprised many at his young age. That core midfield group will prove instrumental in the transition game that the Pies want to emulate and take the game on with the right intensity. Last season the Pies had seven players in the top 100 for the most clearances, tied first with Geelong and the Bulldogs.Īs mentioned, the relentless pressure that Collingwood displayed throughout most of last season is a testament to their work rate and camaraderie within the group, which will ultimately set up the foundations for further progress.Īside from the Swans, the 15-time premiers were the most dominant side in the tackling department, averaging 63.4 tackles and 11.3 tackles inside 50 under McRae.īalance is everything when it comes down to building consistency and long-term success, something which Collingwood has up forward with the correct number of tall figures and smalls to offer great versatility.įans of the black and white should be excited that this depth has been further strengthened with the additions of Bobby Hill and Daniel McStay to accompany an already talented frontline with the likes of Jamie Elliott, Jack Ginnivan, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Ash Johnson, and Brody Mihocek.Īdd in the capability of Cox and Cameron to take key contested marks, you can’t help but feel that this sense of stability will cause havoc and fear amongst any team in the competition.Īlthough a lot of things were uncertain around the club before McRae’s arrival, it was always expected that midfield would be one of the Pies’ strong points which won’t change anytime soon.įormer Brownlow medalist Tom Mitchell is a brilliant pickup from the draft, who will no doubt gel into the system surrounded by other talents such as Pendlebury, Taylor Adams, Jack Crisp, Steele Sidebottom, and the Daicos brothers. They have the right personnel around the ball to break open play. Watch out for 19-year-old South Australian Oscar Steene, who will be given opportunities to break through. Mason Cox and Darcy Cameron have proven themselves more than capable of stepping up in the big games, especially Cox who found some form again towards the latter stages of 2022. Injured throughout most of last year, Brodie Grundy’s trade to the Demons may not seem like the biggest disaster. New perspective and direction can always be positive, as Pendlebury will still display his leadership qualities with or without the tag. The 27-year-old takes on the responsibility at the perfect time, rediscovering his form and confidence after a tough individual start last season. The good news? They have the same fundamentals to make another deep push in September.Įarlier this year, a change in leadership paved the way for influential hero Scott Pendlebury to step down and hand over the captaincy to elite defender Darcy Moore. High pressure from defence to attack to suffocate any opponent, fast-paced footy, and quick combination play along with displaying strong unity were the main blueprints to a successful season.
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