• Did our list improve via the trade period?

✅Houston & Perryman. >100 game players will present speed and transition class to break defensive lines.

Membery offers us a proven goal kicker to sure up any injury to either Mihocek or McStay.

• What do we need to improve?

Transition class and line breaking speed appear to have been addressed with introduction of Houston and Perryman.

Given Howe took the majority of our kick-ins over the 2024 season, one thing I believe will play a material role in our 2025 game plan will be Houston taking over this role. That will also allow Moore to move up the ground as a kick-out marking target or decoy.

Scoring given we have not had the luxury of 3 efficient & capable talls able to get on the park. If this forward mix clicks early, an exponential 10-15% improvement in our team /opposition differential is something that can push us firmly into the Top4.

https://preview.redd.it/uad8oy5f4tyd1.jpg?width=876&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3f8e27dd44c840fa4722b69efba65ceb0d916c1a

A forward line triumvirate of talls in Membery, Mihocek and McStay coupled with talented smalls offers both goal kicking accuracy and potency in front of goals to present the best forward line structure we've had in since 2011/2012.

We averaged 12.5 goals over 2024, our opponents averaged 12.30, our offensive output is set to be incrementally improved as the season progresses.

• Whose incumbent Best 22 spot is at risk?

McCreery will no doubt be up against it to hold out Membrey for the season, who surely will come in gunning for a permanent spot. Beau needs to evolve his forward craft. All eyes on the pre-season to see whether he is trialled in a new position e.g. HBF.  Sidebottom will need to deliver near 80% efficiency to cover his pace deficiencies. Wil Parker's ceiling is clearly high, and we'll also have an untried DeMattia as another to stake a claim to move into a similar role.

• What areas of risk?

Ruck -can we take Mason Cox into a finals series if Cameron is injured?

KPD - we lack an experienced key defensive back alternatives if Moore goes down and we're left with Frampton and Dean. Do we bring Tomlinson in via the PSD for experience / depth?

• How many games to establish the youth and which players?

A minimum of 10 games to ensure effectively untried youth are offered sufficient opportunity to stave off any approach from interstate rivals.  Allan (W.A) is perhaps the player at risk of being lured by the go home factor if he doesn’t get game time.  Ryan (S.A) was unfortunate to be injured at the time, and Markov effectively took his spot.

• Which incumbent players have ceilings materially above their 2024 output that present a material dynamic to our 2025 campaign?

IQ- certainly down on what we know he can deliver. AA40 should be his target.

Mitchell - 6 games last year, was barely on the park. We're a better side with him distributing the ball at stoppages.

JdG - similar to Mitchell. The prospect of fully fit JdG has teased us for too long. AA should be his goal.

Schultz - I'm adding him as his output and impact was under-appreciated in 2024. It's not just about kicking goals. His defensive contribution was as good as we had in 2024. Post having now settled into his new surrounds; I look forward to what he'll bring to this team dynamic. AA40 isn't out of his reach.

• The Coaching Panel

I'm genuinely excited by what Matthew Boyd will inject into this side for 2025. I think we know what we get from Macrae as senior coach, it'll be how Boyd is then able to compliment that role and evolve our game plan to keep an edge on the competitions best. 

• The Draw

Given our ladder finish, we'll surely benefit from a more favourable draw. If we jag another 4 wins as a result, we're back playing finals and legitimate Top4 candidates.

With the addition of Houston, Perryman and Membry, what do you think our best 23 looks like for round 1 next year? Heres mine:

FB: B.Maynard, B.Frampton, J.Howe

HB: H.Perryman, D.Moore, D.Houston

C: S.Sidebottom, N.Daicos, J.Daicos

HF: B.McCreery, B.Mihocek, L.Schultz

FF: B.Hill, D.McStay, W.Hoskin-Elliott

F: D.Cameron, J.De Goey, S.Pendlebury

IC: I.Quaynor, T.Mitchell, J.Crisp, T.Membry

S: P.Lipinski/J.Elliott

A couple of tough calls (Cox, McInnes, J.Elliott, Markov, Dean, Long) but I think this is a really solid 23. Let me know any changes you would make to this lineup to enhance the side.

Quote marks because that's the narrative so far, but I think our list is a lot more sustainable and future proofed than others would suggest.

Our current 28 and under core is:

Maynard Quaynor Moore Houston Parker*

Jaicos Naicos Lipinski DeGoey Perryman

Hill Schultz McCreery Harrison McInnes*

*Parker and McInnes arent proven but have been selected at points this year.

Darcy Cameron and McStay are 29.

Realistically this list will give us another 2 or 3 years. Under 28 there is a really decent defence and midfield list there. Pending any major injuries or drops in form, every player above is going to maintain the existing standard, and are already regular contributors to the senior list.

The only major point of concern is an emerging ruckman, and an emerging key forward.

Re: ruckman, pies have been consistently trying to address this. We have recently drafted Begg, Steene and Smit as rucks. They obviously haven't panned out yet but I don't think we need to hit panic stations yet because it is clearly being addressed, and we still have DC, Cox, Frampton and McStay in an absolute emergency.

Re: key forwards, this has always been an issue since the days of Cloke. We did bring in McStay, and brought in Membrey as well, but they obviously aren't young players. However I'm not panicked on this point either, because we've shown an ability to bring in players to fit a need for the last few years, I see no reason why we can't keep doing that into the foreseeable future.

Whilst I agree that we are likely to lose:

Pendles Sidey Howe Elliot Mitchell Crisp WHE Checkers and Cox

in the next year or so, the list of 28 under is still really strong, and can push for another 3 years.

Not only am I not worried about falling off a cliff next year, I think even with the above retirements likely to happen, not much changes and we can keep pushing.

Finally, if players like Allan step up and we bring in McGuane (and he's as good as the early reports suggest), then we're a pretty dangerous team straight into 2026.

I'm keen to hear this subs thoughts. Am I over-rating the core of players under 28? What do you think 2026 would look like if the old guard retired?

We had a strategy day today and didn’t expect to be overlooking a reasonable portion of the boys training today. Yes it was distracting including for the majority of female attendees with tops off on many of the players.

I’m not suggesting anything but I find it slight weird that Petracca was running laps ahead of the session, not least because of the perception it creates.

In other thoughts. Geez I hope McStay gets a full year, he and Brodie looked great on alternative leading structures today. Tom Mitchell has come back super ripped, make of that what you will. Good to see Houston, Cox stayed out doing sprints by himself after, Sidey was putting in some extra work as well.

Was trying to focus on two things at once but it was great to see them out. Makes you remember how many outs we had for key parts of last year.

Hey everyone! I originally got one of these banners with a Collingwood print on it waaaay back around 2010 when I attended a game and they were giving them out (I think) and on the other side, it had the Aussie home loans logo.

Since then, my little retractable scroll banner has seen a fair bit of use haha and has sadly worn out and lost it retractability, along with most of the Collingwood print on the front.

I’d LOVE to buy another but I can’t find them anywhere online or in the AFL stores?

Before I design and order a custom one from a printing place (will be around about $49) - does anyone know if they’re still sold anywhere?

Thanks in advance!

With the news today about re-signings and delistings, it's a timely reminder of list sizes and how Collingwood chooses to structure its list.

AFL lists can have a total of 44 players on the books, and these are split into three types: seniors, Category A rookies and Category B rookies.

We'll focus on the seniors and Cat As first off. The combined total for these two types is 42 - this can be constructed in a few different ways but the way Collingwood has traditionally liked to do things is to have 36 seniors (the minimum required) and 6 Cat As (the maximum allowed). Why do we do this? Well it comes down to salary cap reasons. Under the CBA, the base salary for a Cat A rookie is excluded from the salary cap. In 2025, that base salary will be $100,000. A rookie can be paid above the base and will earn more through match payments and incentives. But if the club has 6 Cat As on its list, in 2025 that will amount to a saving of $600,000. Nowadays, there is no other difference between seniors and Cat A rookies.

As for Cat B rookies, clubs are allowed a maximum of 2 but can also choose to have 0. These spots are reserved for players coming from non-football sporting backgrounds - or, if they've played football, need to not have played at any level within at least the last three years. All Cat B rookie payments are excluded from the salary cap.

So how does our list look now after today? Well, it's still not completely finalised. We expect Tim Membrey to join the club as a delisted free agent as soon as Friday. He will come straight on to the senior list. Presumably we still draft three players at the National Draft, who will come on to the senior list. However, there is a chance that an existing Cat A will be promoted to the senior list, which would mean only two draftees and a rookie spot being opened up. The most likely scenario, however, is this:

Seniors

1. Lipinski
2. De Goey
3. Quaynor
4. Maynard
5. Elliott
6. Mitchell
7. JDaicos
8. Schultz
9. Pendlebury
10. McStay
11. De Mattia
12. Cameron
13. Allan
14. Frampton
15. Macrae
16. Jiath
17. Steene
18. Sidebottom
19. Hill
20. Ryan
21. Crisp
22. McInnes
23. Moore
24. McCreery
25. Hoskin-Elliott
26. NDaicos
27. Harrison
28. Howe
29. Mihocek
30. Cox
31. Perryman
32. Houston
33. Membrey*
34. Draftee 1
35. Draftee 2
36. Draftee 3

Category A rookies

1. Smit
2. Sullivan
3. Markov*
4. Johnson*
5. Dean
6. Long

Category B rookies

1. Parker
2. Condon*

Any word on the rumours we are planning to sign Adam Tomlinson as a delisted free agent?

I think he’d be a handy replacement for Murph.

Best moneyball pickup of the trade period for mine.

This guy is a serious footballer. Kicks 30+ goal seasons for fun. Strong, competitive, and kicks the thing straight.

Enormous quality backup if McStay or Michocek goes down (which happened most of the 2024 season). But could also see him playing alongside those 2 in the same fwd line.

7AFL made a very unrealistic but very thought provoking post today on Insta.

Thoughts on the Top 5 Pies Players to Protect? I’m going with: Nick Daicos Josh Daicos Darcy Moore Jordan De Goey Bobby Hill

*Would of course have Pendles and potentially Sidey in a most valuable 5 but in this hypothetical thought it would be best to prioritise age as well..

Not what you think they’ll do but how you would pick it if you had your choice?

Just saw Port has delisted Tom Scully. At 19 yo and 203 cm do we think he’d be worth recruiting as a long term forward prospect?

Highlights from round 17 SANFL:

https://www.afl.com.au/video/1194888

Edit: exclamation mark in title is a typo, should have been a question mark.