Collingwood enters the 2023 season hoping to continue the momentum they gathered in the back half of 2022.
After finishing top four last season, the expectations surrounding the side are much higher than 12 months ago and the Magpies doubled down in the off-season as they added a handful of senior players.
With a relatively healthy list at this stage of the pre-season, this is how the Magpies could line up for their season opener against Geelong.
Defenders
Collingwood settled on a back seven midway through 2022 that instantly clicked.
Once Nathan Murphy came into the side for the injured Jack Madgen in Round 10, the Magpies went 13-3 as their barnstorming run came off the back of a strong defence.
Darcy Moore is the pillar which this backline builds around with Murphy and Jeremy Howe intercepting and playing on the opposition’s second and third tall forwards.
With the talls taken care of, Brayden Maynard can play on a range of players and will hope to build on his All-Australian campaign.
Isaac Quaynor is a lock and typically takes the opposition’s most dangerous small while Nick Daicos and John Noble provide drive from defence.
With a bolstered midfield, former captain Scott Pendlebury could feature off half back as he did early last season.
The only selection dilemma would be whether Craig McRae wants to deploy another tall, with Billy Frampton joining the club in the off-season.
Charlie Dean could also play that role if he gets a clean run on the injury front.
Midfielders
With Brodie Grundy gone, Darcy Cameron is a certainty to claim the number one ruck role while forwards Daniel McStay or Mason Cox play back-up.
At the ruckman’s feet, Jack Crisp is the club’s most consistent player while recruit Tom Mitchell looks set to play an inside role at the stoppage.
Alongside Mitchell, Taylor Adams is another inside option but with his recent injury history, the Magpies will be thrilled to have some more depth in that position this season.
Another burst player for Collingwood to rely on is Jordan De Goey, with the dynamic star now primarily a midfielder that rests occasionally forward. De Goey and Crisp provide drive from the contest and are incredibly dangerous out of the front of the stoppage.
Patrick Lipinski is another Magpie that will spend significant time on-ball, but Collingwood would love to use him as a high half-forward that pushes up towards the centre bounce from the forward line.
On the wings, Josh Daicos and Steele Sidebottom are locks, while Josh’s younger sibling Nick is also set for more minutes on-ball in 2023.
Much like last season, veteran star Pendlebury can also play a significant role on-ball if and when the Magpies ever need to wrestle control back at the stoppage.
The likes of Josh Carmichael, Finlay Macrae, Trent Bianco and Reef McInnes are currently depth but could easily feature if they continue to progress.
Forwards
Recruit Daniel McStay should line up alongside the ever-consistent Brody Mihocek as Collingwood’s tall options inside 50.
The hardworking nature of the pair should constantly provide a contest up forward and it’ll be interesting to see how McStay fares having often played a high/decoy role for the Lions.
Jamie Elliott and Jack Ginnivan are potent medium/small forwards and have the ability to create scoring opportunities both as crumbers and marking targets.
Ash Johnson began to make a name for himself last season as a quality third tall option and the former mid-season draftee provides genuine x-factor inside 50.
Another young Magpie that simply has to be picked is Beau McCreery, with his intense pressure and tackling around goals adding different dimension to the forward group.
With the likes of De Goey and Lipinski resting inside 50, Will Hoskin-Elliott, recruit Bobby Hill and talls Nathan Kreuger and Mason Cox provide experienced depth and would consider themselves unlucky to miss out on selection if fit.
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