Welcome: 2008 Draftees

After weeks of anticipation the 2008 draft has finally unfolded and put an end to all the routine speculation.  Collingwood has walked away from draft day with four players who all have the potential to run through the midfield, addressing what many felt was our most pressing need.  To top things off, we’ve also picked up an insurance policy in the form of ex-Kangaroo Leigh Brown – more on that later though.

Without further adieu, here are the latest additions to our team:

• Pick #11: Steele Sidebottom (182cm / 79kg)
• Pick #29: Dayne Beams (184cm / 81kg)
• Pick #45: Jarrad Blight (189cm / 73kg)
• Pick #46: Luke Rounds (181cm / 74kg)
• Pick #73: Leigh Brown (194cm / 101kg)

I must say, I’m very pleased with the way our draft panned out.  The acquisition of Sidebottom is a great one in particular, as after his incredible TAC Cup grand final performance it looked unlikely that he would fall to our pick.  In that match, Steele (or Rusty as he is affectionately known) amassed 30 disposals and kicked a staggering 10 goals, playing up forward and through the middle. 

We shouldn’t take too much from that one game though, as it was obviously one out of the box.  With that in mind, Sidebottom shaped as a very likely first round pick – potentially top 10 – prior to his performance in the grand final.  What I like most about Sidebottom is that he is a natural footballer; not gifted with pace he performs as well as he does by reading the play and doing the hard yards.  He’s tenacious around the packs and thrives on the rough stuff, a true terrier of a rover. 

What most will like about Sidebottom is his polish on either foot.  Whether delivering the ball or finishing a passage of work, Steele is an exceptional user of the ball.  He’s quite good over his head for a player of his size, a testament to how well he reads the play and positions himself.  The irrelevant icing on the cake is that we have added yet another odd and suggestive surname to the ranks of Dick, Cox and Goldsack. 

Our second pick Dayne Beams was another slice of good news, as there was enough talk prior to draft day that we were very interested and may well have used our first round pick to secure his services.  Thankfully, he lasted until #29 and we were able to bolster our future midfield stocks with two extremely promising players.

Collingwood has been tracking Beams for a long period of time, viewing him as an eventual replacement for Scott Burns.  I haven’t seen a lot of Beams – aside from a brief highlight package – but what I have seen is extremely promising.  He accumulated very good numbers in the U18 Championships; averaging 24 disposals and 4 tackles a game.  Dayne prides himself on his inside work and Derek Hine has described his skill by hand as being within the elite category.

On a side note, I listened to the draft in its entirety via SEN’s live broadcast and I think it’s important to point out that Hine had absolutely no hesitation in reading out both Steele and Dayne’s names once our number arrived.  Evidently, we were very keen on both these players and the speed of Hine’s delivery wreaked of a recruiting manager who just landed his man – or men in this instance.

With that in mind, there was a little more deliberation once our two third round picks came around.  Obviously, with two picks back-to-back and no other live pick until the fifth round, it was a case of getting the best combination of players at #45 and #46.  I’m happy to report that at #45 we took a player who I had my eye on leading into draft day: Jarrad Blight.

Blight is an interesting prospect who shapes as a utility/flanker that may very well find his way into the midfield rotation.  A true Hine selection, Blight is a bottom aged player with a ton of upside.  His performances for Swan Districts in the WAFL Colts were increasingly impressive; averaging 21 disposals, 5 marks and just under 4 tackles. 

Standing at 189cm, Blight has the height and athleticism to compete in various positions.  Being a bottom-aged player, he still sports a very light frame and would need to add some weight before coming into serious senior level consideration.  Whilst his kicking needs some more refinement, he is more than capable on either side and has the ability to reach distances beyond 50 metres.

What had most people so impressed by Blight was his preparedness to take the game on and his clean hands; Blight is a genuine one touch player, whether gathering or marking.  He could become a very useful line-breaker from half-back, whilst also shaping as a game day wild card for several other roles.

The last of our young draftees is another bottom-ager, Luke Rounds.  Hine’s penchant for bottom-aged players has been well documented and this year’s draft further proved the belief.  I hadn’t seen anything of Rounds prior to us calling his name out, but since viewing a highlights package I’m pretty impressed.

His biggest asset – and one that Collingwood has placed progressively more importance on – is his pace and running ability.  His average statistics at the U18 championships were meager, but we’ve obviously taken Rounds for his potential output as opposed to his proven form.  Similar to Blight, Rounds will need to develop physically before coming into selection contention; which is something to be expected of all new draftees.

The early word is that we’ll be looking to groom Rounds in the back line, with a view to pushing him into the midfield as he develops.  He uses the ball well from what I have seen and his work in traffic is very good, keeping the ball to his advantage in contested situations and relying on his pace to buy himself some space. 

To finish up the draft, we took Leigh Brown with our final selection as an insurance policy down back.  Leigh Brown has been training with us over the last couple of weeks and loomed as a potential late selection.  I’m just going to admit that I’m not a Leigh Brown fan and my initial reaction to hearing his name read out was one of disappointment.

However, having time to consider the merits of such a selection – and being a one-eyed Collingwood supporter – I’m no longer bewildered by the choice.  Leigh Brown’s struggles for form and senior selection at his two previous clubs (North Melbourne and Fremantle) are no secret, but as a mature bodied addition to our back line he may very well have something to offer.  He would be well aware that this is his last stop, so whatever he has left to give in football will come to fruition in a black and white jumper.

Despite my reservations, I understand the logic in taking Brown.  Any younger players who were available at #73 are bound to still be available in the rookie draft and I imagine we have already earmarked a couple for selection.  Furthermore, any key position prospect that was also available was not likely to have an impact in 2009 or 2010 for that matter.  We’ve gone for a band-aid solution whilst more genuine and long term prospects emerge; possibly in the forms of John Anthony and/or Ben Reid.

At the end, I’m pleased with our performance at the draft table.  The success of draft day can only be measured retrospectively of course, but the fact that we have looked to bolster our midfield stocks brings a smile to my face – as I’m sure it does many others. 

Welcome to Collingwood, 2008 Draftees!

Assessing The List: Midfield

With the defenders and forwards taken care of, it’s time to look at what many consider the most deficient element of our current playing list – the midfield.  With the retirements of Buckley and Burns in consecutive seasons, the established class has disappeared from the middle.  Whilst we have some up-and-coming class in the form of Pendlebury, it’s safe to say that as things stand our midfield is very workmanlike and for a large part unknown.

With the draft – where we are expected to bolster our midfield stocks – only a few sleeps away, let’s take a look at the current crop of Magpies who will comprise our 2009 engine room.

Dane Swan

The reigning Copeland Trophy winner is a testament to hard work and second chances.  I remember once thinking that Dane Swan – whilst adequate – just didn’t seem to have the weapons or even look the part of a long-term prospect.  If you had have told me he was destined to be one of our best and most consistent performers from 2006-2008, I would have envisioned a very bleak cellar-dwelling outfit during those years.  I was wrong – incredibly wrong – and I couldn’t be happier.

Swan’s transformation from water-treading fringe player to best-and-fairest winning midfielder has been sensational to watch.  Swanny doesn’t possess the raw class of certain other prime on-ballers, but what he lacks in class he makes up for in smarts and on-field work ethic.  The result is that Dane, whilst unheralded aside from Malcolm Blight’s ongoing man-crush, proves every week that he is just as damaging as those considered to be in the elite category.

He is an enigma of sorts; an unassuming character who is deceptively quick and even more deceptively capable overhead.  Dane consistently racks up high numbers and uses the ball well in a fashion akin to Robert Harvey.  He doesn’t have top-shelf foot skills, but he rarely wastes a disposal.  Added to this is his ability to push forward and regularly bag multiple goals.  His goal kicking was a little astray during 2008, but he straightened up towards the end of the season.

Dane doesn’t excel in any one area to make him a specialist inside or outside midfielder.  Instead, he is just about the perfectly rounded footballer.  He runs hard all day, can win his own ball and reads the play exceptionally well.  Dane manages to get to the right spots and acts as a pivotal link man all over the ground.  His goal sense makes him a valuable asset and despite whatever attention he receives, Dane always manages to waddle under the radar and have an impact.

Scott Pendlebury

The selection of Pendlebury at #5 in the 2005 draft raised quite a few eyebrows, but his development since then has more than justified his early selection.  Pendlebury oozes class and now shapes as our most likely next gun midfielder.  2008 was an interesting year for Pendles, one in which we got to see his development not just as a player, but as a potential leader of the club. 

There are still facets of the game that Pendles needs to continue to work on to better round out his resume; but he is well on the way and from all accounts has the maturity and determination to realise his potential. 

The highlights that Pendlebury produces, which leave many in awe, come entirely naturally to him.  He finds space and time on a whim, when by all reasonable logic none should be available.  His vision in traffic and creative hands – a product of his basketball background – enable him to release other players and break open stoppages.  Standing at 192cm with agility and mobility to boot, Pendlebury is an example of the new breed of modern midfielder and an extremely difficult match-up.

Rounding out Pendlebury’s creative bag of tricks is his finishing ability.  Whenever Pendles gets the ball, I’m supremely confident that he is going to use it well; whether in play or lining up the big sticks.  Some players play the game, others make the game their own – Pendles falls in the latter category and still has quite a lot of improvement to come.

Shane O’Bree

Similar to Maxwell, Cheese cops his fair share of criticism.  His kicking has been constantly highlighted throughout his career as a shortcoming and quite often it has been considered downright unforgivable.  Despite this, O’Bree has remained Collingwood’s most reliable clearance winner and with the departure of Scott Burns his stocks in this regard have risen ten fold.

With the recent exodus of experience, O’Bree – along with Swan – now shapes as our leader in the middle.  Some people might be offended by that notion, but not me.  O’Bree is a tireless worker on the track and on the field, who has the nous and grit to win the ball when it is hotly disputed.  In many cases, I think a lot of people severely underrate O’Bree’s contribution to the team.

We should be looking to find future options in regards to inside players, but as our leading clearance winner in 2008 and at 29 years old; O’Bree will be a necessary component of our midfield for a season or two yet.

Leon Davis

Putting it lightly, Leon was amongst our most improved players in 2008.  With that said, he was definitely showing the signs of finally coming of age in 2007; it just happened to all fall into place this year.  For years there was a ton of speculation as to Leon’s capacity to move into the midfield, but as seasons passed the faithful were becoming more and more resigned to Neon Leon remaining a flashy forward and not much else. 

So it was with great elation that in 2008, the flashy forward became a classy and consistent member of our on-ball ensemble.

We all knew how classy Leon was, it was just a matter of him working towards being able to use that class throughout the duration of a match and beyond the forward line.  Leon has since taken that step and become something of an old-fashioned rover with modern freakish exploits.  Whilst Leon has developed physically and no longer gets knocked off the ball, he wins most of his football at stoppages with clever anticipation and creative touches designed to put the ball to his advantage.

The defensive aspect of Leon’s game has also improved dramatically.  Whilst we all marvel at the offensive nature of Leon’s football, a lot of his efforts in tackling and harassing go largely unsung.  The best complete example of Leon’s coming-of-age  was captured perfectly by his eventual Goal Of The Year effort; where he harassed Des Headland into submission before winning the football and coolly slotting it from 50 metres out tucked against the boundary line.

Whilst being a late bloomer, Leon looks to be in his prime and has – I would predict – at least 2 more seasons at his current output (withstanding injury) as a part-time midfielder before age begins to become a factor.

Alan Didak

Didak is likely to be a part of the midfield rotation; although I would say that he isn’t a player who we should consider as an answer to any of the pressing questions in relation to our midfield.  Didak does his best work when starting from the forward flank and given a license to roam.  I expect to see Didak make cameos within the centre square and push up the ground to collect and use the football well; however, I don’t think he will become a mainstay of our midfield.

Class, creativity and football smarts are attributes that Didak has in abundance.  Unfortunately, he relies on these attributes to win most of his contested football through deft touches and freak brilliance; he simply doesn’t possess the grit and discipline to compete continually and consistently within the midfield. 

It’s not so much shortcomings that make Didak a non-viable midfield option as opposed to the fact that he just simply too good from a forward flank.  Some may call me bias, but I consider Didak to safely be the league’s best forward flanker.  From a forward flank, Didak is elite.  From the midfield, Didak would be considered serviceable and every so often brilliant. 

Didak will bob-up in the centre and around stoppages in 2009; but heading forward we should look to him as an extra option in an ever increasing rotation as opposed to a first choice midfield selection.

Dale Thomas

Thomas currently sits within the same category as Didak; although being that he is not as proficient or consistent up forward as Didak we should be hoping that Dale can develop his game further and become a more credible midfield possibility.  Daisy has the flair and endeavor to potentially be great in the midfield, but he simply just does not have the tank at the moment. 

In a recent interview, Collingwood fans were pleased to hear that Dale was looking at improving his running endurance so that he could factor more in the midfield.  Whilst we have to take all pre-season fluff pieces with a grain of salt, it’s nonetheless pleasing to hear that Dale has identified this weakness in his game and is seeking to improve upon it.

When Thomas is up and about, Collingwood look a lot more direct and as a result we look a lot more dangerous.  His contested work – whilst needing refinement – is adequate.  He has a wiry frame but despite the misguided consensus from misguided football followers, Dale doesn’t shirk the issue and has the competitive mentality to fight for every contested ball. 

A natural game breaker, if Dale can find the capacity to compete for longer periods then he could conceivably become a first choice midfielder who would remain a dangerous option when resting forward.

Sharrod Wellingham

One of the highlights of our recent recruiting has been our success through the rookie draft; Wellingham being an excellent example of this.  Whilst Wellingham is yet to set the world on fire, he has shown enough to suggest that he will be a more than serviceable player in time. 

Sharrod debuted this year and ended the season with 12 games under his belt, averaging 13 disposals, 3 marks and just under 3 tackles per game.  His stand-out performance came against Geelong where he racked up 19 disposals and 7 tackles; an impressive effort against the league leaders. 

There is contention over what position Sharrod could potentially fill in the midfield, as he has shown competency in both the inside and outside aspects of the game.  His disposal is above average whilst not being in the elite category and throughout the season he exhibited poise and composure for a player with minimal experience.  Wellingham has a tendency to fade in and out of games, but this is likely a product of not yet having cemented a position and his endurance requiring further improvement.

Wellingham has shown some good signs early in the piece and remains a potential answer to some of our midfield needs.

Ryan Cook

Debuting late in 2007, Cooky managed to add another 9 games to his career total in 2008.  Statistically speaking, Cook was our best performed player from the crop of potential young midfielders that currently occupy our list; averaging 14 disposals, 4 marks and 3 tackles per game.  Whilst Cook’s performances in 2008 weren’t anything to write home about, with further development and experience he could become a very handy depth player and perhaps even more.

The jury is still out on what Ryan might offer long term.  His biggest asset is his endurance as he has shown he has the capacity to run all day.  His disposal needs some further work, but considering his kicking action is sound I imagine that this improvement should come naturally with senior experience.  Cook isn’t a damaging player as such, which is the biggest reason why some people are unsure as to his long term viability.  He shapes more as an accumulator and is a little reminiscent of a former hard running Collingwood midfielder; Paul Licuria.

There has been talk of grooming Cook into a tagger, but his early forays in such a role – notably against Shaun Burgoyne – haven’t looked too promising.  A lot depends on how much improvement Ryan Cook has left; he is already serviceable as a depth player but requires some further development – which may or may not come – if he is to become a first 22 player.  He is the sort of player who Malthouse has a history of favouring, so he shouldn’t be short of opportunities to prove his worth.

Danny Stanley

Stanley was drafted almost entirely for his inside exploits, with a view to grooming him as the eventual successor of the likes of Scott Burns and Shane O’Bree.  Whilst Stanners has been starved of opportunity at senior level, he has been performing consistently well at reserves level.  In my opinion, Stanley’s form in the seconds warranted more senior opportunity than he was eventually given and by the end of 2008 I was fearful that we would move Stanley on without really exploring his potential.

My optimism in Stanley may prove to be misplaced, but with Scott Burns retiring there is no better time to find out what Stanners is made of.  I expect that we’ll see a lot more in 2009 from the man who currently shapes as our most likely future extractor.  Stanley is physically more than ready to compete with senior players and really needs to be given 4-5 games on the trot to find his feet at senior level.  If after that we are still not seeing dividends or any glimpses, we will be forced to explore other options.  However, if Stanley emerges as a senior player in 2009 and onwards, then a large portion of our midfield woes will be remedied.

John McCarthy

Whilst perhaps only getting an opportunity at senior level through necessity, J-Mac proved that his selection was warranted very quickly.  He didn’t amass incredible stats during his senior games, but it was more the way he moved and the signs he showed that enticed the Collingwood faithful.  Basically, McCarthy just looks a player.

He has the height and ability to prove handy forward of the ball, but it’s his mixture of tenacity and polish that promises so much in regards to him becoming a complete midfielder.  If I had one query over what I’ve seen so far, it would be that J-Mac has a tendency to go to ground a little more than is required.  This isn’t so much a lack of strength or fortitude, but more so an error in judgement.  J-Mac tends to go to ground when contesting a loose ball due to misplaced determination, when he would be better suited to keeping his feet even if it meant he may be second to the contest – as he is a more than capable tackler.

Considering 2008 was McCarthy’s first year, all things point to a very bright future.  At worst, McCarthy has enough tricks to become a good utility player.  At best, he could very well become a gun midfielder.  McCarthy is one player who I look forward to tracking in the coming years.

Conclusion

Our midfield is definitely an area where our stocks – based on proven form – are currently low and heading into draft day the club has admitted as much.  We will be looking to improve our midfield department this coming Saturday, but with that said there are still a few up-and-coming types that may yet provide the solution.

With a solid performance this draft day, whereby we acquire a few likely types then our midfield could potentially shape as one of the deepest come 2010 and onwards.  The likes of Wellingham, McCarthy and Stanley in particular are still relatively unknown and look set to be tested in the coming season.  With continued improvement from the likes of Pendlebury and Thomas; combined with the possibility of Marty Clarke moving into the midfield, things may not be as dire as we initially thought.

The fact is, a lot of our current midfield fortunes rest on speculation and potential and we simply need to settle things down with some proven results if we plan on being a genuine contender.  What we’re lacking mostly is proven and undeniable class; a player who is going to perform at the highest level for 22 games and beyond.  Pendlebury has the potential to assume this role, but we need to find one or two others of the same ilk.

I’m hoping that at the conclusion of Saturday’s draft, Collingwood fans will be able to rest a little more peacefully when it comes to our midfield stocks.

Victoria Park: Home Sweet Home

It was a sad day when Collingwood played their last game at Victoria Park.  It was an even sadder day when we closed the doors completely and moved to the Lexus Centre.  I never doubted the wisdom in the move, there was a clear advantage to the Lexus Centre; with its state of the art training facilities and the benefits such amenities would bring. 

Nonetheless, it was still difficult.  Being a Collingwood supporter since birth and coming from a long line of Collingwood supporters, my childhood was full of fond memories of Victoria Park.  From the crowded platforms at Victoria Park station to handing the footballs back to our beloved players during the pre-game warmup at the scoreboard end.  Victoria Park was – and still is – Collingwood’s spiritual home.

Before I was old enough for my parents to comfortably take me to games, my Nan – who grew up in Collingwood – enthralled me with stories of the black and white army marching past her house to and from Victoria Park.  If she was unable to attend the match herself, she was always well aware of the result by the demeanour of the masses as they returned from the infamous inner-city stadium.

Infamous is probably one of the best words to attach to Victoria Park.  It was the heart of everything Collingwood; the soul of the most proud and passionate sporting club in Australia.  Opposition fans and players alike came to fear the venue; Victoria Park was our territory and we never prided ourselves on hospitality.  Even with this in mind, it was a sad day for opposition fans as well when Victoria Park was abandoned; it well and truly had etched a spot of its own in the proud history of our sport.

A football hasn’t been kicked by the black-and-white in an organised game of football at Victoria Park since 1999 — but that is now set to change. 

Heritage Victoria has saved Victoria Park from demolition at the hands of Yarra Council after a long and bitter battle that has lasted almost a decade.  What is even better is that the 2009 VFL fixture has recently been released and – wait for it - Collingwood’s reserves side has been scheduled to play three games at Victoria Park towards the end of the VFL season.

This also isn’t the end, as Gary Pert has alluded to working towards the idea of Collingwood making Victoria Park its VFL home ground once more; moving the VFL faction of our club well away from the enemy territory of Visy Park.

This is some of the best news I’ve heard in a while and compliments the push to having a stand-alone VFL side perfectly.  With a move like this, a void has been filled within the hearts of all Collingwood fans and I would expect to see the attendance at Collingwood VFL games - particularly those played at Victoria Park – increase significantly. 

Welcome home Collingwood.

VFL Fixture 2009

Round 01:Vs. Geelong – Visy Park – 11/04/2009 (2:00pm)
Round 02:Vs. Williamstown – Visy Park – 18/04/2009 (2:00pm)
Round 03: Vs. Bendigo - Queen Elizabeth Oval – 26/04/2009 (2:00pm)
Round 04: Vs. North Ballarat - Northern Oval – 02/05/2009 (1:10pm)
Round 05: Vs. Box Hill – Visy Park – 10/05/2009 (2:00pm)
Round 06: Vs. Coburg - ABD Group Stadium – 16/05/2009 (2:00pm)
Round 07: Bye
Round 08: Vs. Northern Bullants – Visy Park – 30/05/2009 (2:00pm)
Round 09: Vs. Port Melbourne – Visy Park – 07/06/2009 (2:00pm)
Round 10: Vs. Werribee - Barter Card Oval – 13/06/2009 (2:00pm)
Round 11: Vs. North Ballarat – Visy Park – 28/06/2009 (2:00pm)
Round 12: Vs. Frankston - Frankston Park – 05/07/2009 (2:00pm)
Round 13: Vs. Sandringham - Trevor Barker Beach Oval – 12/07/2009 (2:00pm)
Round 14: Vs. Casey Scorpions – Victoria Park – 18/07/2009 (1:00pm)
Round 15: Bye
Round 16: Vs. Northern Bullants – NAB Oval – 02/08/2009 (2:00pm)
Round 17: Vs. Werribee – Victoria Park – 09/08/2009 (2:00pm)
Round 18: Vs. Williamstown – Burbank Oval – 16/08/2009 (2:00pm)
Round 19: Vs. Frankston – Victoria Park – 22/08/2009 (2:00pm)
Round 20: Vs. Geelong – Skilled Stadium – 29/08/2009 (9:40am)

Assessing The List: Defenders

It was a tough year in defence for Collingwood as we tried to recover from the unexpected retirement of James Clement, which was exacerbated by further injury concerns to Prestigiacomo.  Shane Wakelin stayed on for another year and performed admirably – but there was definitely some experience and chemistry lacking down back.

A strong defence consists largely upon structure, not just the quality of the cattle available.  Our inexperience down back and the fact that quite a few of our first choice defenders are still finding their feet and developing their game meant that we were exposed on more than one occasion.  The following is a run down of our defensive options heading into 2009.

Simon Prestigiacomo

The human blanket; Presti has been cruelled by injury over the past couple of seasons and the persistence of such injuries raises concerns over his long term viability.  Such is the regularity of Presti’s absence, it is easy to forget just how valuable a defender he is.  Presti doesn’t create play as such, but at his best he is one of the prime negating defenders in the league. 

Wearied by age and the rigours of AFL football, Presti – not unlike Rocca – is a week-by-week proposition at this point.  If we are blessed and Presti can find his way onto the park for the majority of 2009; then our defence will look a lot more settled.  If ever there was a time when we need some luck with injuries it’s now; as our backline is desperately screaming out for some experience and we are yet to adequately fill the void left by Clement and now Wakelin.

Nathan Brown

Nathan Brown was a surprise packet for 2008, as not many expected him to emerge in the manner that he did.  I don’t think any Pies fan could have predicted that Nathan Brown would solidify his spot in the starting line-up and fill a key position spot for all but one game; as many believed he was still a fair way off senior football.  Brown’s emergence could be credited largely to his impressive physical development during last year’s pre-season.

Whilst Brown burst out of the blocks and was the talk of the town during the opening rounds after doing respectable jobs on the likes of Pavlich and his namesake from Brisbane; like many young players before him he simply ran out of steam as the season wore on.  Brown was exposed a few times against quality opposition, which is nothing to worry too much about as when it comes to young defenders this is often the grim inevitability of their development.

One of the more common ways that Brown was beaten was on the lead, as he doesn’t really have the pace out of the blocks to hinder explosive forwards.  This is something that we can address with further development and structural tweaks in the backline – some forwards just aren’t meant to be played one out.  What Brown has in abundance is size and determination; he is not a player who will be easily outmuscled and he shows a true grit with the way he goes about his football. 

I’m excited to see how Brown shapes up next year after another pre-season and having his development fast tracked during 2008.

Nick Maxwell

Every team has players that are for whatever reason – fairly or unfairly – scrutinized more consistently than others.  Maxwell is one that falls into that category.  Admittedly, Maxwell had a pretty terrible first half of 2008; where he just couldn’t seem to find his feet and wasn’t handling the spotlight of responsibility as well as he would have liked.  His form probably warranted a spell in the seconds, but Maxwell had accumulated enough favour through past heroics to keep him in the senior side.

Thankfully, Maxwell was able to turn his game around from the halfway point of the season; once again becoming a reliable team player who compensated for a lack of natural ability by doing all the simple things perfectly.  There are clear deficiencies to Maxwell’s game – he will never be considered an elite AFL footballer – but what he lacks in talent he more than makes up for with genuine leadership and courage.

Heading forward, Maxwell will continue to be a third-tall option in defence.  His leadership qualities also go a long way to providing some organisation and experience in the backline.  He has also seemingly added a new string to his bow after performing an impressive tagging job on Adelaide’s Scott Thompson in the elimination final.  Maxwell could be used to perform similar jobs on midfielders who will not expose him for pace or raw ability.

Heath Shaw

Indiscretions and off-field hoopla aside; Heath Shaw still had a season he would like to put behind him.  Shaw is one of our best and most creative rebounding defenders; but his influence was quelled quite often in 2008 by teams opting to tag him out of the match by dragging him away from the play.  Granted, Shaw suffered more than any other player from our militantly accountable game plan.

We need to look at ways we can unleash Shaw and this is a problem that can be solved with some structural tinkering heading into next season.  Simply put, Shaw is too talented and too valuable to allow teams to remove him from the play in such a simple fashion.  Shaw will continue to be one of our most important rebounding defenders and now – after the turmoil of 2008 and the recent retirements in defence – it is Heath’s time to stand up and embrace further responsibility; repaying the Collingwood faithful in turn.

Harry O’Brien

One of the better stories to come out of 2008 was that of Harry O’Brien.  Harry had his best season to date at Collingwood, improving his game and being a consistent performer throughout the season.  Harry was called upon to perform roles that were beyond him physically, as he is a medium defender who through necessity was cast as a key defender on a few occasions – most notably against Fevola.

There is still room for improvement with O’Brien and the best part is that he has the attitude to get the most out of himself in football and reach his full potential.  This may have stemmed from being picked up through the rookie draft, as he would be well aware of how close he came to not playing AFL at all.  There’s something about success stories that begin in the rookie draft which make them a lot more satisfying than others.   

Harry has a bustling quality about him; winning contested ball and creating space through strength and endeavour.  He has improved his disposal and can now be considered a quality rebounding defender.  O’Brien still has the tendency to occasionally try and do too much, but he improved upon this flaw in 2008 through improved awareness and experience. 

Having the ability to play a little taller than he is, whilst being able to run with smaller and speedier forwards; O’Brien has quickly become a vital cog in Collingwood’s defensive machine.

Marty Clarke

Speaking of success stories, Marty Clarke has to be one of the best to come out of Collingwood in recent years.  The Irish lad who came to us as an international rookie has quickly solidified himself within the senior side and the hearts of the Collingwood faithful; becoming something of a cult figure at the club.

Marty started the year off slowly, doing a stint In the seconds to regain some touch after an exciting debut season.  It is a credit of the highest order that it didn’t take Marty long to earn senior selection once more and become an impressive member of our defence; all whilst continuing to sand down the rough edges of his game.

A player with Marty’s mind and skill set is hard to find; he seemingly has infinite potential.  Marty plays out of the backline largely, but finds his way further afield to win the football and use it well heading forward.  He has adapted incredibly well to the heightened physical nature of our game compared to the Gaelic Football that he is used to. 

For the time being, I imagine Marty will continue to play out of a back pocket or off a flank; but he looms as a potential piece to our midfield puzzle.

Tyson Goldsack

It was a tough second year for young Moneybags, as an interrupted pre-season and a broken nose in the opening rounds hindered Tyson from finding form.  He improved as the season wore on, but was still a few steps behind what he had achieved in 2007 by year’s end.  I’m not too worried though, as second year slumps are not uncommon and Tyson possesses qualities that position him well for overcoming such setbacks.

It’s hard – if not impossible – to determine where Tyson is best suited.  He has a body frame that is difficult to add weight to, with wiry limbs not dissimilar to Dustin Fletcher.  His size will most likely prevent him from becoming a key position option, but his tenacity and determination makes him a valuable medium to small defender.

Goldsack doesn’t possess a traditional brand of “X-Factor,” but he has the uncanny ability to create through grit and ferocity and the occasional slice of brilliance.  Some of his exploits are even comparable to Pendlebury; but they are a lot less frequent.  Moneybags is one of those players who falls under the “could be anything” tag.  I dare say by the end of 2009 we’ll have a better idea as to exactly what that “anything” could be.

Ben Johnson

At the end of 2008, Johnson very nearly found himself as trade bait after having a forgettable season.  Johnson’s kicking continues to be a problem and when he struggled for fitness in 2008; he simply didn’t have any other weapons to merit senior selection.  At his best, Johnson was one of our better run-and-carry players from defence and through the middle; whether he can recapture that form is the big question.

With Johnson’s decline in recent times, others such as Heath Shaw, Marty Clarke and even Harry O’Brien have filled his shoes.  Johnson was quite likely saved due to a dramatic loss of experience through retirements over the past two seasons; if he can put in a massive pre-season and recapture some touch he may help steady the ship in 2009.

The jury remains out on Johnson’s career and I dare say that if he can’t turn things around in 2009 he may be considered expendable come next year’s trade period.

Untried Options

With the retirement of Wakelin and the assumption that Presti may struggle to remain fit for an entire season; we are clearly short in the key defensive stocks.  There has been a lot of speculation that we may find our next CHB in the guise of Ben Reid.  Reid was originally fashioned as a forward but with our forward stocks overflowing and our defensive stocks waining it appears that the club may be trying a different path.

Reid is a versatile tall who definitely has the mobility to cover the ground and run with most CHF’s; the big question is whether he will have the size and strength to compete reliably.  Reid was tried at CHB in the Collingwood reserves towards the end of the season and he performed well – racking up some impressive stats in the process.  Whether he can replicate this performance in the seniors remains to be seen, but all the same Reid is an option who may even become the answer.

A more likely option in defence is that of John Anthony, who was originally drafted and groomed to become Clement’s eventual successor.  Jack was tried up forward this year and performed well.  Most notable of all was his freakishly accurate kicking; a trait we haven’t seen at Collingwood for quite some time.  As viable a forward option as Anthony proved to be, many – myself included – believe that his best football will be played in defence. 

Anthony is probably undersized to perform a key position role, but that’s not to say it isn’t a possibility.  In today’s game, defenders can compensate for lack of size with footballing nous, something that Anthony possesses.  At 192cm, Anthony is only a centimeter shorter than Presti and he definitely has the strength and mobility to compete against a variety of opponents.  Whether he starts up forward or down back, Anthony shapes as a very promising swingman heading forward.

Conclusion

Just as our midfield has suffered through retirements, our backline has been equally affected.  The loss of Clement and now Wakelin leaves a gigantic void of talent and experience down back, but it is one that I am confident we can cover with further development and some inspired coaching.  With players such as Shaw, Clarke, O’Brien, Goldsack and Brown all 23 or younger; we have a core group of defenders who will continue to develop individually and most importantly as a unit. 

There are also the likes of Shannon Cox, Alan Toovey and Anthony Corrie who all have some defensive experience and may yet play a role in our defensive unit.  Jaxson Barham also finished the year strongly in the seconds and we may choose to groom him as a small running defender.  Case in point, we are not without options.

We do need a few things to fall our way in 2009; namely the continued improvement of our existing young defenders, an improved injury run and the emergence of another potential key position defender.  I expect we’ll look to sure up our defensive stocks with at least one of our picks in the upcoming draft, but our answer may yet come from within our current list.

If these things go our way and we can make some structural changes to prevent being as badly exposed by the league’s prime forwards (Fevola and Franklin predominantly), then 2009 will see us become a much more competitive unit and may even catapult us from looming just outside of the top four to finally cementing a double chance.

Assessing The List: Forwards

With pre-season training kicking off and the boys beginning their high altitude training camp in Arizona, we can take this time to have an in depth look at our current playing list at the conclusion of 2008 and heading into 2009.

Kicking off the assessment, let’s take a look at one of Collingwood’s strong points: our forward line.  Whilst the forward line was riddled with injury and structural issues throughout 2008, we still managed to look dangerous when heading forward due to having some of the more talented small and medium forwards in the league.  It’s time for a closer look at some of our proven and unproven forward options.

Anthony Rocca

Anthony Rocca’s season was riddled with a foot injury that saw him sit out most of the year.  Rocca remains an important part of the Collingwood team; the problem is whether that is a good thing given that Rocca’s ability to get on the park and the longevity of his career is in question.  Structurally, Rocca remains our number one contested marker when at his best.  We suffered on many occasions this year simply by not having a big target to kick long to within the forward 50; relying too heavily on our smaller brigade to create goals from unlikely positions.

Being realistic, Rocca is now a week-by-week proposition.  He is determined to get the most out of his AFL career before hanging up the boots — or picking up a pair of punting “cleats” and heading to America to join his brother in the NFL.  If we can get Rocca on the park more often than not next year; then our forward line will improve dramatically.  A massive burden would be lifted from the shoulders of Travis Cloke, whilst the likes of Dawes in particular would be given more time to develop.

Whilst Rocca remains a pivotal player and improves our side structurally, we do need to alter our forward game plan somewhat to account for Rocca’s lack of mobility and endurance.  Teams have exposed us in the past by assigning a player to make Rocca work the other way.  Rocca – especially at this point in his career – simply does not have the tank to make his man accountable at all times.  Because of this, we must devise a plan whereby our collective forwards and even midfield ensure that teams cannot exploit Rocca’s weakness beyond the goal square.

Travis Cloke

Travis has quickly become one of our most important players; emerging last year to claim one of the most difficult and demanding positions as our centre half forward.  After having a stellar 2007, Cloke struggled a lot more this year due largely to having no other key position support.  With the likes of Rocca, Rusling and Reid all struck down by injury, Cloke was forced to shoulder the bustling workload of the forward line. 

I’m not at all concerned about Cloke’s development; as I don’t view this year to have been a step back for the 21 year old.  Cloke is still extremely young for a player holding down a key position — it’s an incredible achievement that he has a Copeland trophy to his name already.  Cloke’s contested marking has improved season by season but the strongest element of Trav’s game is his endurance and work rate.  There are not too many defenders in the league who can run with Cloke; he has the ability to exploit key defenders either in the air or simply by running them ragged.

Cloke’s kicking was a talking point in 2007, but in 2008 he improved it somewhat.  He still has a tendency to spray a shot or two, but Cloke doesn’t have to be a dead eye shot for goal in order to influence the result.  If Trav can continue to provide a tall marking target throughout the middle of the ground; whilst drifting forward to also provide an option as often as possible, then he is doing his job.  He generally uses the ball well with his field kicking and also has the ability to clear zones – or even go the entire journey to goal – with his prodigious long kicking.

Paul Medhurst

Medhurst was by far the stand out of the Collingwood forward brigade in 2008; culminating in All-Australian selection.  Medhurst was always a talented player, it was just his work ethic in all facets of the game that was usually called into question.  Thankfully he has managed to reinvent himself at Collingwood and become one of our most hard working forwards. 

Medhurst has the freakish ability to play a lot taller than his 179cm stature, whilst also being one of our more creative players when the ball hits the deck forward of the centre.  This makes him one of the harder players to match up on and enables Medders to loom as a four quarter threat who is capable of blowing the game open at any given moment.

Not only does Medhurst contribute largely to the scoreboard, but he also brings surrounding players into the game with his team oriented style.  Medhurst is one of the best stories to come out of Collingwood in the last two seasons and he should be used as an example to every player who crosses into our nest via trade week.

Sean Rusling

Rusling’s injury woes continued in 2008, as he went down with yet another shoulder injury in the opening round against Fremantle.  Rusling’s determination and fortitude cannot be questioned; as after another shoulder reconstruction and sitting the season out on the sidelines he has worked hard to keep his body in order and remain optimistic about his future.  We often forget about the mental aspect of our game and in Rusling’s case it could be said that the mental battle after yet another setback would have been the hardest hurdle to tackle.

Rusling has given us glimpses of what he is capable of, particularly in his two appearances against Sydney at the end of the 2007 season.  It is well noted how explosive Rusling is off the mark; there perhaps isn’t a defender in the league who can keep up with him on the lead.  He sports a strong frame and a pair of very strong and reliable hands which make him a formidable matchup for an opposition team. 

One of the major queries over Rusling’s game is his ability to contribute once the ball hits the deck.  Rusling is not the most agile of our forwards and may get exposed by more dexterous opponents.  With that said, we haven’t yet seen enough of Rusling to form a definitive indication over the extent of his weaknesses.  If Rusling’s body can hold up to the rigours of senior football, he has the potential and physical attributes to become one of the best lead and mark forwards in the competition. 

Alan Didak

Didak made headlines in 2008 for all the wrong reasons; but whilst the media and the public got caught up in Didak’s off-field indiscretions, many forgot about his on-field exploits.  Didak remains one of the most – if not the most – damaging and talented half forwards in the league.  His creativity, nous and superb left foot put Alan within the elite category of players.  It is no secret that Didak is rated as our most talented player and his capability and cult status have gone a long way towards keeping him at the club.

There aren’t too many players who view the game like Alan does, possessing an uncanny ability to create something out of nothing with the deftest of touches.  It’s well documented that our side has suffered due to lack of foot skills in recent history and Didak remains far and away our best user of the ball by foot.  Further to this, Didak has developed his game throughout his career at Collingwood; starting as a opportunist small forward and working his way into a goal kicking flanker who regularly racks up 20+ quality disposals.

Didak has attributes that cannot be taught or learned.  Simply put, he is a gifted footballer who has the capacity to win a game off his own boot.  After the turmoil of 2008, Didak will be heading into 2009 with a big point to prove.

Leon Davis

Leon had perhaps his best season on record in 2008 and was our most impressive player as the season ended.  Neon Leon was used more throughout the midfield, where he collected impressive stats but most important of all used the ball as only a player of his skill set can.  Leon regularly hits targets with either foot and continues to be one of the craftiest and most miraculous players around goal.

Not much more can be expected of Leon leading into 2009; if he can produce more of the same then the team will be in good standing.  Along with the likes of Medhurst, Didak and even Thomas; Davis forms the most dangerous small forward line-up in the league.  Davis has built his body to a point where he remains competitive in contested situations and can win his own football throughout the middle of the ground.  This development has solidified Leon’s position in the midfield rotation whilst still bobbing up forward to wreak havoc.

Dale Thomas

Daisy had a year that left many Collingwood supporters wanting a little bit more from the flamboyant flanker.  Thomas made regular appearances on highlight reels but it was still a patchy season in which he struggled to find consistency.  Nobody would question Thomas’ natural ability or his willingness to succeed; it is more a matter of Daisy settling into a role and improving certain aspects of his game so that he can remain dangerous throughout the course of a match.

Thomas seems to play the game in bursts, which could be due in part to not yet having the stamina to compete at AFL level for four quarters.  Dale is still young and heads into another pre-season that is tailored towards improving the endurance of our players and if this piece of the puzzle falls into place – then with his natural flair Dale could become one of our most important players. 

Regardless of the deficiencies in his game at the moment, Dale sports an inspirational and invaluable ability to lift the team with incredible feats.  He lifts the Collingwood team and fans alike, whilst simultaneously breaking the hearts of the opposition.  There is no better example of this than the freakish goal he manufactured in the dying seconds of the third quarter in the final against Adelaide.  Seeing the faces of the Adelaide players as Daisy’s 60 metre freak spiral sailed through the big sticks was priceless; and upon seeing that unfold I knew we had the game won.

Thomas has the natural ability to play forward and has the capacity to develop into a more regular midfield option.  It’s the intangibles of Dale’s football which make him so important to Collingwood.  He continually looks to get the ball moving with his dash and he has the confidence to take the game on when needed.  Dale is the wild card and perfect counterbalance to our well-drilled and occasionally stagnant game plan.  If we don’t know what to expect next from Dale, then the opposition faces the same predicament when formulating a way of stopping him.

John Anthony

Young Jack found his way into the team in a fashion that not many of us expected.  Our injury riddled forward line opened the way for Anthony to taste senior football after returning from a neck injury that put him on the sidelines for 2007.  Whilst we all expected Anthony to play senior football in 2008 after being impressive in his VFL outings; nobody expected him to become one of our most reliable and regular forward contributors.

Anthony is a breath of fresh air at Collingwood; he is a true competitor who shows a lot of passion about the way he goes about his football.  The biggest highlight of what Anthony brings to the table however is his straight kicking.  Anthony proved very quickly that he didn’t need many opportunities to hurt the opposition, finishing the year with 25 goals and 6 behinds — 3 of those behinds coming in the final game.  Jack regularly kicked multiple goals, many of which he earned through hard tackling and second and third efforts.

Heading into 2009 and with the return of Rocca and Rusling, it looks likely that Anthony may be pushed back to sure up our defence.  Whether or not Anthony makes his name as a forward or defender – as he obviously has the capacity to be serviceable at either end – he has shown enough to make me confident that we have found a very talented swingman for the next 10 years.

Chris Dawes

With the turmoil that unfolded off-field and Collingwood looking on the ropes on-field; the door opened in Round 19 for Chris Dawes to make his senior debut.  Dawes played out the rest of the season in the seniors, including our two finals, where he showed some promising signs without setting the world on fire.  Chris is very much still in the developmental stage and his senior selection was borne more from drastic measures than consistant VFL dominance.  This is nothing to worry about though, as Dawes was after all still consolidating his recovery from a knee reconstruction. 

Dawes shapes as our most likely future replacement for Rocca, stemming mostly from his physical attributes.  Dawes has the scope for improvement and performed – in my opinion – above expectations for a player thrust into senior football.  He didn’t seem daunted by the big stage either; with his most impressive outing coming against Adelaide in the elimination final.  In that game, Dawes kicked three goals all at important times.  The first came in the opening quarter when both sides were vying for early dominance, the second resulted from a crashing pack mark when the game was in the balance and his final goal was one that required a cool head and steady nerves, as it effectively sealed the game.

I imagine we would be looking to further develop Dawes in the VFL as he definitely has time on his side.  This will of course depend largely on our injury list throughout 2009.  Whatever the case, Dawes provides us with some good depth for the time being and some high hopes for the future.

Ben Reid

One of the most unknown quantities on the current list is that of Ben Reid.  His season was hampered with a variety of injuries, which prevented him from getting on the park during a time when we were crying out for a tall forward option.  He did however manage a few appearances.  Of these appearances, most were forgettable save his early efforts against Carlton — where he took a quality opponent in Waite to school.  The signs that Reid showed us during the first half of that match justified the high hopes that the club have in the kid.

One of the biggest question marks over Reid is his set-shot kicking.  In the aforementioned game, we were quite frankly treated to one of the worst executions of a set shot since Manson was running around in the black and white.  We can’t hold it against the kid though, since it was quite obvious his nerves simply got the better of him and hopefully this is something that will pass once he has more senior level exposure. 

Reid was drafted bottom age, is an incredibly athletic player for his size and also possesses football smarts.  He has the potential to become one of our most versatile players and could find himself anywhere from the forward line, through the middle of the ground on a wing or even in defence.  It is for this reason that Reid’s name will show up more than once during this extensive list assessment.

Anthony Corrie

Corrie has crossed over to the Magpies from Brisbane during this year’s trade period.  We got him for free, using our seventh round selection to secure his services.  His time was up at Brisbane it seems and Collingwood – much like we did with Medhurst – has offered him a life line. 

I’ve watched a fair bit of Brisbane this year – being that my partner is a Lions fan – and I’m quite happy with the acquisition of Corrie.  Early indications are that Collingwood intend on using Corrie up forward; although he also has the capacity to play from half-back.  If used as a forward, Corrie will most likely be called upon to use his carry and good disposal to deliver the ball effectively to leading targets.  He’s also not a bad shot on goal himself; whether from a set shot or on the run.

There are facets to Corrie’s game that need to be worked on.  He needs to improve his endurance so that he can stay in the game longer than he currently does; whilst also working a bit more on the contested side of his football.  As previously mentioned, Collingwood focuses largely on endurance within our training regime; so hopefully this regime can pay dividends where Corrie is concerned.

Ben Macaffer & Brad Dick

I’ve decided to cover these two players at the same time because as yet they have either had zero – or minimal – senior exposure.  Dick sat the entire season out with a knee injury. whilst Macaffer earned his eventual rookie elevation by performing solidly in the VFL all year.

Brad Dick has an impressive left foot and uses the ball well from what we have seen thus far (this includes his senior appearances in 2007 and pre-draft footage).  If Dick can add some weight to his frame – enough to compete effectively at senior level – he could become our next crumbing option or even find himself on a flank delivering the ball to our key targets.  I imagine we would be looking to mould Brad’s game on that of Cyril Rioli; a harassing forward who uses the ball well and pressures the opposition relentlessly.

Macaffer is in a similar mould to Rusling; predominantly a lead up, mark and shoot forward.  His best haul in the VFL this year was an impressive eight goals and if he can translate some of his VFL form into senior level form then Collingwood will simply be spoilt for choice.  It’s hard at this stage to see where Macaffer will fit into the senior side unless we have another horror injury run up front.  At the very least, Macaffer provides us with depth and the ability to be a little more adventurous at the selection table.

Conclusion

Depth is something that we’ve managed to put together within the forward line over the past few seasons, evidenced by our ability to remain competitive even when missing key targets up front.  Heading into 2009, there are question marks over a few of our forwards and their ability to stay fit or simply to impact games.  What is certain is that we have a forward line that demands respect and has the versatility to cause headaches for opposition coaches.

With tall targets in Rocca, Cloke, Dawes and Reid, our key position forward stocks are adequate at the moment.  Our small forward brigade is exceptional and may even become better depending on the development of Brad Dick and further improvement of Thomas.  It’s also handy that three of our small forwards (Didak, Davis and Thomas) have the potential to run through the midfield.

The forward line is rounded off by an adequate and improving bunch of medium forwards in Rusling, Anthony and Macaffer; not to mention the option of resting one of our rucks in Fraser or Wood forward.  Fraser’s forward exploits need no explaining, whilst Wood proved to be a very good contested mark up forward and an adequate – albeit occasionally awkward – set shot on goal.

In my opinion, Collingwood’s forward line is currently our strongest point and the least of our worries.  Thankfully, whilst Rocca’s career is nearing the end we have assembled the cattle to keep our forward line dangerous for some time yet.

Draft Prospects: Round Three

Round 3: Picks #45 & #46

Wish List (In Order)

• Jayden Post (195cm / 86kg / Defender)
• Jarrad Blight (192cm / 80kg / Midfielder)
• Liam Shiels (183cm / 78kg / Midfielder)
• Matthew De Boer ((187cm / 85kg / Midfielder)
• Nick Suban (179cm / 82kg / Midfielder)

Other Possibilities (No Order)

• Any prospect who happened to slide out of Round 2.

Summary

Collingwood traded Rhyce Shaw in order to make the most out of the top 50 in this year’s draft; hence our two back-to-back picks in round three.  Our needs entering the third round will be largely dependent on who we have drafted in the previous two.

If we take Trengove at #11, then I would expect to see us target some late midfield possibilities with our two third round picks.  Alternatively, if we have taken two midfielders prior to this round, we would definitely be targeting a key position defender.

For the sake of a cohesive wish list, I’ve ordered my picks in this round on the assumption that we have targeted midfielders in rounds one and two.

My first priority would be Jayden Post; a top-aged key position player who performed well in defence and also proved dangerous up forward.  He won the best and fairest award for the Western Jets this year and finished the year strongly, in turn bolstering his draft credentials.  There is a chance that Post might be available at our pick and if he is, I hope we snap him up.  His best features are his spoiling and exceptional contested marking; whilst also showing a willingness to take the game on and provide some drive from defence.  If we get to round three without drafting a KPD prospect, then Post ranks as my first preference.  It might be a gamble waiting until this point of the draft; for if Post is gone the other options aren’t nearly as promising.

For my second preference (which is redundant really, since our picks are back-to-back) I have opted for Jarrad Blight.  Blight is a bottom-aged player from Western Australia who has been building up some hype heading into this draft.  Some phantom drafts have him going as early as the second round; whilst others have him going as late as the fifth or sixth round to one of the Western Australian teams.

Blight started off a flank for Swan Districts but worked his way into the midfield where he was impressive.  A tall midfield/utility prospect, Blight has shown an ability to find the football and use it well.  He’s still a work in progress but the early signs are very good.  He occasionally looks a little awkward – being that he is around the 190cm mark and a running player – but this would be ironed out with continued development.

I’m going to confess, I haven’t seen any footage of my next choice in Liam Shiels; but I’ve read a lot of promising reports and as such, I’m basing this choice on the general consensus amongst others whose opinions I value.  Shiels is a bottom-aged Victorian who has been picking up momentum heading into this draft.  Some speculation suggests that Hawthorn or Geelong might target him with their second round picks; as being a bottom-aged player Shiels’ eventual value might be considerably more if he was to be drafted next year.

Hine has a fancy for bottom-aged Victorians and considering Shiels has shown himself to be a hard-running and promising midfield option; it wouldn’t surprise me at all if we read out his name.  Shiels was extremely impressive in the U16 carnival and continued to build upon that with a good showing in this year’s TAC Cup.  Early reports point to Shiels being more of an outside midfield prospect; but being in the early stages of his development Shiels looms as a very promising ball of clay.

Matthew De Boer is a Western Australian work horse whose name has been thrown around in many discussions regarding potential inside midfielders in this year’s draft.  De Boer doesn’t fit into the flashy category and there are queries as to how much further he could develop.  Regardless, in the early stages of draft speculation De Boer was rated quite highly and for good reason.  He already has the physical attributes to contest at AFL level; whilst having a frame that would be developed even further under an AFL level training regime.  De Boer’s kicking is his biggest question mark, but what he lacks in this department he makes up for with an ability to win the contested ball.  Inside midfielders are an area we’re looking to address and De Boer would shape as a good insurance policy this deep into the draft.

Nick Suban is a similar prospect to De Boer, being that he isn’t considered exceptional in any one category but his work ethic suggests he would be a player who strived to reach their full potential.  Suban could become a peripheral midfield option or even a small defender.  He possesses a reliable left foot kick and generally makes good decisions with the ball.  Importantly – as far as Collingwood are concerned – he has shown an ability to win contested football and has good hands and vision in traffic.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Suban went earlier; as he is rated anywhere between the second and third round.  If Suban or De Boer emerged as the remaining options at this point in the draft, I wouldn’t be disappointed.

As stated above, if any of my second round preferences slid all the way to our third round picks — I dare say there would be a lot of Collingwood supporters rejoicing at the conclusion of this year’s draft.

Being that we have five spots to fill, our final pick (Pick #77) I imagine would be used on another raw key position or ruck option — assuming that all of the rated prospects are off the table at that point.  Since my knowledge of the potential draftees at this depth becomes a little thin, I think I might refrain from speculating beyond the third round.  If we manage to nab another future player with our last pick, I’ll be prepared to go on record as offering Derek Hine first rights to any of my non-vital organs.

Draft Prospects: Round Two

Round 2: Pick #29

Wish List (In Order)

• Daniel Hannebery (182cm / 75kg / Midfielder)
• James Strauss (185cm / 81kg / Midfielder)
• Rhys O’Keefe (187cm / 80kg / Midfielder)
• Ashley Smith (184cm / 83kg / Midfielder)
• Matthew Broadbent (189cm / 81kg / Midfielder)
  
• Luke Shuey (185cm / 81kg / Midfielder)’

Summary

Heading into the second round I imagine that we will be targeting another midfielder.  If we have gone with Trengove in the first round, then that would make this selection even more important.  Thankfully, this draft is deep and the second round will contain some genuine talent in the midfielder category.

First off the bat and number one on my wish list: Daniel Hannebery.  There hasn’t been a lot of footage – or any kind of coverage for that matter – of Hannebery leading into this year’s draft; but many people who follow the juniors have mentioned Hannebery’s name and the bandwagon is gaining momentum.  Hannebery is a bottom-aged Victorian midfielder, known for his almost maniacal attack on the football.  Hannebery has a polished left foot, but it is his ability to win the ball in close quarters and his second and third efforts that stand out.  Hannebery tested well at the draft camp, ranking within the top ten for the beep test and agility test, whilst coming first in the 3km time trial.  He shapes as an extremely good prospect as an inside midfielder with skills, something that Collingwood are desperate for.

James Strauss shapes as another likely option, should he fall this far.  I’m expecting Strauss to get picked up in the late teens or early 20’s; but should he fall and Hannebery isn’t available, he could be the next in line.  Strauss, like some of the other potential midfield options in the second round, strikes me as a flanker who could be turned into an on-baller.  Whilst being able to win his own ball, Strauss’ best assets are his disposal by foot and decision making; he regularly hits targets over varying distances and plays the game with a ton of composure.

My third preference was a tough one — as I was torn between Ashley Smith and Rhys O’Keefe.  Both players’ greatest weapon is their booming kick; but in the end I’ve leaned in favour of O’Keefe.  There are a few reasons for this; one of them being that from what I’ve seen of O’Keefe he is a little more meticulous with his usage by foot.  He adjusts well when hitting shorter targets and seems a lot more settled when using the ball from static positions; whether lining up for goal from a set shot or passing after a mark.  Further to this, O’Keefe is slightly taller and seems to be more capable – at this point anyway – at winning the contested ball.  I really like the look of O’Keefe, who I imagine would enter the side as a rebounding half-back flanker and perhaps develop into a midfield option.

Now onto Ashley Smith; whose raking right foot is so impressive I initially had him ranked at #1 on this list before I had the opportunity to see more footage of the other candidates.  Smith reminds me a lot of Andrew Embley, with the added extra of being able to kick a wheat bag over a barn.  The question of Smith’s game at the moment is that at times he can appear a little lazy or too outside; which is a major reason why my ranking of Smith in the second round has wained a little.  He has good balance when carrying the ball and a Judd like burst of pace; exemplified by ranking first in the 20 metre sprint at draft camp.  If Collingwood opted to go with Smith I’d be excited at the prospect of having a player with his exploits bombing the ball into our forwards and clearing the ever popular zone and cluster defences of the modern game.

Matthew Broadbent is a ready-made prospect from South Australia.  Another player who would enter senior level likely as a flanker and progress into the midfield.  Broadbent has shown an ability to win the contested ball and put it to his team’s advantage either by hand or foot.  Not known as a prolific kicker like O’Keefe and Smith, Broadbent still uses the ball very well.  A notable ability of Broadbent’s is getting his hands free whilst being tackled and firing off a handball to a team mate on the move.  Broadbent also looks comfortable running and carrying and would be a player who has the size and ability to play a part in 2009.

Rounding off the second round wish list is the Victorian Luke Shuey.  There are some doubts over Shuey’s execution and decision making by foot, but his technique looks solid enough to be worked with.  What Shuey does have in spades is determination, good tackling and endurance.  Shuey looks comfortable in contested situations and reads the ball quite well in play and at stoppages.  Shuey is a hard running type who has some nous and could be developed as an inside midfielder or even perhaps as a tagger with the ability to hurt the opposition going the other way.

Regardless of who we do take in the second round – and it’s always a mystery with Derek Hine – we are almost guaranteed to get a player who would be serviceable at worst and exceptional at best.

Draft Prospects: Round One

Round 1: Pick #11

Wish List (In Order)

• Jack Ziebell (188cm / 84kg / Midfielder)
• Hamish Hartlett (182cm / 74kg / Midfielder)
• Steele Sidebottom (182cm / 79kg / Midfielder)
• Tom Swift (190cm / 84kg / Midfielder)

Other Possibilities (No Order)

• Chris Yarran (180cm / 84kg / Midfielder)
• Sam Blease (183cm / 72kg / Midfielder)
• Stephen Hill (182cm / 72kg / Midfielder)
• Jackson Trengove (196.5cm / 88.5kg / Defender)

Summary

With our first round pick, I think it is imperative that we target a genuine midfield option. I haven’t included Daniel Rich because there is absolutely no chance that he will last until our pick. As far as that is concerned, there is also little chance of Ziebell or Hartlett sliding that far as well – although it is important to remember that in any given year there are players who slide.

Ziebell and Hartlett would be locks for Collingwood if they slide to #11. Ziebell has the physical credentials to play a senior part almost instantly and has the ability to play in multiple positions effectively. He’s a good user of the ball, reads the play exceptionally well and makes good decisions. Hartlett is a damaging South Australian who has the ability to win the inside ball and the skill set to finish extremely well as an outside player. Both Ziebell and Hartlett would go a long way to addressing our most pressing midfield needs.

Sidebottom and Swift look the most likely to perhaps slide until our pick. Swift has been out of football with injury for the last two years, but absolutely dominated at U16 level. There are obvious question marks over his ability to return to football at the same capacity since suffering two knee-related injuries; there are also doubts as to whether his form at U16 level would have translated similarly at U18 level. Swift will be drafted in the first round – that much is sure – but he comes with considerable risk.

Sidebottom would be my personal preference. He is now most noted for his performance in the TAC Cup Grand Final, where he racked up 30 possessions and kicked 10 goals from the midfield. His draft stocks were improved dramatically after this performance, but there is still perhaps a slight chance that he might slide outside the top ten given that the only perceivable flaw in his game is his lack of leg speed. In this day and age, a lot of clubs draft based on a player’s athleticism and Sidebottom doesn’t figure prominently in this aspect. Steele is a footballer’s footballer though; incredibly damaging by foot and as evidenced by his Grand Final performance, an exceptional finisher.

If none of these four are available, other likely types exist in the forms of Yarran, Blease, Hill and Trengove. Yarran is a an indigenous Western Australian who possesses a bag of tricks and the ability to play midfield/forward. Sam Blease is more of an outside midfield prospect, with exceptional pace and is a fine user of the ball. Stephen Hill is something of a complex prospect, being that he is considered more of an amazing athlete than a genuine footballer. He has good skills – although his kicking can be wayward at times – but his speed and agility are his two biggest weapons. People have him touted as going as early as the top ten or as late as the second round.

Jackson Trengove is ranked as one of the top two key position defenders available in the draft, alongside Hurley who is expected to go top ten. I wouldn’t be surprised if Collingwood took Trengove at #11 if none of Ziebell, Hartlett, Sidebottom or Swift are available. Consequently I wouldn’t be too disappointed with the choice either, as we need to find another genuine key position defender.

In summary, I imagine the most likely prospect (whilst still being optimistic) would be one of either Sidebottom or Swift.  We can only hope that one or two of Yarran, Hill, Blease or Trengove get taken in the top ten; allowing one of my preferred four to slide.  Swift would be a gamble, but it’s exactly the sort of gamble that Hine has shown a preparedness to take in the past. If we did draft Swift, I would expect that the club had done it’s due diligence and were confident that his recent injury problems would not plague him. Sidebottom for mine is the perfect result though, as we would have picked up a player who checks all the requirements that we are looking for in the midfield.

Nothing like draft time to send the football following public into a mass bout of wishful thinking.