Strategy Best 23 - 2026

[Jen2310]

Reef. Moore. Maynard
Quaynor. Howe. Houston
Lippa. Pendlebury. J Daicos
Schultz. Membrey. Beau
Elliott. Mcstay. Hill
Cameron. Nick. Jordy
Perryman. Crisp. Long. West. Sidebottom

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/collingwood/collingwood-season-2026-preview-ageing-pies-are-running-out-of-swings-at-more-flag-glory/news-story/54489ce7587fc575fd36a19041edfed6

I'd think Buller gets first crack, given he can second ruck.

 

[Jen2310]

Best 23​

FB: Isaac Quaynor, Billy Frampton, Jeremy Howe
HB: Brayden Maynard, Darcy Moore, Josh Daicos
C: Steele Sidebottom, Jack Crisp, Daniel Houston
HF: Beau McCreery, Daniel McStay, Tim Membrey
FF: Bobby Hill, Jack Buller, Jamie Elliott
FO: Darcy Cameron, Nick Daicos, Jordan De Goey
I/C: Reef McInnes, Scott Pendlebury, Harry Perryman, Patrick Lipinski, Lachlan Schultz
Stiff to miss: Edward Allan, Wil Parker, Roan Steele, Charlie West, Lachie Sullivan, Ned Long

Selecting every AFL team’s best 23 for 2026: Collingwood Magpies

With some clear strengths and weaknesses, the Magpies will be a fascinating watch this year.

www.zerohanger.com

Don't see Long missing either.

 

[Peters_Nuts]

Reef. Moore. Maynard
Quaynor. Howe. Houston
Lippa. Pendlebury. J Daicos
Schultz. Membrey. Beau
Elliott. Mcstay. Hill
Cameron. Nick. Jordy
Perryman. Crisp. Long. West. Sidebottom

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/collingwood/collingwood-season-2026-preview-ageing-pies-are-running-out-of-swings-at-more-flag-glory/news-story/54489ce7587fc575fd36a19041edfed6

I'd think Buller gets first crack, given he can second ruck.

Agree Jen2310. You'd presume it'll be McStay + Buller and either Membrey or West.

Big tick for Josh on the wing.

Also not sure how anyone can watch us last season and think Frampton shouldn't start at FB. Reef will have to earn his spot in my opinion and don't want Howe anywhere near CHB.

I'd also prefer Roan Steele over Lippa on the wing.

Edit: Lol at Zero Hanger dropping Long.

 

[Jen2310]

Agree Jen2310. You'd presume it'll be McStay + Buller and either Membrey or West.

Big tick for Josh on the wing.

Also not sure how anyone can watch us last season and think Frampton shouldn't start at FB. Reef will have to earn his spot in my opinion and don't want Howe anywhere near CHB.

I'd also prefer Roan Steele over Lippa on the wing.

Edit: Lol at Zero Hanger dropping Long.

We'll see fairly quick once they return and do the Team A v Team B
But I think it's very possible to play both Reef and Frampton imo Last match play senario I saw, they tried that exact thing.
But would just mean someone that played defence might have to move in a different position.

WHO’S TIPPED FOR A 2026 BREAKOUT?​

Forgotten quickly after his ACL injury early this year, Reef McInnes will be back to stake a claim to play the third tall defender spot that has eluded Collingwood since Nathan Murphy’s unfortunate retirement. McInnes has the right attributes and the Pies loved his work in defence through the pre-season. He should get a crack at it nice and early.

 

[Mick F]

We'll see fairly quick once they return and do the Team A v Team B
But I think it's very possible to play both Reef and Frampton imo Last match play senario I saw, they tried that exact thing.
But would just mean someone that played defence might have to move in a different position.

WHO’S TIPPED FOR A 2026 BREAKOUT?​

Forgotten quickly after his ACL injury early this year, Reef McInnes will be back to stake a claim to play the third tall defender spot that has eluded Collingwood since Nathan Murphy’s unfortunate retirement. McInnes has the right attributes and the Pies loved his work in defence through the pre-season. He should get a crack at it nice and early.

Given five on the bench you can probably have a tallish defender as cover. We have heaps of lads that can play mid and as a medium running defender.

The conjecture may be over if they go with three tall forwards, plus one on the bench. But Membrey may make it hard to drop him - could be argued he is more a tallish medium, and if Cameron gets injured it allows Buller assume that role, two forward and one resting. So not really top heavy.

Still leaves two mids and a small forward on the bench.

 

[Jen2310]

Given five on the bench you can probably have a tallish defender as cover. We have heaps of lads that can play mid and as a medium running defender.

The conjecture may be over if they go with three tall forwards, plus one on the bench. But Membrey may make it hard to drop him - could be argued he is more a tallish medium, and if Cameron gets injured it allows Buller assume that role, two forward and one resting. So not really top heavy.

Still leaves two mids and a small forward on the bench.

Yeah, i'm curious what they do with the 5th player on the bench. Do you use it for an extra defender (gives more options to have Perryman to float through the middle) another forward? Give Oscar exposure alongside Cameron?

 

[Soups]

Josh Daicos

7

Josh Daicos

Age

27

Ht

178cm

Wt

77kg

Pos.

D/M

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.6

4star

K

8.3

3star

HB

7.3

5star

M

3.3

3star

T

3.6

5star

MG

230.5

4star

D

16.2

4star

K

9.2

4star

HB

7.0

4star

M

3.3

3star

T

3.5

4star

MG

230.5

4star

D

13.8

4star

K

7.6

3star

HB

6.2

4star

M

3.2

4star

T

4.2

5star

full time mid this year. Has to be done.

 

[Cyclops]

Yeah, i'm curious what they do with the 5th player on the bench. Do you use it for an extra defender (gives more options to have Perryman to float through the middle) another forward? Give Oscar exposure alongside Cameron?

Fly is very "horses for courses", so it'll vary of course.

Until last year I felt he tended to pick best available, but obviously we tried more regular spelling payers. Maybe back to picking blokes for longer stretches?

I hope they all go well, but I'd love to see Ed get more wing time, and a one of the young KPFs to shine, likely Buller.

The other one is Perryman into the square, I think he makes so few errors and is quietly effective. Happy for Sidey and Josh to run the wings with help.