Do Collingwood need to enter a rebuild phase?

[Robroy22]

Fox Sports and they're really experts

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Oh yes Will Faulkner and Jack Jovanovski......two of the most knowledgable digital sports reporters no-ones ever heard of, definitely authorities after their expose that Christian Petracca was a done deal to Adelaide.

 

[Robertio]

It was the 2021 version of the premiership window, article from the fox footy "experts".

But then in 2022

One last crack for club greats; AFL heavyweights in No Man’s Land: Every side’s flag window

Last crack for club greats; AFL heavyweights in No Man’s Land: Every side’s flag window

www.foxsports.com.au

COLLINGWOOD

Collingwood will have another premiership window later on this decade given the youth that’s starting to emerge, but in terms of their current one, it’s probably open for a maximum of two years. Key to that assessment are the likes of Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom and Jeremy Howe, who are playing very good football still but could start to break down as they get to their mid-30s. It seems as though 2021 was an outlier season and this side is still right among premiership contention. With a good mix of old and young, the Pies should be aiming high in the next year or two before a more long-term approach begins.

Premiership window: 2023-2024

Got any current articals? Sidebottom and Howe have reached their mid 30's. Who will step up and give you the same value as Sidebottom, Howe and Pendlebury and Elliott when they go, you won't have the assets to trade or bring free agents to cover all of them.

 

[Worm4]

There are 21 players on our list who are yet to play 25 AFL games.

Happy for you to give your judgement on which are going to come good and which won't.

Can only comment from what ive seen so far. I dont watch VFL footy enough to pass judgement on those that have yet to debut , or played less than a handful of senior games ( jiath is the exception ive seen enough to make a call)

 

[doppleganger]

Got any current articals?

Didn't you just quote from the 2025 update?

They do it every year, and they are usually just good for a laugh.

End of 2021 - Pies were cooked, window not open until 2026-20

End of 2022 - Pies window now open

Sidebottom and Howe have reached their mid 30's. Who will step up and give you the same value as Sidebottom, Howe and Pendlebury and Elliott when they go, you won't have the assets to trade or bring free agents to cover all of them.

Howe has only played 70% of our games in last 3 seasons, we already used to playing without him.

You yourself think Acres was better than Sidey for two recent seasons, so again not hard to replace a.journeyman.

Elliott will be hard to cover, two more good years from Billy will be important for any short term success for the Pies.

 

[Fadge]

Are you referencing experts on "The Front Bar"?

LOLOL.

A 'one season premiership window...' where we've already won a flag and contended a further two times.

 

[Mynamesinuse]

Not sure if Collingwood supporters believe what they’re posting.

No true supporter can look at that list and say it needs a large injection of long term talent.

 

[doppleganger]

Not sure if Collingwood supporters believe what they’re posting.

Do the footy experts?

Lazy morons have been writing the list off since 2021??

The cliff

No true supporter can look at that list and say it needs a large injection of long term talent.

Yeah, we should be like Essendon and continue to "win" the draft.

Much more important to have "talented" kids over actually having capable senior AFL players on your list.

 

[Mynamesinuse]

Do the footy experts?

Lazy morons have been writing the list off since 2021??

The cliff

Yeah, we should be like Essendon and continue to "win" the draft.

Much more important to have "talented" kids over actually having capable senior AFL players on your list.

Ignoring the draft is ok for a while but with an age profile like Collingwoods it’s telling.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

I think there are plenty of exceptions and many players, both older than 25 and under 25, who have scope for improvement from what they provided the Pies on field in 2025

Which C or B graders will become A graders?

That is the brilliance of list management.

You don't solely need kids to mature (as most people know, most 18 yr old draftees don't make it).

We don't need to rely on having 3 draftees be a success every year - you can add mature senior players to the list.

By the way, who were the three trade targets we missed out on?

But again, which mature players will want to head to the oldest list in the comp if it’s looking like it’s on the decline? And how many will just be solid citizens, which isn’t going to take you up a level or two.

2026 is a year where you list strategy is on a razors edge.

The 3 I referenced were the 3 that Pies fans were telling me in May that they’d take their pick of… Rowell, Richards and LDU.

 

[WillHayward]

Pride cometh before a fall.

A few Pies fans in here sounding a lot like some Eagles fans on Bigfooty circa 2021.

 

[Fadge]

Ignoring the draft is ok for a while but with an age profile like Collingwoods it’s telling.

What has it told us?

 

[Fadge]

Pride cometh before a fall.

A few Pies fans in here sounding a lot like some Eagles fans on Bigfooty circa 2021.

Or Collingwood fans circa 2021.

 

[doppleganger]

Which C or B graders will become A graders?

For 2026, more interest in a couple of proven A graders who were ordinary in 2025 getting back to A grade output.

But again, which mature players will want to head to the oldest list in the comp if it’s looking like it’s on the decline? And how many will just be solid citizens, which isn’t going to take you up a level or two.

Plenty of players would be happy to come play for the biggest club in the land and play with the best player since GAJ.

2026 is a year where you list strategy is on a razors edge.

2026 is where we need a couple of the dozen players on our list who were born 01-04 to step up and become solid B graders.

A test of development to see if it occurs. If they don't it leaves a hole in the list that we will need to fill.

 

[robertg22]

2026 will be a bit of a transition year. Still feel we're good enough to make the 8 (or is it at 10 now?), possibly win a final or two if things go well with injuries. Our main core of players are generally in the 27-31 range now, we'll need to enter a rebuild phase when we lose these guys - Cameron, Moore, De Goey, J Daics, Maynard, Houston, Schultz, Lipinski, Perryman etc. Still a couple of years yet before a big drop off I believe.

There's a few established younger players beyond that group obviously in N Daics, Hill, McCreery, Long, Quaynor, but I do agree with a lot of opposition posters though in that the youngsters beyond that group are completely unproven. What I don't agree with though is that a player's draft position determines their destiny. Some of the best players in the league are late picks, rookie picks, mid season picks. Talent can only take you so far, what matters is how players are developed, just look at the way Geelong turns lesser known players into effective role players.

Would love to see us get more games into the younger, unproven players we've drafted over the past couple of years. Some have been given chances, but need to see more of them in 2026. It's this group that will be vital to replace the 27-31yo group over the next few seasons and if we are to avoid that drop off, their success is the key.

We'll be active in the free agency market over the next couple of years as Pendles/Steele/Howe etc move on - there'll be cap space. I'm also really happy we retained our draft picks over the next couple of years. Whether we go to the draft with them or try to trade and bring players in - I'm not sure. But I don't think Fly will oversee a regime that completely bottoms out to rebuild.

 

[Worm4]

We'll be active in the free agency market over the next couple of years as Pendles/Steele/Howe etc move on - there'll be cap space.

Its been documented that particularly Steel and Pendles are pretty much on the bare minimum playing wage these days, and Howe not much more. The cap space you speak of isnt going to be significant until DeGoey, Maynard, Houston, Schulz all depart. Plus Nicks wage will increase significantly to offset that when his contract is due.

 

[Muddiemoose]

Pride cometh before a fall.

A few Pies fans in here sounding a lot like some Eagles fans on Bigfooty circa 2021.

Tigers fans in 2022 when we lost by under a goal to Brisbane in a final

 

[Chip Scab1]

How old is that artical?

Not only that. But the media are hardly going to be realistic with their opinions on how the Pie will go. It's not in their interest to reduce their potential # of eyeballs viewing their nonsense.

If Collingwood can beat the Kangas, then maybe they'll make the 8. I wouldn't be unconfident in wildcard weekend game against them (if we both can get there).

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

For 2026, more interest in a couple of proven A graders who were ordinary in 2025 getting back to A grade output.

Who?

Plenty of players would be happy to come play for the biggest club in the land and play with the best player since GAJ.

This sounds awfully like what Pies fans were saying in May about LDU, Rowell and Richards.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Pride cometh before a fall.

A few Pies fans in here sounding a lot like some Eagles fans on Bigfooty circa 2021.

Tigers fans in 2022 when we lost by under a goal to Brisbane in a final

Hawks fans in 2019 after finishing top 4.

 

[We_The_West]

Pride cometh before a fall.

A few Pies fans in here sounding a lot like some Eagles fans on Bigfooty circa 2021.

Correct, and everyone witnessed what followed.

Injuries to key senior personnel and no youth coming through really hurt us.

The pies might have a couple of years until the drop off, timing isn't great with Tassie coming in and ruining the draft.

 

[doppleganger]

Who?

DeGoey and Houston the couple of A graders who were poor in 25

This sounds awfully like what Pies fans were saying in May about LDU, Rowell and Richards.

3 players who didn't move?

Pies have never had a problem adding senior plauers, even back in the mid 2010s after we had been up for ages and dropped away we added 10 senior players across 3 season 2014-16 - Crisp, Varcoe, Treloar, WHE, Aish, Howe, Mayne, Greenwood, Wells, Dunn.

8 of the 10 played in the 2018 GF team.

Probably why most thought the cliff had come in 2021 for the Pies, as we had to replace those old guys.

 

[Mynamesinuse]

DeGoey and Houston the couple of A graders who were poor in 25

3 players who didn't move?

Pies have never had a problem adding senior plauers, even back in the mid 2010s after we had been up for ages and dropped away we added 10 senior players across 3 season 2014-16 - Crisp, Varcoe, Treloar, WHE, Aish, Howe, Mayne, Greenwood, Wells, Dunn.

8 of the 10 played in the 2018 GF team.

Probably why most thought the cliff had come in 2021 for the Pies, as we had to replace those old guys.

Yep massive difference you were adding to a core of reasonable aged players . Now those players are either retired or closer to the end than the start.
A player looking for a sustained run of success has far more attractive lists to join.

 

[doppleganger]

Yep massive difference you were adding to a core of reasonable aged players . Now those players are either retired or closer to the end than the start.
A player looking for a sustained run of success has far more attractive lists to join.

Who was our 2015 core?

Swan who was almost done, Pendles and Sidey, a cooked Cloke, injured guys like Reid and solid role players from the 2010 team like Toovey, Blair and Macaffer.

We were a busted team our young Premiership players from 2010 (Thomas, Beams, H.Shaw, O.Brien, Wellingham) left because they didn't like Bucks and the rat pack was done, and veterans like Maxwell, Jolly, Ball were done.

We traded in plenty of the core guys who pushed us to top4 in 18-19 Howe, Crisp, Adams, Treloar, WHE, Varcoe, Greenwood, Mayne.

Then the narrative in 2021 was we were cooked because we were losing the core plus Grundy, Stephenson etc.

It is the same lazy narrative again. Which team hasn't got lots of 1st round draft picks, and say they are in trouble....

Meanwhile Essendon keep "winning" drafts and have lost full of 1st picks, and go nowhere as they are happy being a development club instead of one that actually wants to try and win.

 

[Pleasedontfail11]

Its a real surface level analysis by most non Collingwood supporters. Aging stars and no young top 10 picks apart from Daicos.
Its certainly a possibility that we could crash and burn but it's not the certainty that most are suggesting.

 

[Mynamesinuse]

Its a real surface level analysis by most non Collingwood supporters. Aging stars and no young top 10 picks apart from Daicos.
Its certainly a possibility that we could crash and burn but it's not the certainty that most are suggesting.

Seriously no one other than a few Collingwood supporters sees that group as a bunch of C Grade players.

They can play a role at best but only with everything in Collingwoods favour.