Do Collingwood need to enter a rebuild phase?

[Robroy22]

I’m not sure they understand players like Pendles Sidebottom Howe Crisp Elliot aren’t easily replaced.

The only one on that list that we haven't played without is Jack Crisp. For goodness sake, Billy has missed entire seasons, as has Howe. They have all been great players and we love them, but we've been forced to play plenty of times without them all already and have planned on their apparent decline in advance.

Will their replacements be all time club legends? Maybe not, but we've done this all before. We replaced a best and fairest ruckman with a much cheaper version who developed into a best and fairest winner himself. We've replaced a premiership full back lost to concussion with a bloke playing in the SA seconds, when JDG went down McCreery and Long took over, when we had no key forwards we played a VFA fullback as our CHF and a lanky, loud American import as our FF. Our team runs on system, big name personel might look better on paper but we've got plenty of well drilled replacements waiting for their chance as well.

"Look well into thy self"

 

[Mynamesinuse]

The only one on that list that we haven't played without is Jack Crisp. For goodness sake, Billy has missed entire seasons, as has Howe. They have all been great players and we love them, but we've been forced to play plenty of times without them all already and have planned on their apparent decline in advance.

Will their replacements be all time club legends? Maybe not, but we've done this all before. We replaced a best and fairest ruckman with a much cheaper version who developed into a best and fairest winner himself. We've replaced a premiership full back lost to concussion with a bloke playing in the SA seconds, when JDG went down McCreery and Long took over, when we had no key forwards we played a VFA fullback as our CHF and a lanky, loud American import as our FF. Our team runs on system, big name personel might look better on paper but we've got plenty of well drilled replacements waiting for their chance as well.

"Look well into thy self"

As I posted above I don’t think you appreciate the importance of them.

 

[Robroy22]

As I posted above I don’t think you appreciate the importance of them.

Oh well if the auricle has spoken.....

 

[Mynamesinuse]

Oh well if the auricle has spoken.....

Ok do you think you win all of those close wins without all of them in the one side?

 

[Corn Cobbers]

Ok do you think you win all of those close wins without all of them in the one side?

Sidey and Pendles definitely got us over the line v your Saints in 2010 and won't be easily replaced

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Is that right?

So if we have a similar year to 2025 where we finish top 4, contend for the flag, but just fall short, that proves we should have thrown the baby out with the bathwater, and gone into rebuild mode in the hope we might be in a position to contend again in another 5, or 8, or 10 years?

Nah.

I want my team to do everything possible to contend as often as they can.

Yes, if you contend for a top 4 spot and then just make up the number it will show many of your supporters(not you because you’re a fundy) that the window has been missed and you’re late with the decision to rebuild… and right when Tassie will be vacuuming up picks and kids.