Do Collingwood need to enter a rebuild phase?

[HeathySure]

One area where Nick is individually outstanding is appealing for free kicks.

Will Ashcroft 2025 Frees For 34 Frees Against 12..
Nick Daicos 2025 Frees For 42 Frees Agianst 35...

Thats a massive difference ... why ?

 

[Corn Cobbers]

One area where Nick is individually outstanding is appealing for free kicks.

So were guys like Ablett snr, Leigh Matthews and Carey

Esteemed company

 

[Corn Cobbers]

Will Ashcroft 2025 Frees For 34 Frees Against 12..
Nick Daicos 2025 Frees For 42 Frees Agianst 35...

Thats a massive difference ... why ?

Career totals:

Will 69ff 19fa
Levi 28ff 4fa
Daics 136ff 102fa

Are the Ashcrofts the fairest brothers in history?

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

For the sake of the debate, let's accept this contention is true.
Does it then mean Pies can't win the flag?

I’d say it’s unlikely they can win the flag on late 2025 form and the potential for improvement in their list(which is why the lack of under 25’s matter) is a big part of this.

 

[Fadge]

For those too scared to answer my earlier question about top 5 finishes in major awards since 2023, here is the answer:
9 - Daicos.
6 - Bontempelli.
Has anyone else had more than 3?

That is why Daicos is clearly #1, and Bont clearly #2 in that timeframe.

 

[Fadge]

He wins sfa of them. Generally comes 2nd or 3rd. Consistent - yes. Individually outstanding - not so much

I mean, he has won two of them in that timeframe.

Has anyone won more than 2 in the same timeframe?

2 - Daicos
2 - Bont
1 - Butters
1 - Neale
1 - Cripps
1 - Anderson
1 - Rowell
1 - Smith

 

[Carringbush2010]

Collingwood have the worst under 25 talent in the league.

We don't know that yet.

 

[Carringbush2010]

I’d say it’s unlikely they can win the flag on late 2025 form and the potential for improvement in their list(which is why the lack of under 25’s matter) is a big part of this.

• This assumes the Pies late 2025 was its best, it wasn't.
• It also assumes that the under 25s are going to guaranteed to be duds, that's an unknown.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

We don't know that yet.

We’d know that.

Who has worse?

 

[Mynamesinuse]

We’d know that.

Who has worse?

A look at a history of their drafting over the last ten years is enough evidence.

 

[Robroy22]

A look at a history of their drafting over the last ten years is enough evidence.

Sometimes I just don't know how we survive............or play finals

 

[Carringbush2010]

We’d know that.

Who has worse?

How do you know that?

 

[Carringbush2010]

Sometimes I just don't know how we survive............or play finals

Or win flags.

 

[Mynamesinuse]

Sometimes I just don't know how we survive............or play finals

Father sons x 3
Academy pick
Free agency while contending

 

[Robroy22]

Father sons x 3
Academy pick
Free agency while contending

More coming

 

[THE_GUN]

Why do you keep talking about WCE in a thread about Collingwood?

Desperate for attention?

Just find it difficult to understand a supporter that thinks his 1 win a season team is going to be better than the pies even after 4 years in a rebuild. Its pretty funny to see an eagles supporter giving negative opinions on the pies but so upbeat about the team that could only manage 1 win and selected the pies reject player.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

• This assumes the Pies late 2025 was its best, it wasn't.
• It also assumes that the under 25s are going to guaranteed to be duds, that's an unknown.

Here’s what Joe Public thinks.

Betting market not overly bullish about a preliminary finalist in the Pies with them at $15 and 7 sides ahead of them at this stage

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

How do you know that?

You’ve got almost none with any exposed form other than Daicos and Long(who’s likely peaked).
Nick is your sole top 10 pick under the age of 25 on your list.
Of all the under 25’s on your list taken in the National draft, they average out at Pick 37 because of how many are 3rd and 4th rounders.


Tell me who has a worse group of under 25’s to take their team forward?

 

[Mynamesinuse]

More coming

Tom Maguanne?

 

[doppleganger]

We don't know that yet.

Na, it is fact if you just look at draft picks (which is what the main focus).

As it is the basic position that if you are an 18 yr old kid who is a top 10 pick you will be a star in 5 years time.

Completely ignoring that the smart and successful clubs have actually built their list through drafting of "mature" players already in their 20s who had been overlooked or primarily late or even rookie draft picks.

Blicavs, Stewart, J.Henry, Z.Guthrie, Miers, Atkins, Close, Stengle, Dempsey, Humphries, Mannagh, Mullin, Martin

More than half of the Cats GF team this year would be considered poor talent by the nuffies who think you need to fill your list with 18 yr old 1st round picks who have the "talent".

 

[doppleganger]

Betting market not overly bullish about a preliminary finalist in the Pies with them at $15 and 7 sides ahead of them at this stage

So not much different to heading into 2025, where TAB had us behind - BL, Haw, Carl, Syd, GWS and Geel

Or 2023 where we were behind - Geel, Melb, Carl, Syd, BL, Rich

At least a bit different to start of 2022 where Pies were a 67-1 shot (as the cliff had come).

 

[Gavin Excell]

Na, it is fact if you just look at draft picks (which is what the main focus).

As it is the basic position that if you are an 18 yr old kid who is a top 10 pick you will be a star in 5 years time.

Completely ignoring that the smart and successful clubs have actually built their list through drafting of "mature" players already in their 20s who had been overlooked or primarily late or even rookie draft picks.

Blicavs, Stewart, J.Henry, Z.Guthrie, Miers, Atkins, Close, Stengle, Dempsey, Humphries, Mannagh, Mullin, Martin

More than half of the Cats GF team this year would be considered poor talent by the nuffies who think you need to fill your list with 18 yr old 1st round picks who have the "talent".

Had a number of Cat B rookies and 2nd and 3rd rounders in team
Although got exposed by the gilt edged Lions midfield made up of high end picks/FS

 

[bzparkes]

Just find it difficult to understand a supporter that thinks his 1 win a season team is going to be better than the pies even after 4 years in a rebuild. Its pretty funny to see an eagles supporter giving negative opinions on the pies but so upbeat about the team that could only manage 1 win and selected the pies reject player.

Nobody said that(unless you can point me to someone who did).

This is a thread about Collingwood, not WCE. Plenty of other threads to ply your bullshit in.

Stop stinking it up.

Either talk about Collingwood, or leave.

 

[doppleganger]

Had a number of Cat B rookies and 2nd and 3rd rounders in team
Although got exposed by the gilt edged Lions midfield made up of high end picks/FS

Yeah Lions got the better of you in the GF, after your mob got em in the QF.

The point being that you don't need to completely gut your list and spend many years in bottom 4 acquiring numerous top 10 draft picks to build a list to contend for premierships.

Strong clubs evolve the list over time, the multiple years in bottom 4 (and a decade outside of finals) is no guarantee to future success.

And until the rookies or mature players actually perform, most are written off as lacking talent compared to the top 10 picks and 18 yr olds drafted earlier than them.

But hey, happy to have WC, Ess (StK) and Carl fans tell us how we are stuffed and should have been hitting the draft years ago.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

So not much different to heading into 2025, where TAB had us behind - BL, Haw, Carl, Syd, GWS and Geel

Or 2023 where we were behind - Geel, Melb, Carl, Syd, BL, Rich

At least a bit different to start of 2022 where Pies were a 67-1 shot (as the cliff had come).

Well actually, there’s a clear trend, and you seem to be completely overlooking it.

As pointed out previously, in 2020 the top six coaches vote winners on your list were between the ages of 25 and 27. This is simply not the case heading into 2026 and agencies have adjusted accordingly.

Prior to 2024 season Collingwood were favourites to win the flag, they missed the finals.

In the preseason of 2025 Collingwood were between the 4th and 6th line of betting. About right as it turns out.

Heading into 2026 Collingwood are on the 8th line of betting with 3 of the big 4 betting agencies.



They could of course buck the trend, but again, where’s the crew of players hitting their peak like in 2021 in order for this to happen? It’s almost non-existent.

Instead, I’m reading that a bunch of 3rd and 4th round picks who’ve barely played could be the difference, and starve off a further drop off… which in all likelihood is deluded.