Collingwood 2006 Review
By Lonie_from_50
Coming off consecutive bottom four placings, Collingwood showed that the excuses from the poor results, were appropriate. I am not a fan of excuses, however their was logic in saying our poor form in seasons 2004-05, despite missing our chances at the top and looking at a development phase. Key players missed in those years and with a fresh and healthy team, it seemed that all Collingwood fans could see a better finish in 2006.
Collingwood finished 5th in the home and away season, and were a dominant side during the year, being placed in the top four between rounds 3 and 14. It wasn't just our big name players who had recovered from injuries, it was the improvement of our second and third tier players, and the impact from rotations, implemented by coach Mick Malthouse.
Full seasons from our most vital players, in Anthony Rocca, Nathan Buckley, Alan Didak, Chris Tarrant and Josh Fraser was that justification that those players missing in the poor period was a cause of the result. Between the five of them, only five games were missed. Rocca played the majority at full forward after his achillies injury, kicking his best return, 55 goals, while Alan Didak had his most productive season, having 396 disposals, kicking 41 goals and rewarded with All-Australian selection. Nathan Buckley played the majority of his time on the ground at half-forward, where he was, as usual, the clubs most effective player (using Champion Data), and had a return of 466 disposals and kicking 26 goals. Chris Tarrant may have had a season he would like to forget, thanks to the off-field dillemas and form issues, however he still kicked 36 goals and took 151 marks. Josh Fraser, our most important player, coming off only five games in 2005, played all 23 games, and had an impact in every one of them. He played as a ruckman in each of the 23 games, something that wasn't highly expected at the start of the season, and easily had his best return, 398 touches, 170 marks and 341 hitouts.
Not only was it the presence of the important players, it was the improvement of others, who established a name for themselves. Dane Swan became the AFL's number one impact player, and maybe even the league's most improved. He played 74% game-time, and still averaged over 23 disposals, and supplied some goalkicking power in the first half of the season. Heath Shaw was in his third year at the club, and coming off 6 consecutive games in his debut season, he played every game (22) after being a late replacement in Round 2. He had 16 games with 18 or more disposals (finishing with 448 for the year), showing his consistency off the back-line, and his poise, toe, courage and football brain were on show in each and every game. Shaw was awarded a NAB Rising Star nomination in Round 5, and came third in the final votes. Ryan Lonie went a step further with a great start to the season, as he found the ball in a make or break season, playing 22 games, while Leon Davis also had a good year when he needed it, kicking 23 goals before breaking his ankle/fibula. Chris Egan also had a fantastic end to the season, showing why he was a first-round draft pick.
The youngsters also provided great signs. Dale Thomas was fantastic, with his debut a ripper and ANZAC Day even better, and in both games took a hanger. He showed he was a worthy no.2 draft pick, thanks to his flash and brilliance. Scott Pendlebury also showed us his natural talent in his 9 appearances. Quick man Sean Rusling made an impressive return late in the season also, with the football public talking him up as one of the quickest forwards in a long time. A shoulder injury delayed his start, but showed us his capabilities. Brazilian Harry O'Brien was promoted early for Rusling, and played several games before being demoted back when Rusling returned. His ability to keep his feet and improve each minute he played was good to see.
Mick Malthouse showed that his slow midfield may have been slow, but the problem could be fixed. Rotations in the midfield saw the older guys have impacts on the ball. Paul Licuria, Shane O'Bree and Scott Burns were huge impact players in the guts, all being ball magnets, and using their time wisely. The backline was also very solid with the more experienced players. James Clement and Simon Prestigiacomo were both fantastic all year, with Clement a controversial miss in the All-Australian team while Presti was in the top three spoilers in the league. Ben Johnson and Tarkyn Lockyer were also quite valuable in the defence, playing different roles. Johnson was doing what he does best, playing as a running back flanker, while Lockyer had a solid start to the year playing as a defensive backman, before finishing on a sour note.
The Pies had a great first half to the season, but broke down mid-season, losing 4 in 5 games, including 3 eight goal thumpings and a loss to Fremantle at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and a month later, losing to 16th placed Essendon. But their were some highs, with the Pies beating rival Brisbane Lions and also reigning premiers Sydney on their home soil, and the Pies won against Port Adelaide and Carlton twice in the season, which for both cases was the first time the club has done so.
Collingwood had a high membership once again, and it's attendance figures truly showed that. Average crowds of 52,833 for home games and pulling 53,020 on average to away games, aswell as a Qualifying Final crowd of 84,284 was something talked about during the year. The Pies won infront of 91,234 on ANZAC Day, and played in six consecutive games of 54,000 or more between rounds 8 and 13.
Year in Numbers
Kicks: Ben Johnson 374
H'balls: Shane O'Bree 243
Disposals: Ben Johnson 531
Inside 50's: Ben Johnson 116
Marks: Josh Fraser 170
Clearances: Shane O'Bree 108
Clangers: Ben Johnson and Nathan Buckley 64
Frees For: Josh Fraser 34
Frees Ag: Anthony Rocca 25
Tackles: Shane O'Bree 84
Goals: Anthony Rocca 55
Hitouts: Josh Fraser 341
Time on Ground (mins): James Clement 2551
Ranking Points
Nathan Buckley 2258
Heath Shaw 2210
Tarkyn Lockyer 2152
Josh Fraser 2083
Ben Johnson 2072
Lonie's Top Six
1. Alan Didak
2. Ben Johnson
3. Heath Shaw
4. Dane Swan
5. James Clement
6. Josh Fraser
By Lonie_from_50
Coming off consecutive bottom four placings, Collingwood showed that the excuses from the poor results, were appropriate. I am not a fan of excuses, however their was logic in saying our poor form in seasons 2004-05, despite missing our chances at the top and looking at a development phase. Key players missed in those years and with a fresh and healthy team, it seemed that all Collingwood fans could see a better finish in 2006.
Collingwood finished 5th in the home and away season, and were a dominant side during the year, being placed in the top four between rounds 3 and 14. It wasn't just our big name players who had recovered from injuries, it was the improvement of our second and third tier players, and the impact from rotations, implemented by coach Mick Malthouse.
Full seasons from our most vital players, in Anthony Rocca, Nathan Buckley, Alan Didak, Chris Tarrant and Josh Fraser was that justification that those players missing in the poor period was a cause of the result. Between the five of them, only five games were missed. Rocca played the majority at full forward after his achillies injury, kicking his best return, 55 goals, while Alan Didak had his most productive season, having 396 disposals, kicking 41 goals and rewarded with All-Australian selection. Nathan Buckley played the majority of his time on the ground at half-forward, where he was, as usual, the clubs most effective player (using Champion Data), and had a return of 466 disposals and kicking 26 goals. Chris Tarrant may have had a season he would like to forget, thanks to the off-field dillemas and form issues, however he still kicked 36 goals and took 151 marks. Josh Fraser, our most important player, coming off only five games in 2005, played all 23 games, and had an impact in every one of them. He played as a ruckman in each of the 23 games, something that wasn't highly expected at the start of the season, and easily had his best return, 398 touches, 170 marks and 341 hitouts.
Not only was it the presence of the important players, it was the improvement of others, who established a name for themselves. Dane Swan became the AFL's number one impact player, and maybe even the league's most improved. He played 74% game-time, and still averaged over 23 disposals, and supplied some goalkicking power in the first half of the season. Heath Shaw was in his third year at the club, and coming off 6 consecutive games in his debut season, he played every game (22) after being a late replacement in Round 2. He had 16 games with 18 or more disposals (finishing with 448 for the year), showing his consistency off the back-line, and his poise, toe, courage and football brain were on show in each and every game. Shaw was awarded a NAB Rising Star nomination in Round 5, and came third in the final votes. Ryan Lonie went a step further with a great start to the season, as he found the ball in a make or break season, playing 22 games, while Leon Davis also had a good year when he needed it, kicking 23 goals before breaking his ankle/fibula. Chris Egan also had a fantastic end to the season, showing why he was a first-round draft pick.
The youngsters also provided great signs. Dale Thomas was fantastic, with his debut a ripper and ANZAC Day even better, and in both games took a hanger. He showed he was a worthy no.2 draft pick, thanks to his flash and brilliance. Scott Pendlebury also showed us his natural talent in his 9 appearances. Quick man Sean Rusling made an impressive return late in the season also, with the football public talking him up as one of the quickest forwards in a long time. A shoulder injury delayed his start, but showed us his capabilities. Brazilian Harry O'Brien was promoted early for Rusling, and played several games before being demoted back when Rusling returned. His ability to keep his feet and improve each minute he played was good to see.
Mick Malthouse showed that his slow midfield may have been slow, but the problem could be fixed. Rotations in the midfield saw the older guys have impacts on the ball. Paul Licuria, Shane O'Bree and Scott Burns were huge impact players in the guts, all being ball magnets, and using their time wisely. The backline was also very solid with the more experienced players. James Clement and Simon Prestigiacomo were both fantastic all year, with Clement a controversial miss in the All-Australian team while Presti was in the top three spoilers in the league. Ben Johnson and Tarkyn Lockyer were also quite valuable in the defence, playing different roles. Johnson was doing what he does best, playing as a running back flanker, while Lockyer had a solid start to the year playing as a defensive backman, before finishing on a sour note.
The Pies had a great first half to the season, but broke down mid-season, losing 4 in 5 games, including 3 eight goal thumpings and a loss to Fremantle at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and a month later, losing to 16th placed Essendon. But their were some highs, with the Pies beating rival Brisbane Lions and also reigning premiers Sydney on their home soil, and the Pies won against Port Adelaide and Carlton twice in the season, which for both cases was the first time the club has done so.
Collingwood had a high membership once again, and it's attendance figures truly showed that. Average crowds of 52,833 for home games and pulling 53,020 on average to away games, aswell as a Qualifying Final crowd of 84,284 was something talked about during the year. The Pies won infront of 91,234 on ANZAC Day, and played in six consecutive games of 54,000 or more between rounds 8 and 13.
Year in Numbers
Kicks: Ben Johnson 374
H'balls: Shane O'Bree 243
Disposals: Ben Johnson 531
Inside 50's: Ben Johnson 116
Marks: Josh Fraser 170
Clearances: Shane O'Bree 108
Clangers: Ben Johnson and Nathan Buckley 64
Frees For: Josh Fraser 34
Frees Ag: Anthony Rocca 25
Tackles: Shane O'Bree 84
Goals: Anthony Rocca 55
Hitouts: Josh Fraser 341
Time on Ground (mins): James Clement 2551
Ranking Points
Nathan Buckley 2258
Heath Shaw 2210
Tarkyn Lockyer 2152
Josh Fraser 2083
Ben Johnson 2072
Lonie's Top Six
1. Alan Didak
2. Ben Johnson
3. Heath Shaw
4. Dane Swan
5. James Clement
6. Josh Fraser
