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Burns is a big loss, the rest aren't up to it anymore.

Agreed. I think list age is a rather deceptive thing to look at. The losses of Lonie and Holland will not be felt in terms of preformance of the team as they haven't had an impact over the last couple years anyway. Ben Johnson has been pused out of the best 22 over the course of the year and has not been great for us over the last couple years either. Rhyce whilst having a good year is still replacable and a fringe player. Wakes will be missed in the short term, although Presti playing could ease that.

Burns is the one that will impact us if we lose him. We have no one else who has played that role at that level. O'Bree is good around the clearance, but more with smarts then with grunt. Ditto Pendles. Swanny has been good but we really do need to either recruit a ready made grunt clearance player. Or we will be relying on Stanley (unproven at the level, although I do think he will make it.) and J-Mac (very young and physically not ready) and possibly a first year draftee who will have the same limitations in experince, age and physical development as J-Mac.
 
Burns' future not settled yet.

Burns' future not settled yet

September 17, 2008 - 7:13PM

The AFL future of Collingwood captain Scott Burns will remain uncertain until later this week at least, as he is yet to discuss his intentions with coach Mick Malthouse.

Burns, 33, is weighing up between playing one more season or bowing out on his own terms, having played 264 games since 1995.

The midfielder has reportedly been pursued by at least two rival clubs who want his services as an assistant coach.

All Collingwood players will meet with Malthouse and football chief Geoff Walsh this week or next, but Burns has been given the right to make the final call on his future.

Burns took over the captaincy this year following the retirements of Nathan Buckley and James Clement in 2007, but missed the Magpies' two finals because of a calf injury.

Collingwood confirmed the retirements of veteran defender Shane Wakelin and winger Ryan Lonie.

Aside from Burns, the futures of several other Magpies remain unclear.

Midfielder Brodie Holland and fullback Simon Prestigiacomo will weigh up their futures when they meet with Malthouse, while Alan Didak and Heath and Rhyce Shaw are sweating on decisions following their part in last month's drink-drive fiasco.

Holland, 28, played only eight games in the past two seasons because of injury, while Prestigiacomo, 30, played only two games in 2008 because of foot and shoulder problems.

However, Malthouse said after last Saturday night's defeat to St Kilda in the semi-final, he wanted one of Wakelin or Prestigiacomo to continue given the club's lack of key defenders.

Utility Ben Johnson, who fell out of favour over the last third of the season, is another whose future is not guaranteed.

The Magpies must also decide whether to retain or trade Didak and the Shaw brothers, who were all suspended after a drinking session in early August.

Heath Shaw and Didak did not play again after it was revealed they had lied to the club over Shaw's drink-driving, while Rhyce Shaw was suspended for two games for drinking with the pair beforehand.

Wakelin and Lonie both played their first games for Collingwood in 2001.

Wakelin, 34, joined the Magpies after 94 games for St Kilda, and played a further 158 games in the black and white, for a career tally of 252.

"I'll miss being around the change rooms and the week-to-week routine more than anything," he said on the club's website.

"But I think that hour before the game, the excitement before the game, I will probably miss that the most.

"The build-up, the mental preparation, the excitement and the train trip into the game. I used to really enjoy that."

Lonie, 25, was drafted in 2000 and played 21 games in his debut season, but only five in 2007-08 when he struggled with osteitis pubis, for a career total of 123.

"I've been thinking about it for a little while," he said on the club's website.

"I dislocated my shoulder in the middle of the year, and obviously had a bit of time to think about it from there, and just decided that I've had enough of playing."

Development coach Alan Richardson is also leaving, to take up an assistant coaching role at Essendon.

Richardson worked with the Magpies' young players for three years, but will now have a greater match-day role under Matthew Knights for the Bombers.

Richardson is the second member of Malthouse's coaching staff to leave this year, after Guy McKenna signed as the inaugural coach of the Gold Coast franchise, which will debut in the AFL in 2011.
Doesn't really tell us anything we don't already know. Good to get an update, but it appears the club is going to drag things out a bit.
 

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ON:
Wellingham (elevated) Mid
Macaffer (elevated) Forward
Blease (1st round) Mid
Banner (2nd round) Mid
Roughead (3rd round) Ruck
Lynch (4th round) Key Back
Reed (5th round) Utility
Cousins (PSD) Mid
Thomson (Trade) Mid

OFF:
Burns (Retired)
Wakes (Retired)
Holland (Retired)
Lonie (Retired)
Johnson (Delisted)
Bryan (Delisted)
Egan (Delisted)
Iles (Delisted)
R Shaw (Trade)
 
Maybe it is that crisis point time, when we have to take a slight step backwards in order to be able to compete for a flag in 2-3 years.

If we do lose all those players, and dont gain Cousins, we will have the youngest list competing for the 8.

If we take one step back, and play more debutants next year, 2010 and 2011 may be our realistic shot at a flag, as I still dont see the current list as a flag chance next year.


The first 5 rounds will tell a tale i reckon.

If we are up in the running again, we'd be foolish not to go for it. I mean, add Didak, Shaw, Burns and Rocca to the side and we look fairly dangerous. Good recruiting over summer and landing a name midfielder rounds off the team.

This yera, we unearthed a full back and a few forwards. And we beat the unbeatable.



But if we are out of the running, then playing more debutants is the way to go. We need to learn about Stanley, Cook and Cox as well assuming they are retained. If they are, then 2009 is their last chance to solidify a spot.


But i dont know how much younger we can make our senior side. It was pretty darn young in the finals this year. But if we are out of the running, then much better off coming bottom 4 than 10th or so.


Trade period is big for us i reckon. There are some names floating around that make my mouth water. We are not as far off as people think i reckon. We've come top 8 three years in a row playing so many developing players...so that shouuld really start paying dividends.
 
If we keep delisting any more experienced players we will not challenge for the flag. The likes of Johnson and R. Shaw need to be retained, for depth if anything. With Johnno, people forget he's a quality player when he's playing well, and Rhyce is not a bad player himself.
 
If Burns goes around again and we fluke a relatively injury free year out of Presti I'll be happy enough with the rest of the retirements.
 
Burns on Eagles' wish list

Burns on Eagles wish list
19th September 2008, 9:15 WST

West Coast are preparing to enter the race for Collingwood captain Scott Burns as an assistant coach next year.

Magpie insiders believe Burns will announce his retirement shortly and Eagles coach John Worsfold is expected to hold talks with him this weekend or early next week.

Geelong and Port Adelaide have made significant plays for the 33-year-old. North Melbourne are also keen on talking with the 264-game veteran.

The Eagles are seeking another assistant coach to boost their highpriced football department and will have sufficient financial clout to satisfy Burns should he decide to head interstate.

But should he retire as expected, Collingwood are also in a position to offer him a coaching role, given that assistant Guy McKenna has been appointed inaugural Gold Coast coach and highly regarded development figure Alan Richardson will be at Essendon in 2009.

Brad Scott, also linked with Brisbane following Michael Voss’ appointment earlier this month, is expected to remain at Collingwood.

Burns would top off West Coast’s football department, which this week held a two-day strategic planning meeting where newly appointed strategy and innovations coach Phil Walsh, football chief Neale Daniher and strength and conditioning coach Warren Kofoed were shown around their new surroundings.

Walsh, the mastermind of Port Adelaide’s 2004 premiership, and Kofoed are understood to have impressed with their presentations.

Worsfold has spoken to East Fremantle coach Shane Woewodin and retired Fremantle veteran Shaun McManus, while Subiaco’s premiership-winning coach Scott Watters has also held informal discussions with West Coast.

Meanwhile, the Eagles yesterday completed protracted contract negotiations with impressive 21-year-old forward Ben McKinley.

McKinley, a NAB Rising Star nominee following his five-goal haul in the round-five loss to Port Adelaide, agreed to a new two-year deal that ties him to the club until the end of 2010.

“Ben enjoyed an outstanding year to be our leading goal kicker and we believe he is an important part of our future,” West Coast’s football operations general manager Steve Woodhouse said.

“To do that in his first full season of senior football was a terrific achievement and something on which we believe he can build.”

McKinley kicked 42 goals in 18 matches, including a season-high seven in the round-19 victory over Essendon.

DIGBY BEACHAM
:(

I hope that the likely retirement of Holland and possible retirement of Burns doesn't lead to further dud retention, such as we've seen in past seasons. The thought of Fraser as captain for 2009 is a frightening one for me.

We have to make a minimum of five retirements/delistings given we're supposedly elevating two rookies, those two fellas would put us on four already.

I don't want Monty to go! :(
 
Burns on Eagles' wish list


:(

I hope that the likely retirement of Holland and possible retirement of Burns doesn't lead to further dud retention, such as we've seen in past seasons. The thought of Fraser as captain for 2009 is a frightening one for me.

We have to make a minimum of five retirements/delistings given we're supposedly elevating two rookies, those two fellas would put us on four already.

I don't want Monty to go! :(

It doesn't look good does it? All media reports are indicating he will retire.

Let's hope this is one of the many reports they get wrong :D
 
The youngest list in the AFL?

The 2009 Pies must surely be the youngest team in the league and by a reasonable margin, I would have thought. Perhaps Freo will rival us, given all of their retirements? Rocca, Presti, O'Bree and Lockyer are all of pension age but the rest are barely old enough to shave. Its going to be an exciting and spectacularly inconsistent season, I reckon.

Now that I think of it, the Pies in 2010 will look even younger, with the foursome mentioned above all signing off. Interesting times!
 

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Re: The youngest list in the AFL?

Without the leadership of Bucks, Clement, Lica, Wakes and Brunsy we may look like bunnies caught in the headlights at times in 2009. Best to go into the new year with low expectations and hope for a pleasant surprise. A "Development Year".
 
Re: The youngest list in the AFL?

Just cleaning out the dead wood boys. Next on the list should be Johnson.

Then I'd think about finishing up there.
 
Re: The youngest list in the AFL?

The 2009 Pies must surely be the youngest team in the league and by a reasonable margin, I would have thought. Perhaps Freo will rival us, given all of their retirements? Rocca, Presti, O'Bree and Lockyer are all of pension age but the rest are barely old enough to shave. Its going to be an exciting and spectacularly inconsistent season, I reckon.

Now that I think of it, the Pies in 2010 will look even younger, with the foursome mentioned above all signing off. Interesting times!

What about Melbourne?

Holland, Neitz, White, Yze all gone. Maybe
 

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Re: The youngest list in the AFL?

List age an overrated stat. Playing 22 age is significant beyond that it doesn't matter. I think there are a couple list younger then ours but many of them still have older players in the drivers seat. We probably don't have the youngest list. We would have one of the youngest starting 22's and our younger players are in most cases our best players (exception of Dids Swan and Davis)

As Didaka has said none of the players cleared this year have been significant contributers over the past couple years other then Burns. Johnson and R Shaw should be looked at too.
 
Re: The youngest list in the AFL?

Without the leadership of Bucks, Clement, Lica, Wakes and Brunsy we may look like bunnies caught in the headlights at times in 2009. Best to go into the new year with low expectations and hope for a pleasant surprise. A "Development Year".

I dunno - most of our list now have played more than 2 finals each and more than 5 of them have 2 or more seasons. It's only J-Mac, Dawes, JA, Stanners and Cookie who have less than 1 season's worth of AFL-level behind them.

Given that Rusling, Dids, Heater and Rocca (god willing) are all back, that really only looks like 1 or 2 players at any given time are 'green'.

Young in age, maybe, but these guys have been thrown into games with crowds regularly over 50K+ and some with finals-like atmospheres. The only missing piece we have now is the 'familiarity' with each others' game plans and playing behaviours and I reckon that will smooth out over the pre-season as well.

I actually thought _this_ was our development year (or at least the way it turned out) and we made it to the Semis!
 
Re: The youngest list in the AFL?

All 3 decisions are on the money. Egan was a waste of a pic at 10!!! I am sure they will trade R.Shaw come Oct!
 
Re: The youngest list in the AFL?

It's a good position to be in having a young side...especially with GC17's draft picks in the future. It's teams like North and Saints that'll be stuffed in the years to come, especially the former team.
 

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