Which side is Collingwood's closest..

[The Panther]

Challenger to the 2011 Flag.

Geelong - Lost it's best player in Ablett. No coach at present & you would think they have to alter their gameplan.

Saint Kilda - IMV the closest challenger to Collingwood. Have lost their number 1 ruckman & their bottom 6 players aren't of the level to be premiership players.

WB - Have lost Johnson, Eagleton & Harbrow. Sherman a good addition, still too reliant on Hall.

Hawthorn - Have a quality Top 6 but structurally, they don't have a quality ruckman & KPP.

Who can beat Collingwood in 2011?

 

[Invigoration]

Probably Melbourne, everyone else is going backwards

 

[Jimi]

Melbourne was 1 Liam Jurrah away from beating the Pies twice this year Although Collingwood's woeful accuracy kept us in the QB game.

 

[Higs]

FFS, who is "Saint" Kilda?

 

[collingwood1992]

Melbourne was 1 Liam Jurrah away from beating the Pies twice this year Although Collingwood's woeful accuracy kept us in the QB game.

Didak?

 

[Furn]

i went Hawks of course but you need a few more options Freo for example.

 

[STC]

Expect Melbourne, Freo, North, Carlton & Port to be the big movers this year. Hawthorn also potential to improve. Geelong and St Kilda on their day still capable of it. Can't see the Dogs going anywhere but backwards though.

 

[The Panther]

Despite the calls of Bradbury, neither were Hawthorn.

Hawthorn lost Dew, Crawford, Croad & Campbell from that premiership side. Unlike Collingwood, it can be seen as a "fluke" given they participated in the finals once before 2008.

Conversely, Collingwood have been a Top 4 side since 2007.

 

[Black Flag]

i expect all the teams the op mentioned to go backwards next year. the question is if collingwood will join them. i think they will.

the bottom half of this years 8 will improve, creating an incredibly even top half of the ladder.

a flag is there for the taking next year.

 

[chestbrah]

Shit poster, shit thread. Who says Collingwood won't do a Hawthorn and fall arse backwards at an alarming rate?

Are you mad we won the premiership?

 

[Tommy D]

Melbourne was 1 Liam Jurrah away from beating the Pies twice this year Although Collingwood's woeful accuracy kept us in the QB game.

We were 1 Petterd mark away in the first one. The second one, we were lucky to get the draw. The Pies dominated that game, yet couldn't find the win.

Hawks for me. They could've done some damage had they got past Freo in week 1 of the finals.

 

[Jesse Custer]

Collingwood to win the next 15 flags... That's what you want to hear OP isn't it?

Seriously though, wouldn't be surprised the Pies fall away next year. Its very hard staying up at the top. Even harder for a young list.

 

[Scodog10]

Contrary to what many think I believe the dogs will be the team to watch out for next year, they were probably a fit Cooney and a match fit Morris away from beating the Saints in that Prelim which they lead at half time.

Ward will be better next year as will Grant, Wood, Roughead and Higgins. Wallis looks like the type that could come in and make an immediate impact ala Sidebottom. Sherman is a more than adequate replacement for Johnson, considering what they got out of him this year. Also I don't think Gilbee, Hahn and Gia are finished yet despite there questionable performances in the 2010 finals.

The only queries I have on them are can Hall stay up for another season? and can they replace Harbrow?

 

[Stifler's mom]

Unless the Pies have an ordinary run with injuries, they will be there on GF day IMO.

Main danger will still be the Saints IF they have any quality depth outside their starting 22 in the GF this year.

 

[FAIRANDBALANCED]

so you rate carlton above both geelong and freo?

Yes for next season i do. round 22, its not like you killed them mate. Carlton are getting better. If Waite and Henderson stand up and Bower, Russell and Jamison can have solid seasons I really think their midfield could explode very soon.

Carlton are young and improving, you know Judd will be good, Kreuzer should be back to help out an improving Warnock, and Murphy should be better with a full preseason.
I think (though hoping the opposite coz I really like guys like Milburn and Corey) Geelong will drop off away from home. THey'll still win down at the cattery but will find it much harder at the G and interstate.

On Freo, I think there are a fair few holes in the team.
No real big ball winners through the middle. Mundy, Pavlich and Hill are all A graders and great, but I don't see much behind them. Barlow has to be a big question mark for the first 6-12 rounds and Palmer was a bit disappointing.
McPharlin is now the number one key defender and he is far from certain to play the whole season.
Sandilands is just about the most important player in the league, but honestly, if he is out, I think Freo is a bottom 8 side.
I could definitely see the Dockers missing out on the finals next year.
What talent am I missing that makes you so certain of a high finish??

 

[RedWhite&Blue]

Expect Melbourne, Freo, North, Carlton & Port to be the big movers this year. Hawthorn also potential to improve. Geelong and St Kilda on their day still capable of it. Can't see the Dogs going anywhere but backwards though.

People say that the dogs will go backwards because they have lost Johnno, Aker and Eagle when it was these guys that were holding the team back this year. Obviously played a year too long and were a liability on the field. Rather than suffer from the loss of the dead wood they should only get better. Look for them to be right up there in 2011.

 

[Schulzenfest]

I honestly find it hard to see any team other than Collingwood fielding a premiership quality team next year. 119 could be in jeopardy, the second best team (whoever that is) is daylight behind them.

 

[c00lcat]

I honestly find it hard to see any team other than Collingwood fielding a premiership quality team next year. 119 could be in jeopardy, the second best team (whoever that is) is daylight behind them.

keep dreaming, some records just aren't meant to be broken

 

[c00lcat]

Yes for next season i do. round 22, its not like you killed them mate. Carlton are getting better. If Waite and Henderson stand up and Bower, Russell and Jamison can have solid seasons I really think their midfield could explode very soon.

Carlton are young and improving, you know Judd will be good, Kreuzer should be back to help out an improving Warnock, and Murphy should be better with a full preseason.
I think (though hoping the opposite coz I really like guys like Milburn and Corey) Geelong will drop off away from home. THey'll still win down at the cattery but will find it much harder at the G and interstate.

On Freo, I think there are a fair few holes in the team.
No real big ball winners through the middle. Mundy, Pavlich and Hill are all A graders and great, but I don't see much behind them. Barlow has to be a big question mark for the first 6-12 rounds and Palmer was a bit disappointing.
McPharlin is now the number one key defender and he is far from certain to play the whole season.
Sandilands is just about the most important player in the league, but honestly, if he is out, I think Freo is a bottom 8 side.
I could definitely see the Dockers missing out on the finals next year.
What talent am I missing that makes you so certain of a high finish??

To be honest i actually agree with most of what you've written so far. To cut to the chase though i think you've underrated geelong and overrated carlton a bit, although i could see carlton having a big year i just dont think they will be a challenger yet. i think freo will actually finish 5-8 next year. but i think/hope we should be gaining some momentum towards the end of the year with barlow hopefully back to his best - he makes such a difference. also think you're spot on with Sandi, we'd be fighting for the last spot in the 8 without him

 

[The Panther]

the second best team (whoever that is) is daylight behind them.

Of the "Premiership contenders", Geelong have lost their best player. Despite Geelong fans saying he isn't a "loss", it is a clear hole they will have trouble replacing.

Saint Kilda's bottom 6 have been exposed 2 times (you could argue 3) that they aren't premiership quality.

Conversely, Collingwood have added an AA quality player in Tarrant & the best player outside the AFL system in Krakouer. They have already improved.

 

[Bay Pie]

Dogs will be there again. Callan Ward missed a big chnnk of the season as did Higgins and Cooney missed the finals.

They'll miss Harbrow and Sherman is a downgrade on him, but the top 3 gives them that speed around the contest and outside ability.

Dogs will be top 4 again.

The Dees are my smoky to jump to top 4.

 

[Hodgepodge]

Hawthorn are a bogey side for Collingwood, although the Pies did smash them earlier in the season when they were playing very ordinarily.

 

[Scaley mate #4]

Poll now closed, but Geelong by a mile.

Just watch them vent anger and revenge at the knocks they have had in recent weeks.THE CRITICS SHOUTING NO ABLETT, NO THOMPSON, NO GEELONG might just be eating a bit of humble pie next September.

Loads of talent in their depth waiting for a chance to prove themselves.

I think the cats are the most underrated for 2011.

 

[chesson]

we won the premiership?

hahaha we joined in Oct 2010.

 

[Bay Pie]

Hawthorn are a bogey side for Collingwood, although the Pies did smash them earlier in the season when they were playing very ordinarily.

You were HP but that was until we learned to beat the cluster. You did get us in a game we had nothing to play for and the excitement and looks on your players and coaches faces after that round 22 game, shows it meant alot to Hawthorn.