Collingwood is in a rebuilding phase. They have managed to squeeze O'Bree Lockyer Medhurst Fraser out of their best 22, as well as Anthony who kicked 50 goals for them in the previous year, and other players like Davis Goldsack and Wood have all spend time in the seconds. Presti and Dick have both missed a lot of games.
They have brought in (apart from Jolly and Ball), Reid, N Brown, Macaffer, Blair Wellingham and Dawes into the side, as well as second year players Beams and Sidebottom, and the revitalised Leigh Brown.
Anybody who would have predicted the major structural change to Collingwoods best 22 - in particular, the spine - would result in in a top spot result and an easy path into a PF would have been accused of having rocks in their heads.
No other top four side has gone through as much structural change as Collingwood this year. The Dogs have brought in Grant and Hall. The Saints lost Ball and gained Peake. Geelong are pretty much unchanged.
There is pressure on Collingwood because you have to grab your opportunies when you can. But medium term Collingwood has the brightest future of any of the other top four sides.
They have brought in (apart from Jolly and Ball), Reid, N Brown, Macaffer, Blair Wellingham and Dawes into the side, as well as second year players Beams and Sidebottom, and the revitalised Leigh Brown.
Anybody who would have predicted the major structural change to Collingwoods best 22 - in particular, the spine - would result in in a top spot result and an easy path into a PF would have been accused of having rocks in their heads.
No other top four side has gone through as much structural change as Collingwood this year. The Dogs have brought in Grant and Hall. The Saints lost Ball and gained Peake. Geelong are pretty much unchanged.
There is pressure on Collingwood because you have to grab your opportunies when you can. But medium term Collingwood has the brightest future of any of the other top four sides.
