Collingwood trade report card: Rating every player who has arrived and left the Pies in Nathan Buckley era
DALE Thomas sent a dagger through Collingwood as Chris Mayne struggled in the VFL. But is that the whole story? We rate every player who has left and arrived at the Pies in the Nathan Buckley era.
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COLLINGWOOD’S list management team would have choked on their pies when Dale Thomas crashed the Magpies’ 125th anniversary celebrations.
As the former Magpies favourite celebrated, recruit Chris Mayne was struggling for form in the VFL and the Pies’ other big-name pre-season recruit, Daniel Wells, was a late withdrawal before the disappointing loss to the Blues.
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Meanwhile, Marley Williams helped North Melbourne to a huge upset against Adelaide in Tasmania and Jarrod Witts played possibly his best game since joining Gold Coast.
The story doesn’t read well: Collingwood’s season is in a big hole as players who have left the club in the Buckley years flourish. But is it that simple?
We all know how Thomas’s Carlton career has unfolded, with the Blues this week agreeing to remove a controversial trigger clause in his contract in a bid to end speculation about his future.
What about ex-Magpies Chris Dawes, Ben Kennedy, Paul Seedsman and Heritier Lumumba — remember them?
Recruiting Wells raised plenty of questions but after his first two games in the black and white it’s evident just how valuable his inclusion is.
Adam Treloar is a star but has been down on form this year and needs to work on his disposal by foot, and Jeremy Howe has been dominant down back.
Of the players who have gone, Heath Shaw and Dayne Beams would be walk-up starts in the current Collingwood team and Travis Cloke would be too, as much as some might argue that point. Darcy Moore needs help.
Treloar, Howe, Wells, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Taylor Adams, Travis Varcoe and Jack Crisp are all players who have arrived from other clubs and made an immediate impact on the field.
So how does the Collingwood trade ledger look under Buckley’s reign? Here’s a closer look at the current players who have arrived and those who have departed for and are still playing for other clubs.
WHO’S ARRIVED
Adam Treloar
He came second to Scott Pendlebury in the best-and-fairest last year and has been an integral inclusion to the midfield. This year he hasn’t reached the heights of last season, mainly due to his poor disposal, but will be a star for many years to come.
Jeremy Howe
Originally recruited as a forward to play a similar role to Hawk Jack Gunston but necessity forced him into defence and he’s been outstanding. A rock down back with his intercept marking and ability to win or neutralise aerial contests his biggest strength. Was essentially traded for Ben Kennedy and Paul Seedsman, huge win for Collingwood.
Will Hoskin-Elliott
Classy wingman who is good in the air and has the polish the Magpies have lacked. Has slotted seamlessly into the best 22 and is a goalkicker — who can forget that finish from the boundary against Sydney?
Daniel Wells
Expensive and risky free agent but has already showed what he can add to the Collingwood team with his decision-marking and ball use by hand and foot. Got off to a shaky start at his new club when he arrived unfit but if he can stay injury-free, will be a more than handy addition.
Lynden Dunn
Only a couple of games into his Collingwood career but has added leadership off the field and to the back six in his two matches at AFL level. A handy (and cheap) pick-up.
James Aish
Disappointing, there’s no question. Looks a confidence player who appeared to have turned the corner late last year and believed he belonged at AFL level but is now back playing in the VFL.
Jesse White
Much-maligned White hasn’t quite delivered what the Magpies were hoping for as a mobile second or third tall forward who can help Brodie Grundy in the ruck. But despite being in and out of the side at times, White has been a serviceable player — Champion Data rated his 2016 season as above average for a key forward — and they need him to stand up right now. He only cost the Pies pick 44 in the trade with Sydney.
Taylor Adams
Named vice-captain this year, Adams is one of those players you’ll find burrowing at the bottom of the back and laying crunching tackles, but his disposal by foot lets him down. A tick but was a direct swap from Heath Shaw a fair trade? In hindsight, Collingwood should have pushed for more in return for their premiership hero, who was reportedly moved on for being a disruptive influence.
Travis Varcoe
Can play at half-forward, half-back or through the midfield. Has been a great pick-up from the Cats and added some speed across multiple positions. Gives the Pies valuable flexibility and is often the barometer for the team. Love his pressure.
Chris Mayne
Jury is out but the signs aren’t good in the first season of a four-year deal. Played three senior games before being dropped when Jamie Elliott was fit. Hasn’t set the world on fire in the VFL, but his numbers aren’t the worst — averaging 14.7 disposals and one goal per game — but more is expected from a guy on $400,000-$500,000 a year.
Jack Crisp
Hasn’t missed a game since crossing from Brisbane as part of the Dayne Beams trade and been a quality recruit for a player considered the sweetener to the deal. Isn’t an A-grade midfielder but can play a defensive role on a star opposition midfielder, can break the lines and kick goals. But kicking can let him down also.
Levi Greenwood
A midfield bull, the start to Greenwood’s Collingwood career was delayed because of an ankle fracture and he hasn’t recaptured the form that saw him finish top-three in North Melbourne’s best-and-fairest before joining the Pies. Does his best work as a grunt midfielder but with Adams and Crisp doing a similar job, Greenwood has needed to find another role. Has excelled as a tagger and been used across half-forward but not to great effect. Needs to do more.
Other players who arrived at the club from rivals under Nathan Buckley via trade or free agency but are no longer on the list: Quinten Lynch, Clinton Young, Jordan Russell, Patrick Karnezis.
WHO’S GONE
Heath Shaw
Superstar. All Collingwood fans are hurting seeing Shaw run off half-back for GWS, earning All-Australian guernseys and winning best-and-fairest awards. Is exactly the type of player the Pies are crying out for — a dashing defender who takes the game on and uses the ball well (most of the time).
Nathan Freeman
Still yet to play a senior game after nearly one-and-a-half seasons at St Kilda as the former No.10 draft pick’s hamstring issues followed him from the Magpies to the Saints. Has plenty of talent but what does the future hold?
Dayne Beams
Hasn’t hurt the Pies just yet, but he will. Injury has wrecked Beams’ first two seasons at the Lions but since making the move he has obviously matured given he was handed the Brisbane captaincy. A goalkicking midfielder who won a Collingwood best-and-fairest and was one of the premier midfielders in the league when he left — and he will reach those heights again if his body can stand up. Still only 27.
Travis Cloke
Cloke didn’t have his best season last year and had been on a steady decline, but would be playing a valuable role for the Pies right now to support Darcy Moore, who is struggling as the No.1 forward. How does a guy go from playing seconds in a struggling team to a walk-up start with the premier? Luke Beveridge lowered the expectations on his output perfectly: Be a marking target and compete in the air — if you can’t take it, bring it to ground for the small forwards. If only Collingwood could have done the same.
Nathan Brown
A no-frills defender, Brown has been a valuable addition to the St Kilda defence, freeing up the likes of Dylan Roberton to play a more attacking game. Brown is a stopper, an old-school full-back who does his job week in, week out but won’t ever be a counter-attack player. His disposal and decision-making let him down at times with Collingwood over the last couple of seasons, exacerbated by the lack of attacking defenders with good kicking skills. Was asked to add a string to his bow he probably won’t ever have. That’s just not his style.
Dale Thomas
Don’t need to go over old ground here. Thomas to Carlton hasn’t worked — he has not lived up to the expectations that come with his hefty price tag. Injuries and poor form mean he is a shadow of his former self. Collingwood made the right decision in letting him walk as a free agent, receiving a first-round pick from the AFL as compensation.
Ben Kennedy
Kennedy started last year well but faded quickly and has barely been seen since — he hasn’t played senior footy for Melbourne since Round 17 last year. Averaging 24.7 disposals and 0.5 goals per game in the VFL this year. He has always been able to find the footy at the lower level but hasn’t been able to replicate that form in the AFL. Was an early draft pick (19) but looks a bust.
Paul Seedsman
Always threatened to become a star at Collingwood and has been much the same at Adelaide before running into more injury troubles — which also plagued him at the Holden Centre. Was in and out for the Crows last year and given the way they’re playing, players like Riley Knight, David Mackay, Jake Kelly, Andy Otten, Rory Atkins and Curtly Hampton have gone past him.
Marley Williams
Plays with aggression and attacks the ball but his disposal by foot is a long-standing issue. Looked like he might turn into a really good half-back for the Pies but last year a foot injury sustained in Round 3 ruined his year; he wasn’t the same player when he returned and lacked confidence in his disposal and decision-making. The Pies already had Brayden Maynard and Jackson Ramsay as half-backs with shonky disposal and didn’t need another. Looks a handy pick-up for the Kangaroos if he can clean up his ball use.
Jarrod Witts
Has assumed the No.1 ruck mantle and is posting healthy SuperCoach scores, but if he had stayed at Collingwood Witts wouldn’t be getting a game ahead of Brodie Grundy. Simply had no impact as a forward. Still, a good pick-up for the Suns.
Sharrod Wellingham
Has been a good contributor for the Eagles, particularly in their Grand Final year of 2015, but isn’t an A-grader.
Jack Frost
Can’t get a game for the struggling Lions.
Heritier Lumumba
We’ll include him in this list given Varcoe — who the Pies landed in a three-way deal involving the Demons and Cats (Mitch Clark) — is still playing. Lumumba played a couple of decent games for Melbourne but is another player who was on big money but failed to deliver. He then retired with another year to run on his contract because of concussion issues.
Other players who departed Collingwood for a rival club via trade or free agency under Nathan Buckley but are no longer on an AFL list: Chris Dawes, Jackson Paine, Tom Young.
Originally published as Collingwood trade report card: Rating every player who has arrived and left the Pies in Nathan Buckley era
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