Jon Ralph: How shrewd player management and bargain picks are fuelling Collingwood’s premiership push

Much has been made of Collingwood’s bold recruiting moves in recent years. But as Jon Ralph writes, it’s the bargain buys who are proving crucial to the Magpies’ hopes of a 17th premiership.

Ten years ago Craig McRae would have been diagnosed with an extreme case of hubris after subbing Jordan De Goey at three quarter time against Carlton.

After Collingwood’s third-quarter blitzkrieg the Pies were on top but far from home.

And yet McRae’s bold move — vindicated when replacement Ned Long kicked a goal with his first touch — shows Collingwood is intent on playing the long game.

McRae has the wind at his back with a 3-1 start to the season and a list of players showing vast improvement from their 2024 form.

And now if the Pies can find a way to get over Sydney in Gather Round and Brisbane on Easter Thursday they can set themselves up for a Geelong-style campaign.

Bank the early wins, set up a top-four assault and use the dreary winter months to rotate and manage and rest a list that on Thursday was the oldest side ever to run out in an AFL game.

McRae and his Pies have learnt the lessons of 2024 when many stars including Scott Pendlebury (ribs), Isaac Quaynor (toe) and De Goey (groin) played so far short of full fitness.

Already Pendlebury has been named sub in a round 1 game as the Pies played three games in 12 days against GWS, Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs.

It allowed Jeremy Howe (subbed off in that game) to play 77 minutes against Port Adelaide and Pendlebury only 36 minutes coming off the bench in that 89-point smashing of the Power.

Then on Thursday De Goey also got 77 minutes of action before being subbed ahead of an eight-day break before taking on Sydney (Adelaide Oval) in Gather Round.

Geelong’s record at its GMHBA Stadium fortress has allowed them to manage their stars, and for Collingwood the next five weeks will shape the Pies’ ability to do just that across the marathon home-and-away season.

Craig McRae and the Magpies have set a great platform for success.

They play Sydney in Gather Round, Brisbane at the Gabba, then following Anzac Day and an MCG clash against Geelong take on Fremantle at Optus Stadium.

Then comes the 14-game stretch where they travel only twice — to the Gold Coast and Adelaide — with nine MCG games in that stretch.

McRae’s Pies absorbed Carlton’s best punches then got to work.

Inside the Collingwood rooms on Thursday night players and administrators were incredulous at how easily the Blues played into their hands.

On a wet, slippery night Carlton’s players relentlessly tried to bite off near-impossible corridor kicks in that third quarter, and Collingwood feasted.

The more the Blues persisted with corridor kicks the more the Pies stacked their defensive grid in that part of the ground.

Yet even if McRae won the tactical battle, consider the improvement in individuals in this side:

Darcy Cameron has emerged as one of the AFL’s premier ruckmen.

● Darcy Cameron, who is in the conversation for footy’s best ruckman (despite a salary of only $450,000) and has improved on all of last year’s metrics.

He is averaging 6.5 clearances (up from 3.7), 19.3 possessions (up from 15.6) and 2.8 intercept marks (up from 2.4) even after a 2024 season where he finished second in the Copeland Trophy.

● Lachie Schultz has finally found his Collingwood identity, getting better every week while averaging seven tackles, 6.3 score involvements and winning the best-field medal against Carlton.

Darcy Moore looks to be back to his best. Picture: Michael Klein

● Darcy Moore has his bounce back, averaging three intercept marks this year and in excellent form against Carlton even if he rarely took the Blues’ most dangerous forward in Charlie Curnow.

● New addition Harry Perryman never stuffs the stats sheet but Pies players rave about his defensive running cutting off angles with perfect positioning and allowing Nick Daicos to roam in a more offensive role.

● Tim Membrey has six goals in four weeks playing a solid role that rarely catches the eye but stretches opposition defenders.

● Ned Long is a defensive midfield beast racking up 16 tackles in his previous two games but forced out of the starting side along with Ed Allan against Carlton before taking his chance as the sub.

Ned Long and Lachie Schultz celebrate a goal against Carlton.

● Dan Houston has actually turned the ball over in some diabolic spots with high-risk kicks but has mostly been as advertised — an elite kick, a score launch king, a high metres gained player.

● Steele Sidebottom has just peeled off three games of rare quality at 34 years of age – 31 touches, a goal and six tackles then 24 possessions, two goals and six clearances, then 24 possessions, seven clearances and seven tackles.

In a season of swings and roundabouts the Pies are in good form, have reasonable depth and might yet be able to secure the win-loss record to hit September with their plus-30s in good shape.

Nothing is guaranteed in this turbulent season but Craig McRae’s mob have set up this season perfectly while arch rival Carlton wallows in the bottom reaches of the ladder.

Originally published as Jon Ralph: How shrewd player management and bargain picks are fuelling Collingwood’s premiership push