Collingwood list analysis: Finals a non-negotiable in 2016, could be a premiership challenger

COLLINGWOOD has had its two-year finals sabbatical and now it’s time for the Pies to return to September action. Gary Buckenara analyses the Pies’ list.

Richmond v Collingwood Dane Swan goal 3rd term Picture:Wayne Ludbey

COLLINGWOOD has had its two-year finals sabbatical and now it’s time for the Pies to return to September action.

Nathan Buckley has a number of quality young players on his list and the sky is the limit for the group next season - finals are a non-negotiable and even challenging for a premiership isn’t out of the question.

The Pies have promised a fair bit – everyone at the club says they’re happy with what they’ve got and are excited about what the team can do going forward – but the fact is they’ve dropped away two years in a row.

It was inexperience that cost them this season, while bad luck with injuries also played a role but as a club internally, they’d still be disappointed.

There’s some real class in the midfield led by Scott Pendlebury, up forward with Jamie Elliott and Steele Sidebottom is a clever player to name a couple. But on the list as a whole I agree with them – there is some real upside and now they just need to start delivering.

What has held them back a bit – and I’ll go into this in a bit more depth a bit later in this column – is that their ball movement stalls or gets cut off because there aren’t enough penetrating kickers in the team.

Collingwood must make the finals in 2016, Gary Buckenara says. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

There are good young players in Darcy Moore, Brayden Maynard, Jonathon Marsh and Matthew Scharenberg who will be a very, very good player. Travis Varcoe has added something, Marley Williams provides good run from defence but can be erratic with his kicking and Tom Langdon reads the ball really well but needs to work on getting a better punch into his use by foot.

In terms of trading, GWS midfielder Adam Treloar is expected to arrive and he’s a really good player who’ll add something more to Pendlebury, Levi Greenwood, Taylor Adams, Jack Crisp and Jordan De Goey. In terms of trade value though, it’s expected the Pies with give up their first-round picks in 2015 and 2016 and get a second-round pick back but to me, pick No. 7 this year would have been adequate to secure him. It would be fair and reasonable compensation.

In this draft, to get a pick inside 10 is very, very good value particularly because of the lack of depth in it and that adds value.

With the addition of Treloar, the midfield is very good. In terms of James Aish who also wants to head to the Pies, I’m not convinced. He’s not overly quick but does have good skills. Overall though, I think they have enough of his type.

Forwards are more a priority and Melbourne’s Jeremy Howe is a very good fit. He can slot into that forward role and present a genuine marking option to take the heat off Travis Cloke a bit.

Jeremy Howe has asked Melbourne to be traded to Collingwood. Picture: Getty

Paul Seedsman wants to go to Adelaide and they’d be after a pick inside No. 30 for him. A second-round pick for Nathan Freeman is also around the mark although they are disappointed to lose him.

All in all, Buckley has a very talented group to work with in 2016 but talent only takes you so far. The Pies must deliver on promise and play finals.

WHAT THEY NEED

There is a reasonable balance to Collingwood’s list but the priorities for me would be another key forward and key defender and line-breakers with pace and who use the ball well.

It goes without saying that the Pies are still too reliant on Cloke and Jesse White who goes missing too often. Moore will develop into a nice key position player but need to put on a bit of weight but I think they need to add another one.

If Ben Reid can get himself right then that puts the Pies in a much better position but I think another key defender wouldn’t go astray.

The Pies have quite a few in-and-under types –Adams, Greenwood, Jarryd Blair, Maynard is tough but is also a lovely kick, even Dane Swan is that type of player, so that is where the line-breakers and good ball users who add class become important.

Collingwood have too many guys who have what we call “slow kicks”. They can kick it ok but it has too much height on it and gives the opposition a chance to cut them off. More players who really punch the ball when they kick it so it gets there fast are important for the Pies.

WHO’S UNDER THE PUMP

Jackson Ramsay is under the pump despite showing good signs earlier this year given he has been there since 2012. He needs to get his body right after missing so many games with a shin injury. The same goes for Ben Sinclair who has consistently battled soft tissue injuries and has only played 11 games in his last two years.

WHO SHOULD GO

Sam Dwyer, Clinton Young, Tony Armstrong and Michael Manteit have already been delisted and they’ve made the right calls there because all those guys were on my list as under the pump for 2016. Patrick Karnezis was also on the list but he’s opted to retire. Other than that it’s hard to say because the Pies do have such a young list, I need to see more of these kids.

CRYSTAL BALL

For mine, the Pies have been disappointing the last couple of years even though they have been in a bit of a development/re-jig mode. It’s time for them to start delivering.

I seem them being a contender next year – as I said earlier as a minimum should play finals in 2016 – but if not next year in terms of challenging then definitely in 2-3 years the Pies should be knocking on the door of winning a premiership.

There should be good times ahead and not just as one year on, one year off. Collingwood look set for sustained success with the group of talented young players they’ve assembled plus the football a guy like Dane Swan still has left to offer. I reckon he’s got a few more years left in him yet.

Could Collingwood feature deep in September next year? Gary Buckenara thinks it could happen. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

LACHIE KEEFFE AND JOSH THOMAS

They’ve been delisted by the Pies who have committed to bringing them back via the rookie draft and I think that’s a really smart move. They were showing really good signs as players – Keeffe as that key position player they need and Thomas as another midfielder. They made a terrible mistake but I believe because of the talent they’ve shown, they’re definitely worth a second chance.

Gary Buckenara helped build Hawthorn’s three-peat premiership list and now he runs a rule over club lists in an exclusive column for the Herald Sun.

Buckenara was a major part of Hawthorn’s recruiting team between 2004-2015 and was responsible for bringing Lance Franklin, Jarryd Roughead and Jordan Lewis to the Hawks in 2004 when he was the Hawks’ only full-time recruiter.