AFL news: Jordan Lewis says Collingwood won’t make top eight in 2023

Collingwood came from nowhere in 2022 to barely miss playing in the Grand Final. However, one AFL great doesn’t expect the Pies to repeat the dose, questioning one aspect of their team in particular.

The Collingwood faithful may have high hopes after last year’s daring finals run, but former Hawthorn and Melbourne star Jordan Lewis has tipped them to miss the top eight.

Speaking on Fox Footy’s 2023 Season Preview, Lewis questioned if the Pies could sustain last year’s remarkable knack of winning thrillers.

“I’ve got them just outside the top eight,” Lewis said.

“I just think last year was a great year for them, don’t get me wrong, they were very good but there was a part of it where you are just rolling in motion because of the fanfare … now sides will hunt them.”

Lewis pointed to the Pies’ golden run in the back half of last season as the main cause for concern for this season.

“How do we measure them when they win so many close games? It’s really hard,” he said.

“But now they’ve got expectation on this team.

“Other sides would’ve gone away in the off season; they would’ve had little task groups to figure out what Collingwood do really well.

“How do they then become the hunted? How do they deal with the expectation?”

Jordan Lewis is predicting Collingwood to miss finals.

Trent Bianco celebrates a goal during last year’s preliminary final. Picture: Michael Klein.

Lewis also identified the Pies’ defence as a weakness, particularly when match ups are isolated.

“They’re not great 1-on-1 players, they do rely a bit on a delay up the ground.” Lewis said.

“If you get a side like the Bulldogs on the weekend, who go with four genuine tall forwards, how will a side like Collingwood match up against them?”

Herald Sun chief football writer and AFL 360 co-host Mark Robinson touched on the vital role Jordan De Goey can play this year.

De Goey starred in the Pies’ pre-season victory against Hawthorn last Thursday.

“This guy now knows that he can own parts of the ground,” Robinson said.

“He looked like Dusty, just the way he was commanding that centre square.”

Fellow hosts Sarah Jones and Jonathan Brown both picked the Pies to finish in the top eight, while Robinson believes they are top-four material.

Collingwood kicks off its 2023 season next Friday night at the MCG with a huge clash against Geelong.