Collingwood mid-season report card: Can the Magpies push for a flag in 2018?

WHEN the Magpies started the season 0-2 and trailed Carlton three goals to zip in Round 3, it looked like 2018 could be a disaster. Fast forward 10 weeks and the club is in the premiership mix. COLLINGWOOD MID-SEASON REPORT CARD

WHEN the Magpies started the season 0-2 and trailed Carlton three goals to zip in Round 3, it looked like 2018 would be nothing short of a disaster.

Fast forward 10 weeks and the Magpies are aiming to break into the top four in the second half of the season and are a genuine premiership contender.

How has the club turned it around? Can they go all the way in 2018?

Check out the mid-year report card.

THE TACKLE: IS THIS TIGER THE NEW LUKE HODGE?

SUPER LADDER: WHERE IS YOUR CLUB AT AFTER R13?

Grade — A

Ladder position — 6th

Predicted finish — 6th

RALPHY SAYS

“A stunning recovery from the Pies. Have had contract and industry distractions but haven’t lost focus with four wins on the trot. Perfectly placed at 8-4 with soft opponents ahead, a tight-knit playing group, a band of quicksilver small forwards, a host of players in career-best form. Buckley is in career-best form as a coach, with the Pies set for a deep finals run.”

GOOD STAT

Midfield ranks second for contested possession differential, third for clearance differential and No. 1 for disposal differential.

BAD STAT

17th in looseball-get differential. Seven of the past eight premiers have ranked top-six for looseball differential and six of the past eight premiers have ranked top three.

TRADE WINDS

Jordan De Goey is the prized signature as his value inexorably skyrockets. Likely to stay but his manager says a “Godfather” offer could throw a cat among the pigeons. Darcy Moore is out of contract and has attracted interest from Sydney. Putting off contract talks may work against Jamie Elliot as the forward line has caught fire without him, and West Australian Alex Fasolo seems unwanted.

Jordan De Goey is having a breakout year for the Magpies. Picture: AAP Images

Gold Coast superstar Tom Lynch is keeping his cards close to his chest but one of those cards may be black and white as the Pies loom as a likely destination. Rory Sloane looks increasingly likely to come home to Victoria, but the Pies already boast a deep midfield.

DEBUTANTS

Pick 6 from last year’s draft Jaidyn Stephenson banged the door down to claim his Round 1 spot and hasn’t missed a beat on his way to a possible Rising Star award. Sam Murray hit the ground running but hasn’t held his spot in recent weeks, while Flynn Appleby and Brody Mihocek have had their first taste for the big stage.

BEST AND FAIREST

Steele Sidebottom is having a career best season and could well be leading all comers, but possible All Australian ruckman Brodie Grundy will be breathing down his neck. Adam Treloar continues to rack up big numbers and Tom Phillips is one of the big improvers of the AFL. Both could have one hand on third spot. Jeremy Howe is not just a fugitive of gravity, he will poll well.

Steele Sidebottom is likely to be leading Collingwood’s best and fairest. Picture: AAP Images

THE RUN HOME

Carlton H

Gold Coast A

Essendon A

West Coast H

North Melbourne H

Richmond A

Sydney A

Brisbane H

Port Adelaide H

Fremantle A

Draw difficulty for remainder of the year: 14th (5th easiest)

Source: Champion Data

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