Collingwood track watch: Beau McCreery shines in new role, Ash Johnson fires in push to replace Dan McStay

Collingwood’s premiership heroes have been put on notice as a trio of young guns press for a round 1 berth in Craig McRae’s team. Plus, the huge midfield shift for a Pies forward star.

AFL. Collingwood pre-season training at AIA Vitality Centre. Nathan Murphy in action. Picture: Ian Currie

Craig McRae may have unearthed a new midfield weapon after Beau McCreery shone during a lengthy intra-club hitout on Friday.

McCreery had been introduced into some centre bounce drills over summer but played the entire of the first half of match simulation in the guts, creating a formidable combination with Jordan De Goey.

Beau McCreery dashed through the midfield on Friday. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

One of the club’s best runners from a half-forward flank, McCreery brought his usual explosion to the midfield and burst out of a couple of stoppages.

He also stormed forward after a throw in on the wing, beating his midfield opponent forward to slot a snap from the pocket.

McCreery wasn’t the only magnet moved around for match play, with goalkicker Jamie Elliott in unfamiliar surrounds at halfback.

Reef killed it this morning. Think he may have kicked 5-6 goals. Leading well, took some nice marks.

Fin was everywhere, playing in the middle and on the wing. He was brilliant, he's certainly taken his game to a new level this pre-season.

— Jen 🖤🤍 Flagpies23 🏆 (@Jen2310) February 2, 2024

Jordan De Goey in action. Picture: Ian Currie

The goalkicker found some of the ball as a high defender sitting at the back of stoppages and at one point was manned by Nick Daicos.

As usual, Daicos cruised through the midfield finding the ball and distributing it with ease.

De Goey was all class, kicking back-to-back goals at one stage, including a trademark running effort from long range.

Josh Daicos did not join match play as he continues to build up steam, but was instead running away from the group on his sore foot.

Defender Brayden Maynard looked sharp in defence after missing training earlier in the week after a car crash.

His kicking was precise in one of his first hit-outs in his return from off-season shoulder surgery.

Fellow backman Isaac Quaynor trained fully after hobbling from the field with a sore knee earlier in the week.

FORWARD WATCH

One of the key questions at Collingwood this summer has been on who will replace the injured Dan McStay up forward and Ash Johnson put his hand up again with a strong display after missing training last week due to Covid.

The smooth forward clunked a pair of marks up against Nathan Murphy and Darcy Moore and bagged multiple goals.

He drew most praise for a chase down tackle that eventually led to a De Goey goal.

While Johnson played alongside Brody Mihocek in the black team’s forward line, Reef McInnes and Nathan Kreuger played in attack for the white team.

Craig McRae has a word with Brayden Maynard. Picture: Ian Currie

Kreuger had a couple of good moments against train-on player Josh Eyre, while McInnes kicked a snap goal.

Recruit Lachie Schultz was active in link-up play across half-forward.

YOUNGSTERS GROWING

Midfielder Fin Macrae has been a name on the lips of Pies fans this summer and Ed Allan joined him on Friday.

The No. 19 pick in the 2022 draft didn’t play in his debut year but should correct that in 2024 after showing glimpses of his talent as a tall midfielder.

Allan’s kicking on the run was impressive but it was a 30 metre sweeping handball that got an attacking chain moving that caught the eye, feeding into coach McRae’s desire to get the ball moving forward.

The Pies get after it. Picture: Ian Currie

The West Australian played 18 games in the VFL last year, averaging 19.3 disposals per game, largely as a midfielder.

Macrae also looked sharp and kicked a nice snap goal from the midfield.

Train-on players Lachie Sullivan and Jack Bytel had strong sessions on Friday, while Sam Sofronidis was solid as usual in a tall defensive role.

The Magpies are in no rush to sign a player into their three vacant spots with the February 19 deadline approaching.

Originally published as Collingwood track watch: Beau McCreery shines in new role, Ash Johnson fires in push to replace Dan McStay