DEFENCE

The Magpies are looking for more rebounding creativity from its defence, but it is hard to imagine wholesale changes to such an accomplished group. Ex-Blue recruit Jordan Russell is no more reliable, poised or dynamic than incumbent flankers Heath Shaw and Harry O’Brien, who have been trialled further up the ground, and the evergreen Ben Johnson, who has lost little of his breakaway pace. Key talls Ben Reid and Nathan Brown have little back-up after the retirement of Chris Tarrant – the Pies rookie-listed VFL star Jack Frost as insurance – and will be among the first picked. Given that highly promising tall utility Lachie Keefe will miss at least the first couple of months recovering from a knee injury, Frost could see action sooner rather than later. Alan Toovey is no rebounding genius, but his pace and ability to nullify taller players makes him a valuable defensive element. Skipper Nick Maxwell co-ordinates the defence with his judgment of when to leave his man to help teammates.

Smokey: Paul Seedsman looks more assured by the minute played, and the rangy, long-kicking sweeper could sneak past some big names for games this year.

MIDFIELD

Collingwood is blessed with as talented a midfield group as exists in the AFL, and there will be few opportunities for newcomers unless injury strikes. The stellar group lacked a little defensive nous last season, a deficiency lessened by the return of stoppage hard-nut Luke Ball. His recovery from a serious knee injury has been delayed, which means in-and-under cannonball Jarryd Blair should get more opportunities in the engine room. Dale Thomas will also miss the start of the year, and will surely be used more at half-forward as he seeks full match fitness. Even with those two big names sidelined, the Magpies are imposing. Steele Sidebottom and Dayne Beams are young guns still on the rise; Clinton Young adds kicking precision and line-breaking outside run; and Scott Pendlebury and Dane Swan are at the pointy end of the league’s elite ball-winners. Dynamic half-forward Alex Fasolo will get a taste via rotations when fit, and tough-guy VFL stalwarts Kyle Martin and Sam Dwyer have been hired as rookies in case of drastic injuries. 

Smokey: If highly skilled accumulator Steele Sidebottom follows the example of peer Dayne Beams in taking his game to another level, the Magpie midfield could become as formidable as the great Lions unit of the early noughties.

FORWARDS

In 2012, Collingwood struggled to convert its opportunities and exert its usual defensive pressure in the forward line, and its 2013 line-up looks far from settled at the outset of the season. Amongst the key talls, a focused Travis Cloke will make a big difference, now that his contractual woes are behind him, but questions abound elsewhere. Quinten Lynch is a hard-running, hard-working big man, but no world-beater, and not an elite marking target; Brent Macaffer’s form is up and down as he recovers after a serious knee injury; and Jackson Paine is promising, but only embarking on his second season.

At ground level, the Pies have thrown numbers at the problem. Alan Didak has not been sound since 2010, and concerns remain that he may now lack the pace necessary to showcase his brilliant skills. Andrew Krakouer's natural ability often covers a lack of pace, but in these defence-obsessed times, he will have to lay as many tackles as he kicks miraculous goals to remain valuable. Former defender Tyson Goldsack is not a natural goalkicker, but he had a fine year as a defensive forward last year, and should start again. But among the many competitors for the remaining small forward roles – Alex Fasolo, Jamie Elliott, Ben Sinclair, and Caolan Mooney, is there a potential game-breaker, a Steve Milne or Eddie Betts? The Pies need players who worry opposition defenders, and in its absence they seem willing to settle for maniacal resolve and pace. 

Smokey: Jamie Elliott attacks the contest with the mania of Ben Sinclair, but might be a better finisher. His form has been slightly more influential in pre-season.

PREDICTED TEAM

Toovey Brown O’Brien

Shaw Reid* Maxwell

Young Pendlebury Sidebottom

Thomas* Lynch Fasolo*

Krakouer* Cloke Goldsack

Jolly Swan Beams

Ball* Blair Johnson Macaffer

On the fringes:

Paul Seedsman, Jordan Russell, Jack Frost, Lachie Keefe*, Jamie Elliott, Jackson Paine, Alan Didak, Ben Sinclair, Caoloan Mooney, Marley Williams, Jarrod Witts, Ben Hudson, Kyle Martin, Sam Dwyer

Thomas, Ball and Reid are struggling to be fit for round one. That might mean the Pies have to elevate rookie Jack Frost to play as a key backman. Paul Seedsman and Jordan Russell are big chances at the outset, though both might struggle to play every game if the Pies' running backs stay fit. Beanpole ruck project Jarrod Witts will get a handful of games, but he is far from ready for regular senior footy, and journeyman veteran Ben Hudson may also help out in big games when ageing ruck star Darren Jolly needs a rest. Paine is next in line if key forwards Lynch or Cloke get hurt. Mature-age on-baller Martin was impressive in pre-season and looms as a replacement if more than a couple of inside midfielders are missing. The small forwards Elliott and Sinclair should share plenty of game time with Krakouer, Thomas and Fasolo likely to miss the opening games.

*Injured (in doubt for the start of the season):

Luke Ball (knee)

Ben Reid (knee)

Dale Thomas (ankle)

Alan Didak (hamstring)

Michael Hartley (shoulder)

Alex Fasolo (hamstring)

Andrew Krakouer 

ULTIMATE FOOTY NOTE

Footy Prophet says: The young Magpies midfielder Steele Sidebottom had a breakout season, lifting his scoring to an elite level and confirming his status as one of the best young players in the competition. He relished the opportunity to move further up the ground with Luke Ball’s absence, and flourished as a key part of Collingwood’s productive midfield. He was particularly impressive when Pendlebury missed through injury, averaging over 120 points from rounds 11 to 15. The concern in 2013 is whether he can replicate that level of scoring with Pendlebury and Ball both fit and firing.

There is only so much room in the Collingwood midfield and he’s likely, along with Thomas, to spend a fair amount of time up forward. If this is the case, he’s likely to see a reduction in his fantasy numbers. However if he’s pushed out of the midfield then he’s a chance to attract Forward eligibility during the season. Either way, draft him and you’ll get a reliable point-scorer with plenty of upside.

Steele Sidebottom, COL, 22

2012 Average: 104.7

2012 Games: 21

SP: 8 C: 8 A: 9