Opinion 529: Who will get how many games in 2025?

[76woodenspooners]

529

Collingwood players will play a total of 529 H&A games between them in 2025

23 players on a teamsheet X 23 rounds = 529.

How will those 529 games be divided up?

How this works:

(1) I’ve taken the lineup out of the OP of the “best 23 in 2025” thread, and put “23 games” next to each of those players on the list below. Players that are not in that best 23 have “0 games” beside them.

(2) Cut and paste the list below into a post

(3) If you reckon that any of the players who haven’t got games should get them (eg: Dan Houston, presumably he hasn’t been put in ‘best 23’ because he’s suspended round 1) then move games from the players that have them to the players that haven’t.

For example: I might put “22 games” next to Dan Houston by taking 20 games off Frampton (putting Frampton on 23 - 20 = 3 games) and taking 2 games off Howe (putting Howe on 23 - 2 = 21 games)

Another example: If you reckon Ed Allan will get games in 2025, then how many? And who out of the Best 23 thread OP will he take those games off?

As a guide:
2022: 38 Collingwood players got senior games
2023: 37 Collingwood players got senior games
2024: 37 Collingwood players got senior games
2025: The list below is seeded with only 23 players getting senior games

At the end of the exercise we’ll see who you think will be getting how many games in 2025

1. Lipinski: 23 games
2. DeGoey: 23 games
3. IQ: 23 games
4. Bruz: 23 games
5. Elliott: 23 games
6. Mitchell: 23 games
7. Josh: 23 games
8. Schultz: 23 games
9. Houston: 0 games
10. Pendles; 23 games
11. McStay: 23 games
11. Harry Perryman: 23 games
13. HDM: 0 games
14. DC: 23 games
16. Ed Allan: 0 games
17. Frampton: 23 games
18. Fin Macrae: 0 games
19. TJ: 0 games
20. Smit: 0 games
21. Steene: 0 games
22. Steele: 23 games
23. Bobby Hill: 23 games
24. Jacob Ryan: 0 games
25. Crispy: 23 games
26. Reef: 0 games
27. Joel Cochrane: 0 games
28. Tim Membrey: 0 games
29. Charlie West: 0 games
30. Moore: 23 games
31. McCreery: 23 games
32. WHE: 23 games
33. Sullivan: 0 games
35: Nick: 23 games
36. Harvey Harrison: 0 games
37. Markov: 0 games
38. Howe: 23 games
39. Will Hayes: 0 games
40. Johnson: 0 games
41. Mihocek: 23 games
43. Charlie Dean: 0 games
44. Ned Long: 0 games
45. Wil Parker: 0 games
46. Mason Cox: 23 games

Total: 529 games

 

[76woodenspooners]

My attempt at this is below.

It’s actually surprising difficult. Well, it’s easy to get to a stage of “Righteo, that looks about right!” …

… and then I find that I’ve only given games to 30 players which is totally unrealistic.

In this list below I’ve given games to 37 players which is par for recent years.

1. Lipinski: 21 games
2. DeGoey: 17 games (a typical season for Jordan)
3. IQ: 23 games
4. Bruz: 22 games
5. Elliott: 13 games
6. Mitchell: 10 games
7. Josh: 23 games
8. Schultz: 21 games
9. Houston: 22 games
10. Pendles: 20 games
11. McStay: 19 games
11. Harry Perryman: 21 games
13. HDM: 4 games (will get given a taste this year IMO)
14. DC: 21 games
16. Ed Allan: 14 games
17. Frampton: 12 games (Mostly ruck)
18. Fin Macrae: 9 games (I’m backing him in)
19. TJ: 0 games (Not his year IMO, too many others ahead of him for his role)
20. Smit: 4 games (I think he’ll be given a taste, gets games ahead of Steene for aggression)
21. Steene: 0 games
22. Steele: 18 games
23. Bobby Hill: 22 games
24. Jacob Ryan: 3 games
25. Crispy: 23 games
26. Reef: 7 games (I’m backing him into his new role in the back line)
27. Joel Cochrane: 0 games
28. Tim Membrey: 10 games
29. Charlie West: 0 games (no chance, KPF behind Mihocek, McStay and Johnson)
30. Moore: 18 games
31. McCreery: 19 games
32. WHE: 17 games
33. Sullivan: 2 games
35: Nick: 23 games
36. Harvey Harrison: 0 games ( 2026 will be his year)
37. Markov: 0 games
38. Howe: 10 games (The end is near)
39. Will Hayes: 1 games (I’m tipping he’ll get a taste)
40. Johnson: 2 games (Will get another chance IMO)
41. Mihocek: 17 games
43. Charlie Dean: 7 games
44. Ned Long: 5 games
45. Wil Parker: 16 games
46. Mason Cox: 11 games (The end is near)

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

My attempt at this is below.

It’s actually surprising difficult. Well, it’s easy to get to a stage of “Righteo, that looks about right!” …

… and then I find that I’ve only given games to 30 players which is totally unrealistic.

In this list below I’ve given games to 37 players which is par for recent years.

1. Lipinski: 21 games
2. DeGoey: 17 games (a typical season for Jordan)
3. IQ: 23 games
4. Bruz: 22 games
5. Elliott: 13 games
6. Mitchell: 10 games
7. Josh: 23 games
8. Schultz: 21 games
9. Houston: 22 games
10. Pendles: 20 games
11. McStay: 19 games
11. Harry Perryman: 21 games
13. HDM: 4 games (will get given a taste this year IMO)
14. DC: 21 games
16. Ed Allan: 14 games
17. Frampton: 12 games (Mostly ruck)
18. Fin Macrae: 9 games (I’m backing him in)
19. TJ: 0 games (Not his year IMO, too many others ahead of him for his role)
20. Smit: 4 games (I think he’ll be given a taste, gets games ahead of Steene for aggression)
21. Steene: 0 games
22. Steele: 18 games
23. Bobby Hill: 22 games
24. Jacob Ryan: 3 games
25. Crispy: 23 games
26. Reef: 7 games (I’m backing him into his new role in the back line)
27. Joel Cochrane: 0 games
28. Tim Membrey: 10 games
29. Charlie West: 0 games (no chance, KPF behind Mihocek, McStay and Johnson)
30. Moore: 18 games
31. McCreery: 19 games
32. WHE: 17 games
33. Sullivan: 2 games
35: Nick: 23 games
36. Harvey Harrison: 0 games ( 2026 will be his year)
37. Markov: 0 games
38. Howe: 10 games (The end is near)
39. Will Hayes: 1 games (I’m tipping he’ll get a taste)
40. Johnson: 2 games (Will get another chance IMO)
41. Mihocek: 17 games
43. Charlie Dean: 7 games
44. Ned Long: 5 games
45. Wil Parker: 16 games
46. Mason Cox: 11 games (The end is near)

Solid effort. Predictions of this nature are impossible of course as the natural assumption will be for no injuries to key players.

Personally I’d be winding back lipinksi a bit, and also 16 for Parker might be very optimistic. Only 10 for Howe I can only see if there are injury issues as form alone should be fine for another season. Also I’d be giving Smit more than 4 games if you’re only giving 11 to Cox. I’d also like to hope Reef gets more than 7…

 

[sr36]

529

Collingwood players will play a total of 529 H&A games between them in 2025

23 players on a teamsheet X 23 rounds = 529.

How will those 529 games be divided up?

How this works:

(1) I’ve taken the lineup out of the OP of the “best 23 in 2025” thread, and put “23 games” next to each of those players on the list below. Players that are not in that best 23 have “0 games” beside them.

(2) Cut and paste the list below into a post

(3) If you reckon that any of the players who haven’t got games should get them (eg: Dan Houston, presumably he hasn’t been put in ‘best 23’ because he’s suspended round 1) then move games from the players that have them to the players that haven’t.

For example: I might put “22 games” next to Dan Houston by taking 20 games off Frampton (putting Frampton on 23 - 20 = 3 games) and taking 2 games off Howell (putting Howell on 23 - 2 = 21 games)

Another example: If you reckon Ed Allan will get games in 2025, then how many? And who out of the Best 23 thread OP will he take those games off?

As a guide:
2022: 38 Collingwood players got senior games
2023: 37 Collingwood players got senior games
2024: 37 Collingwood players got senior games
2025: The list below is seeded with only 23 players getting senior games

At the end of the exercise we’ll see who you think will be getting how many games in 2025

1. Lipinski: 23 games
2. DeGoey: 23 games
3. IQ: 23 games
4. Bruz: 23 games
5. Elliott: 23 games
6. Mitchell: 23 games
7. Josh: 23 games
8. Schultz: 23 games
9. Houston: 0 games
10. Pendles; 23 games
11. McStay: 23 games
11. Harry Perryman: 23 games
13. HDM: 0 games
14. DC: 23 games
16. Ed Allan: 0 games
17. Frampton: 23 games
18. Fin Macrae: 0 games
19. TJ: 0 games
20. Smit: 0 games
21. Steene: 0 games
22. Steele: 23 games
23. Bobby Hill: 23 games
24. Jacob Ryan: 0 games
25. Crispy: 23 games
26. Reef: 0 games
27. Joel Cochrane: 0 games
28. Tim Membrey: 0 games
29. Charlie West: 0 games
30. Moore: 23 games
31. McCreery: 23 games
32. WHE: 23 games
33. Sullivan: 0 games
35: Nick: 23 games
36. Harvey Harrison: 0 games
37. Markov: 0 games
38. Howe: 23 games
39. Will Hayes: 0 games
40. Johnson: 0 games
41. Mihocek: 23 games
43. Charlie Dean: 0 games
44. Ned Long: 0 games
45. Wil Parker: 0 games
46. Mason Cox: 23 games

Total: 529 games

80% of this just comes down to who gets injured/suspended and for how many games.

 

[76woodenspooners]

Personally I’d be winding back lipinksi a bit, and also 16 for Parker might be very optimistic. Only 10 for Howe I can only see if there are injury issues as form alone should be fine for another season. Also I’d be giving Smit more than 4 games if you’re only giving 11 to Cox. I’d also like to hope Reef gets more than 7…

All good calls IMO

I gave most of Cox’s games to Frampton in the ruck. Smit looks good, but he is still only 19 which is super young for a ruck.

Agree re: Parker, on reflection I’d dial a few of his games back and give them to WHE.

Howe and Reef were difficult ones because we have so many other options for the backline these days: Perryman, HDM, Ryan, TJ, Pendles. And assuming Houston cancels out Noble. We’d all hope that our backline is a bit more settled than what I have it as.

Something that surprised me going through the exercise was the feeling that our forward line isn’t as well stacked as our backline.

 

[Jelly Bean]

Super fun exercise 76w - although I don't really understand your starting point though. My attempt below - it's actually harder than it looks.

Some principles for me:

• I first of all picked 7 players I didn't think would get a game this year (based on the prior years of 37/38 players playing only). West, Hayes, Cochrane were the easy ones, but then also Smit, johnson, Sullivan, and Harrison.
• I think we get some more minor game contributions from some of the younger players than prior years, and have Ryan, HDM, TJ, Steene, Fin, Parker, and Long getting some time between them in prep for a bunch of open slots in the team next year with potential retirements of Steele, Howe, Mitchell, Cox, maybe Elliott, and maybe even SP10.
• I've assumed the second key defense role is split across a few, with Reef being the one who takes it on for the majority with 15 games, but also a handful across Dean and Frampton.
• Daicos plays 23 games and gets 23 BOGs.

1. Lipinski: 10
2. DeGoey: 18
3. IQ: 23
4. Bruz: 20
5. Elliott: 15
6. Mitchell: 15
7. Josh: 23
8. Schultz: 23
9. Houston: 22
10. Pendles; 18
11. McStay: 16
11. Harry Perryman: 23
13. HDM: 3
14. DC: 18
16. Ed Allan: 15
17. Frampton: 4
18. Fin Macrae: 4
19. TJ: 2
20. Smit: 0
21. Steene: 2
22. Steele: 18
23. Bobby Hill: 23
24. Jacob Ryan: 5
25. Crispy: 23
26. Reef: 15
27. Joel Cochrane: 0
28. Tim Membrey: 16
29. Charlie West: 0
30. Moore: 20
31. McCreery: 20
32. WHE: 18
33. Sullivan: 0
35: Nick: 23
36. Harvey Harrison: 0
37. Markov: 2
38. Howe: 18
39. Will Hayes: 0
40. Johnson: 0
41. Mihocek: 20
43. Charlie Dean: 6
44. Ned Long: 5
45. Wil Parker: 8
46. Mason Cox: 17

 

[Jelly Bean]

For example: I might put “22 games” next to Dan Houston by taking 20 games off Frampton (putting Frampton on 23 - 20 = 3 games) and taking 2 games off Howell (putting Howell on 23 - 2 = 21 games)

P.S. Who is Howell...? Howe on earth can you not know his name by now?

 

[Jelly Bean]

26. Reef: 7 games (I’m backing him into his new role in the back line)

Predicting only 7 games for Reef isn't really 'backing him into his new role in the backline' though.

 

[Jelly Bean]

80% of this just comes down to who gets injured/suspended and for how many games.

Um, yeah, that's right. Or to say another way, 100% of this just comes down to who gets injured/suspended/in or out of form and for how many games.

That's what 76w is asking people to take a guess at.

 

[manicpie]

I would have had Cumberland down for 15 games and Owies down for 22 games but the powers that be ****ed that up

 

[76woodenspooners]

Super fun exercise 76w - although I don't really understand your starting point though.

Fair question.

There would be people who would be happy to paste all the names into a spreadsheet, allocate games, and tally them up to 529. The starting point wouldn’t make much sense to them.

But to make it easier / possible for those who want to do it without a spreadsheet, I seeded it with a starting point. 23 games for a nominal best 23 is an easy starting point. Then it becomes all about subtracting games off players, and then adding those same number of games to other players (without having to figure out if they all add up to 529). Doing it this way also allows people to keep the roles balanced - most people wouldn’t take games off Cox and give those games to Ryan.

 

[76woodenspooners]

P.S. Who is Howell...? Howe on earth can you not know his name by now?

Fixed. Let’s pretend it was the spellchecker and ignore any possibility of dementia

 

[Granit1962]

529

Collingwood players will play a total of 529 H&A games between them in 2025

23 players on a teamsheet X 23 rounds = 529.

How will those 529 games be divided up?

How this works:

(1) I’ve taken the lineup out of the OP of the “best 23 in 2025” thread, and put “23 games” next to each of those players on the list below. Players that are not in that best 23 have “0 games” beside them.

(2) Cut and paste the list below into a post

(3) If you reckon that any of the players who haven’t got games should get them (eg: Dan Houston, presumably he hasn’t been put in ‘best 23’ because he’s suspended round 1) then move games from the players that have them to the players that haven’t.

For example: I might put “22 games” next to Dan Houston by taking 20 games off Frampton (putting Frampton on 23 - 20 = 3 games) and taking 2 games off Howe (putting Howe on 23 - 2 = 21 games)

Another example: If you reckon Ed Allan will get games in 2025, then how many? And who out of the Best 23 thread OP will he take those games off?

As a guide:
2022: 38 Collingwood players got senior games
2023: 37 Collingwood players got senior games
2024: 37 Collingwood players got senior games
2025: The list below is seeded with only 23 players getting senior games

At the end of the exercise we’ll see who you think will be getting how many games in 2025

1. Lipinski: 23 games
2. DeGoey: 23 games
3. IQ: 23 games
4. Bruz: 23 games
5. Elliott: 23 games
6. Mitchell: 23 games
7. Josh: 23 games
8. Schultz: 23 games
9. Houston: 0 games
10. Pendles; 23 games
11. McStay: 23 games
11. Harry Perryman: 23 games
13. HDM: 0 games
14. DC: 23 games
16. Ed Allan: 0 games
17. Frampton: 23 games
18. Fin Macrae: 0 games
19. TJ: 0 games
20. Smit: 0 games
21. Steene: 0 games
22. Steele: 23 games
23. Bobby Hill: 23 games
24. Jacob Ryan: 0 games
25. Crispy: 23 games
26. Reef: 0 games
27. Joel Cochrane: 0 games
28. Tim Membrey: 0 games
29. Charlie West: 0 games
30. Moore: 23 games
31. McCreery: 23 games
32. WHE: 23 games
33. Sullivan: 0 games
35: Nick: 23 games
36. Harvey Harrison: 0 games
37. Markov: 0 games
38. Howe: 23 games
39. Will Hayes: 0 games
40. Johnson: 0 games
41. Mihocek: 23 games
43. Charlie Dean: 0 games
44. Ned Long: 0 games
45. Wil Parker: 0 games
46. Mason Cox: 23 games

Total: 529 games

Interesting thread - I don’t have a spread sheet handy, so will just list who I think will play more and less games. I think Dean and Reef will both get a go to lock down a back position. Parker looks so composed and think he will get games. Allan will be given opportunity and possibly become a best 22 - however, he needs to show he has a second position. Will be a good thread to revisit after the we see the practice matches. The Houston, Perryman and Mcreery acquisitions, going to make it a though caper to crack into.

I think all of Mitchell, Elliot, Howe, Sidey and Pendles will play less game, either as Sub or managed. Also Mihocek to be managed for a block of games.

I am hopeful that Allan, Reef and/or Dean, improve sufficiently to put themselves in the conversation of best 22. Also confident that HH will make it and I think Parker will be a very good player.

I think there will need to be injury for Steene or Smitt to get a go - but it would be great if they push there case.

 

[Bianconeri]

Solid effort. Predictions of this nature are impossible of course as the natural assumption will be for no injuries to key players.

Personally I’d be winding back lipinksi a bit, and also 16 for Parker might be very optimistic. Only 10 for Howe I can only see if there are injury issues as form alone should be fine for another season. Also I’d be giving Smit more than 4 games if you’re only giving 11 to Cox. I’d also like to hope Reef gets more than 7…

He’s had two top finishes in the bnf the three seasons he’s been here. Not sure why this take is so popular.

 

[CheckerTrade666]

Slightly off topic, but seeing that people have put Harvey Harrison on zero games, does that mean he’s gonna miss the whole of 2025? Thought he was doing well on his recovery to potentially come back earlier? Guess we need to hear from the club first.

 

[Fat Jesus]

Slightly off topic, but seeing that people have put Harvey Harrison on zero games, does that mean he’s gonna miss the whole of 2025? Thought he was doing well on his recovery to potentially come back earlier? Guess we need to hear from the club first.

Markov on zero games as well. I think he will play a few.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

He’s had two top finishes in the bnf the three seasons he’s been here. Not sure why this take is so popular.

I said “ a bit”. It’s all guesswork anyway.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Slightly off topic, but seeing that people have put Harvey Harrison on zero games, does that mean he’s gonna miss the whole of 2025? Thought he was doing well on his recovery to potentially come back earlier? Guess we need to hear from the club first.

Hopefully he gets a full month or so but likely it will I’ll be in the VFL and the start of his 2026 preseason.

 

[SchuPie]

How good would it be if HH could develop his mid game - he’d be a really weapon in the centre if he could get more of the pill.

 

[Horaceg]

I would have had Cumberland down for 15 games and Owies down for 22 games but the powers that be ****ed that up

Were they VFL games or a combination of VFL and local games?

 

[Jelly Bean]

How good would it be if HH could develop his mid game - he’d be a really weapon in the centre if he could get more of the pill.

The same is true of a lot of players on our list. Imagine McStay being a midfield accumulator with a well developed mid game!

 

[Jen2310]

How good would it be if HH could develop his mid game - he’d be a really weapon in the centre if he could get more of the pill.

tbf, its where he started out in the vfl early on before his hammy issues. Mid-forward. He modeled his game off danger before being drafted. So I reckon he would like to develop that part of his game.

 

[sr36]

Slightly off topic, but seeing that people have put Harvey Harrison on zero games, does that mean he’s gonna miss the whole of 2025? Thought he was doing well on his recovery to potentially come back earlier? Guess we need to hear from the club first.

Probably back in the VFL mid to late year. Would need injuries to break into the seniors I'd think.

 

[SchuPie]

tbf, its where he started out in the vfl early on before his hammy issues. Mid-forward. He modeled his game off danger before being drafted. So I reckon he would like to develop that part of his game.

Yep - which is why I hoping he is able to translate that to AFl level.

Unless of course we go with McStay. FMD.