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neilk said:
I checked, he played 57.
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With concussion being managed differently I’d like to see the f/s qualification amended to 100 games or a premiership player.
 

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Tippy78 said:
Impressive west coast
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It’s understandable when you consider WCE have a long membership waiting list (a bit like MCC) so they’re maxed out because of Optus stadium capacity.
 
76woodenspooners said:
It’s understandable when you consider WCE have a long membership waiting list (a bit like MCC) so they’re maxed out because of Optus stadium capacity.
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Does there need to be a discussion on why that stadium is in the low 60’s and not the 80’s at least? WA is so flushed with cash they could have built two stadiums with roofs and not gone into debt, but the two clubs have big enough fan bases to sustain a bigger stadium that would have at least been a viable alternative to the G.
 
Scodog10 said:
Does there need to be a discussion on why that stadium is in the low 60’s and not the 80’s at least? WA is so flushed with cash they could have built two stadiums with roofs and not gone into debt, but the two clubs have big enough fan bases to sustain a bigger stadium that would have at least been a viable alternative to the G.
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It's a bit of a myth that every West Coast game is a sellout - they don't - and Freo never gets close.
 
sideswipe said:
It's a bit of a myth that every West Coast game is a sellout - they don't - and Freo never gets close.
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I don't know how it all works in terms of the whole ground, but there is a waitlist for WCE memberships that get you into all 11 of their home games. And they sell them for $860 each.

They've got massive support.
 
sideswipe said:
It's a bit of a myth that every West Coast game is a sellout - they don't - and Freo never gets close.
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I had always heard (without any concrete evidence) that West Coast had a cap on their membership numbers?

Is that true? I guess it makes sense given they don't have a stadium that could handle a club with 200K members
 
Cousin of Daicos said:
I had always heard (without any concrete evidence) that West Coast had a cap on their membership numbers?

Is that true? I guess it makes sense given they don't have a stadium that could handle a club with 200K members
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They've got a wait list for season ticket memerships.

But membership numbers include things less than season tickets. Their waitlist has a yearly fee and goes into their membership numbers.
 
The Magpies spent the whole summer adamant they would not suffer a premiership hangover but 2024 was one big headache.
No matter how much panadol the Pies took to stave off the hangover, a combination of injuries, loss of form and being hunted each week meant Craig McRae’s team missed the finals.

With the oldest playing list in the league – one that wont get much younger next year – Collingwood must now find a way to crack that premiership window back open.

The Pies have made it clear they will still search for ready-made players to drop into the team next year and push to return back up the ladder but have little to trade in this year’s draft, holding only picks 33, 48 and 51.

But even with the form of some veterans slipping this year, the biggest issue for the Pies was the younger players, with Nick Daicos the only player under the age of 25 to have a genuinely strong season.

Bobby Hill was the only other to have a decent campaign but he didn’t deliver to expectations after his Norm Smith Medal last September.


The Magpies have done the right thing by going after experience when they sit in the flag window but couldn’t find the balance with getting improvement and games into younger players.

And Collingwood gave a chance to four mature-aged players through summer or mid-year signings and none of them especially grabbed that opportunity.

So how does McRae bring back the magic his team soared on in his first two seasons at Collingwood?

OFF-SEASON MOVES

McRae put a key forward on the top of his agenda for the off-season but there is a very slim market for game changers upfront.

Outside of untried or fringe players, the Pies might have to pull a surprise and wrench someone out of a club.

Otherwise Tim Membrey and Elliott Himmelberg are on the market, as are delisted pair Sam Day and Matt Taberner.

Hardly needle-moving bigs.

Jake Stringer has been touted as a Magpie option and is a genuine goalkicker, plus he shouldn’t cost too much in a trade given Essendon’s lack of desperation to keep him.

Stringer at least bagged 42 goals this year but he is not a pack-breaking key forward.

Reports have indicated Dan Houston is on Collingwood’s radar but unless they reap a huge return for wantaway half-back John Noble, the Pies don’t have the assets to get in the conversation.

Collingwood really needs quality youth but currently doesn’t own a first-round draft pick.

Noble should fetch them a second-round equivalent choice.

CONTRACT CALLS​

The Magpies have largely taken care of their important targets. Here is who is left:
Reef McInnes – Was supposed to be the year McInnes cemented a spot in the forward line, instead he ended the year playing defence in the VFL. Certainly has talent but may need a fresh start. Verdict: Going
Jack Bytel – Summer signing didn’t have a big enough impact at his second club. Verdict: Going
Joe Richards – Has several offers elsewhere as he weighs up his future, with Port Adelaide having put up a three-year deal. Richards has not made a call yet on his future. Verdict: In the air
Lachie Sullivan – Another summer signing, looked a keeper in the middle of the year but fell out of favour. Verdict: In the air
Charlie Dean – Played eight games this year to finally get a crack at the Pies. Worth another go on the rookie list. Verdict: Stay
Ned Long – The former Hawk closed out the season in Collingwood’s team and performed admirably without big numbers. Line ball. Verdict: In the air
Josh Eyre – A nasty hamstring injury hit Eyre at the wrong time. Didn’t play at AFL level so has to be in trouble. Verdict: In the air

OFF-FIELD DECISIONS

Even by their own admission, 2024 was a mess for the Pies.

Revered football boss Graham Wright took a sabbatical and instead of outright replacing him, the Pies elevated Justin Leppitsch and Brendon Bolton to fill his role.

They also moved things around in the coaches box under McRae and the shifts didn’t appear to work.


CEO Craig Kelly is not on the hunt for a new football boss and the Pies need some stability heading into next season.

NEED A LIFT

How many of these players were better in 2024 compared to 2023?

Darcy Moore, Brayden Maynard, Oleg Markov, John Noble, Isaac Quaynor, Lachie Schultz.

All managed to largely avoid the injury dramas at Collingwood but didn’t keep at their own level from the year before.

Collingwood's Over 30s​

PlayerAge at R1, 20252024 games
Scott Pendlebury3720
Jeremy Howe3419
Steele Sidebottom3422
Mason Cox3316
Jamie Elliott3215
Brody Mihocek3211
Tom Mitchell316
Will Hoskin-Elliott3120
Jack Crisp3123

Schultz was a disappointment after the Pies invested heavily in him with draft capital and virtually replaced Jack Ginnivan with him, with Ginnvan a roaring success at Hawthorn.

That band of players, plus injury-struck Josh Daicos, Jordan De Goey, Dan McStay and Beau McCreery are the backbone of this Collingwood team.


Simply, if they all play better next year, the Pies will obviously be a better team.

All nine of the Magpies aged over 30 will remain at the club next year and it’s probably unfair to expect them to step up their games, but they do need to shrug off injury problems.

Of that cohort, Jack Crisp (as usual) played every game, Steele Sidebottom, Scott Pendlebury and Will Hoskin-Elliott played 20 or more.

At different times, injuries affected Jeremy Howe, Mason Cox, Jamie Elliott, Brody Mihocek and Tom Mitchell.

That group needs to get its body right.

WAY TOO EARLY 2025 PREDICTION: 9th (12-11)
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sideswipe said:
It's a bit of a myth that every West Coast game is a sellout - they don't - and Freo never gets close.
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WC have won 10 of 72 matches I think we can cut them some slack averaging 43,000 at home in 2024. The odd part is that Fremantle had the 4th highest home crowd average in the league this season. Ahead of MCG tenants Melbourne, Hawthorn and Richmond. Given the financial wellbeing of that state there’s no practical reason that stadium shouldn’t be 80k.
 
Scodog10 said:
WC have won 10 of 72 matches I think we can cut them some slack averaging 43,000 at home in 2024. The odd part is that Fremantle had the 4th highest home crowd average in the league this season. Ahead of MCG tenants Melbourne, Hawthorn and Richmond. Given the financial wellbeing of that state there’s no practical reason that stadium shouldn’t be 80k if only one MCG tenant is averaging more at home games.
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Once again - they aren't selling it out. The Perth stadium build was a political football for many years. That might be your practical reason.
 

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