Preview Collingwood VFL 2013

[blaze036]

Really looking forward to watching our VFL team play in 2013.

How do you guys think we will perform, relative to the past few years?
Where do you think we will finish on the ladder?
Who are you most excited to watch?
Is anyone planning to start going next year that hasn't in the past?

Our VFL team is going to be so freaking exciting, love the look of the new coach and i think he'll get a lot more out of the boys.

Interview about his appointment here -


I think anything less than making the finals in 2013 would be a bit of a disappointment.

This is my team :

F - Mooney Grundy Sinclair (Edwards depth)
HF - Elliot Paine Macaffer (Richmond depth)
C - Seedsmen Williams Broomhead (Thomas/Clarke depth
HB - Ramsay Frost Oxley (Yagmoor Depth)
B - Gault Keefe Hartley (Oxley depth)
Fol: Witts Kennedy Dywer (Hudson/Martin depth)
Int: Edwards Clarke Richmond Hudson Yagmoor Thomas Martin Sundberg Waller

*updated with rookie draft


I'm predicting a 5th placed finish

Leading goal kicker: Paine
Best and fairest - Williams (marley)
Most improved - Mooney
Potential disappointments - Hartley/Yagmoor/Gault/J.Thomas
Best chances for regular senior games - Elliot/Kennedy/Seedsmen/Williams/Macaffer

Fixture:
Round 1: Collingwood vs. North Ballarat
Victoria Park
1:00 PM Saturday 6th April

Round 2: Werribee Tigers vs. Collingwood
Avalon Airport Oval
7:00 PM 13th April

Round 3: Collingwood vs. Frankston
Victoria Park
2:00 PM 19th April

Round 4: Bendigo Gold vs. Collingwood
Queen Elizabeth Oval
6:30 PM 26th April

Round 5: Williamstown vs. Collingwood
Burbank Oval
2:00 PM 5th May

Round 6: Collingwood vs. Geelong
Victoria Park
1:00 PM 18th May

Round 7: Collingwood vs. Essendon
Victoria Park
1:00 PM 25th May

Round 8: Northern Blues vs. Collingwood
Preston City Oval
2:00 PM 1st June

Round 9: Casey Scorpions vs. Collingwood
Casey Fields
2:00 PM 8th June

Round 10: Collingwood vs. Coburg
Victoria Park
2:00 PM 16th June

Round 11: BYE

Round 12: Collingwood vs. Port Melbourne
Victoria Park
2:00 PM 29th June

Round 13: Box Hill Hawks vs. Collingwood
Box Hill City Oval
2:00 PM 6th July

Round 14: Geelong vs. Collingwood
Simonds Stadium
6:00 PM 19th July

Round 15: Collingwood vs. Casey Scorpions
Victoria Park
12 NOON 27th July

Round 16: Collingwood vs. Williamstown
Victoria Park
1:00 PM 4th August

Round 17: North Ballarat vs. Collingwood
Eureka Stadium
2:00 PM 11th August

Round 18: Sandringham vs. Collingwood
Trevor Barker Beach Oval
2:00 PM 17th August

Round 19: Collingwood vs. Werribee Tigers (TAC C/R)
Victoria Park
11:00 AM 24th August


Thoughts?

 

[Jelly Bean]

I would agree - probably lower part of the 8 or just outside again.

 

[DWil6]

Can't see Hartley disappointing. I think he looks good. Time will tell though.

 

[Quicky]

This is my team :

F - Mooney Grundy Sinclair
HF - Elliot Paine Macaffer
C - Seedsmen Williams Broomhead
HB - Ramsay Gault Pendlebury
B - Yagmoor Keefe Hartley
Fol: Witts Kennedy J.Thomas
Int: Edwards Clarke Richmond

Depth: 2-3 rookies yet to be chosen, could see goldsack brown didak johnson russell in the vfl for patches too. plus sundberg Hellier Corr Boland Eddy Seccul S.Williams Hine Cathcart Ferraro (yet to be finalized)

I'm predicting a 6th placed finish

It's an interesting team and good thread! I think it identifies that we still lack depth in the midfield and currently are made up of more outside midfield types. I think if thats how we start we will get bossed in the middle and we can expect a similar ladder finish to last season. If we recruit Dwyer that will help. Also more game time for Sundberg. I think we need to bring in some mature agers to help protect our draftees. Another observation is that backline is too tall, the balance is out there. I don't think we can have Keeffe, Gault, Hartley and Pendlebury all in there. Perhaps something more like:

FB: Yagmoor - Hartley - Pendlebury
HB: Russell - Keeffe - Williams

C: Seedsman - Dwyer* - Clarke
Fol: Witts - J Thomas - Sundberg

HF: Kennedy - Gault - Elliot
FF: Macaffer - Paine - Sinclair

Int: Grundy - Broomhead - Ramsay - Mooney
* Mature midfielder from the PSD/rookie

I think what the exercise illustrates is that we need somewhere for our AFL listed players to play if they are not deserving of a game in the VFL side (Richmond and Edwards off blazes list). There has been a lot of debate about whether we should field a VFL seconds or not. Scodog10 won me over with his economic argument that it just wouldn't be worth the expense for the handful of players that aren't in the VFL side. But that doesn't mean we can't approach a quality suburban league (say Eddys side or similar) and send them there. Although admittedly i'm not sure if AFL rules allow that, does anyone know? I think the benefits of being able to drop players when required and manage the VFL side more effectively would be really beneficial.

 

[mattys123]

I believe the full VFL draw is to be released this week, and it will be interesting to see if we get to play Carlton and Essendon at Vic Park, which would be good now they also have stand alone teams.

As for the team, it seems we are likely to recruit at least one mature aged rookie, and why the main reason for recruiting rookies is the hope that they will play seniors eventually, it will bolster the strength of our VFL squad too.

We need to be more competitive in the VFL from now on, and it's good to hear Tapping talk about the Geelong model, which has seen them win premierships and nearly always go deep into the finals while their seniors have been contesting for flags.

 

[millsy29gopies]

I don't think Carlton have a stand alone team mattys123 I think they're still the Northern Blues. Anyway I am looking forward to the team actually winning some matches next season. Finals is a must with this squad. We have so much talent. Really glad with Tapping taking over too, he looks really passionate about what he does.

 

[Knightmare]

With an AFL team of:
B: Harry O'Brien Nathan Brown Alan Toovey
HB: Heath Shaw Ben Reid Nick Maxwell
CEN: Clinton Young Dayne Beams Steele Sidebottom
HF: Alex Fasolo Travis Cloke Luke Ball
F: Tyson Goldsack Quinten Lynch Andrew Krakouer
FOLL: Darren Jolly Scott Pendlebury Dane Swan
BENCH: Dale Thomas Jarryd Blair Alan Didak
Sub: Jamie Elliott


it leaves us with a VFL team of: (underlined are VFL regulars)
B: Brent Macaffer Lachlan Keeffe Kris Pendlebury
HB: Paul Seedsman Corey Gault Jordan Russell
CEN: Ben Johnson Tom Sundberg Marty Clarke
HF: Tim Broomhead Jackson Paine Ben Kennedy
F: Ben Sinclair Brodie Grundy Caolan Mooney
FOLL: Jarrod Witts Josh Thomas Marley Williams
BENCH: Brett Eddy Jackson Ramsay Michael Hartley Peter Yagmoor Ben Richmond (Richmond will be ours in the rookie draft FYI. Will play key forward)

Sam Dwyer has been rumoued as a player who could be added and would be played as a primary midfielder who can push forward some. Other rookie additions I won't even guess.


Side note: Despite our ruck delistings it's still a relatively tall team. We still have as AFL players: Keeffe, Gault, Paine, Grundy, Witts, Hartley and Richmond. Then K.Pendlebury, Eddy and maybe even Bolland who as key position players will also push for games.
Much better balance this year though and should be a more competitive VFL squad with the one relative weakness being the strength of that midfield group but if Dwyer is added then this won't be a problem with Sundberg also an excellent VFL midfielder who should be available again for regular selection again next year which will make our VFL side plenty more competitive.

Depending on rookie additions I think we will be somewhere in that 7th-10th range. I'd just like to see who we add with those final selections before making an exact call on exactly where we finish. Will be a much more competitive squad next year and probably more fun to watch too with the Witts and Grundy show sure to intrigue. Top 8 a much more realistic goal next year, particularly with a healthy Sundberg and perhaps even Dwyer if we take him as rumoured to really give that midfield some much needed experience. Will give us a big boost around stoppages which last year at VFL level was a big issue with such a young team last year as well as the run and spread which Kennedy and some of the new additions will also help fix up.

 

[blaze036]

I believe the full VFL draw is to be released this week, and it will be interesting to see if we get to play Carlton and Essendon at Vic Park, which would be good now they also have stand alone teams.

As for the team, it seems we are likely to recruit at least one mature aged rookie, and why the main reason for recruiting rookies is the hope that they will play seniors eventually, it will bolster the strength of our VFL squad too.

We need to be more competitive in the VFL from now on, and it's good to hear Tapping talk about the Geelong model, which has seen them win premierships and nearly always go deep into the finals while their seniors have been contesting for flags.

I'll put in the VFL fixture when it comes out, hopefully there isn't a goddam bye every 4th week

 

[FIGJAM]

I think Richmomd needs to change his mane by deed poll, ala Ron Artest from the Lakers.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

I think Richmomd needs to change his mane by deed poll, ala Ron Artest from the Lakers.

Steed poll?

*Boom tish*

 

[FIGJAM]

**** you autocorrect!

 

[blaze036]

**** you autocorrect!

Richmonds mane is fine

 

[JOELY]

Still see us finishing bottom half and probably clearly. Another AFL aligned team in the league may help though. We're always going to cop injuries in the firsts so the best players will always move up, and we'll always have kids and ordinary VFL players filling in the gaps. I'm sounding cynical I know, but every year around this time we set out the VFL team and it looks good on paper, but as the year goes on things start to fall apart.

That said the lineup is probably a tad better than in past years, and if we can have a really good run with injuries in the seniors and solidify the depth in the VFL, we could surprise. If Geelong can do it we should be able to. Either way it's going to be fascinating viewing and as always I'll try to get to as many games as possible.

 

[Shade]

Very true JOELY personally i dont really care how the VFL team actually does just as long as they get the right development down there so when they get called in to action at AFL level there not running around like a headless chook

 

[blaze036]

Still see us finishing bottom half and probably clearly. Another AFL aligned team in the league may help though. We're always going to cop injuries in the firsts so the best players will always move up, and we'll always have kids and ordinary VFL players filling in the gaps. I'm sounding cynical I know, but every year around this time we set out the VFL team and it looks good on paper, but as the year goes on things start to fall apart.

That said the lineup is probably a tad better than in past years, and if we can have a really good run with injuries in the seniors and solidify the depth in the VFL, we could surprise. If Geelong can do it we should be able to. Either way it's going to be fascinating viewing and as always I'll try to get to as many games as possible.

I feel this year we are taking the VFL far more seriously than the past few, thanks to being stung by not able to play VFL finals which hurt our AFL team. Also our new coach who has had great success at TAC level coaching a side should do a lot better than tarks, who didn't really inspire the kids to push very hard.

This is also the first time in a very long time we've had first round kids coming into the team, and there are three of them! Plus Ramsay. I also think we will spend some money on topping up the VFL team with solid bodies (copying geelong) with guys like Dywer who will be a massive boost around the footy.

For these reasons i am really optimistic about what we can achieve. Not having three ruckmen plus mcnamara in the same team should help too !

 

[Jelly Bean]

With an AFL team of:
B: Harry O'Brien Nathan Brown Alan Toovey
HB: Heath Shaw Ben Reid Nick Maxwell
CEN: Clinton Young Dayne Beams Steele Sidebottom
HF: Alex Fasolo Travis Cloke Luke Ball
F: Tyson Goldsack Quinten Lynch Andrew Krakouer
FOLL: Darren Jolly Scott Pendlebury Dane Swan
BENCH: Dale Thomas Jarryd Blair Alan Didak
Sub: Jamie Elliott

You've got Luke Ball at half forward? I think he is probably our only real pure inside player, and a must at stoppages for his tackling and general ferocity... And I don't particularyly see his game translating forward as much as any of Beams, Swan, Pendles, Sidebottom, Thomas. I see Swan spending more time outside rather than Ball, with potentially Sidebottom moving forward a little more.

Other than that, my side is pretty similar. I have Russell in the mix in the backline (taking Elliott's spot in the 22), and probably push Shaw into the midfield mix.

 

[jonbe54]

The VFL team needs to make the finals this year, then we have players match fit for AFL duties if necessary. Other than that its a crèche for our youngsters. Balancing the two competing needs is the challenge for the coach.

 

[DaVe86]

It's time to start winning VFL games.

Yes the focus needs to be on development, but the best way to do that is to take it seriously.

If we are also seroius about winning a flag, then we need the depth playing well into September like Geelong's did this year.

Ultimately, if our senior team stays fit then we should do fine at VFL level too because the team is strong enough.

As pointed out above, still lacks midfield options and hopefully we recruit a few guys to help out. Russell will probably play a bit more midfield, and Kennedy will slot straight in. There may even be a bit more Didak in there and the likes of Elliott. There will be more Ben Johnson as well, and you would expect Seedsman to take the next step and dominate.

Big years for Marty Clarke and Josh Thomas I feel.

 

[iGNITER]

Looking forward to watching alot of the VFL side this year.
Finals is a must I believe.

 

[Matz]

Very true JOELY personally i dont really care how the VFL team actually does just as long as they get the right development down there so when they get called in to action at AFL level there not running around like a headless chook

i would have agreed with you in the past on this but after seeing Geelongs VFL side its important that the VFL team does well and we have that winning mentality even for the youngens coming through.

 

[Knightmare]

You've got Luke Ball at half forward? I think he is probably our only real pure inside player, and a must at stoppages for his tackling and general ferocity... And I don't particularyly see his game translating forward as much as any of Beams, Swan, Pendles, Sidebottom, Thomas. I see Swan spending more time outside rather than Ball, with potentially Sidebottom moving forward a little more.

Other than that, my side is pretty similar. I have Russell in the mix in the backline (taking Elliott's spot in the 22), and probably push Shaw into the midfield mix.

Ball is an excellent inside player but who does he kick into our forwardline? Beams? He was our best player this year. Pendlebury? Swan?

Ball would still play the majority of minutes through the midfield and I agree that is where he is by far most effective, but remembering back to 2011 he wasn't too bad when played forward either. Set shot goalkicking probably the best in our team and his tackling game not a bad asset in that forward half either. The midfield is a rotational thing, Beams and Swan will both and should both get forward minutes but in my structure Ball would be that 4th midfielder.

Russell I haven't counted out either and I'm confident he will receiver opportunities. It comes down to whether he can get back to his best form, but the opportunity is absolutely there for him and given his success 2-3 years ago we know he can perform so it he can recapture that form he has the ability to be an asset to our back half. No doubt.

 

[blaze036]

Added into OP Hudson and Dywer, two mature age top quality players who I expect to play most of the year in the VFL. Dywer Clarke Sundberg Hudson at the center bounces... finally we have some bigger bodies !

Don't think Witts/Grundy/Hudson fit very well into the same team, possible Grundy plays CHF and witts/hudson swap through the ruck and FF, or alternatively we have a rotation policy / one of them plays AFL alongside jolly.

 

[Knightmare]

Hudson would probably sit in the coaching box most weeks anyway so I wouldn't be too concerned about him taking gametime away from Witts and Grundy.

More if one of our talls - Jolly/Lynch/Witts/Grundy get injured Hudson can come in if/when needed.

 

[Quicky]

Added into OP Hudson and Dywer, two mature age top quality players who I expect to play most of the year in the VFL. Dywer Clarke Sundberg Hudson at the center bounces... finally we have some bigger bodies !

Don't think Witts/Grundy/Hudson fit very well into the same team, possible Grundy plays CHF and witts/hudson swap through the ruck and FF, or alternatively we have a rotation policy / one of them plays AFL alongside jolly.

Don't confuse more experience with bigger bodies. Dwyer and Clarke are experienced but aren't exactly bullocking lads. I don't expect Hudson to play much VFL but thats just a guess.

 

[35Daicos]

Hudson would probably sit in the coaching box most weeks anyway so I wouldn't be too concerned about him taking gametime away from Witts and Grundy.

I'm still confused with the idea of Hudson being on our list. Obviously we'd only have him there in case Jolly picked up an injury, and we didn't think Grundy and Witts were ready to play at senior level. But then wouldn't we need to play Hudson often enough in the VFL to keep him match fit in case he's needed, and that may interfere with the development of the 2 young lads?