COLLINGWOOD – THE REBUILD IS ON
2021 FINISHED 17th 6 WINS 16 LOSSES
We look at the Collingwood Football Club, Australia’s most famous AFL club in our AFL season preview 2022. It has become open door policy with a string of high profile changes at the Magpies as a new era arrives in AFL 2022. We look at the AFL Betting prediction for Collingwood as we continue the AFL 2022 season previews.
It became quite evident early on in 2021 that the winds of change were sweeping through Collingwood. The team that went within a kick of the AFL premiership in 2018 had officially fallen apart at the seams. The steadying hand and stewardship of Eddie McGuire that had overseen the club as president for over 20 years and effectively ruled with an iron fist was removed before the season began. He was forced to step aside after the “Do Better” report raised heavy allegations of racism within the Club culture and it was perceived the buck stopped with him.
On the field things were no better after an embarrassing exit from the 2020 finals series. Collingwood were expected to make a strong push back up the ladder, nothing was further from the truth. They won 1 of their first 7 matches making Coach Nathan Buckley a sitting duck and he was gone a month later. Ironically his side bea the eventual premiers in the big Queens Birthday Weekend game that was Buckley’s last coaching gig. They would go on to finish 17th.
Collingwood have gone for an “untried” coach in Craig McCrae. Its his first senior role at this level but has been in the system for 14 years coaching at Collingwood, Brisbane, Richmond and Hawthorn. He took the Tigers reserves to a flag in 2019 he is a 3 time premiership player. When you ponder that in real terms Collingwood have really historically got whoever they wanted he seems an intriguing choice.
Where do the goals come from?
If Collingwood are to improve sharply they need to identify how to attack the scoreboard. Mihocheck with 34 goals was Collingwood’s leading goalkicker. Apart from himself and Jordan De Goey they really haven’t had a potent key forward for a while and de Goey has his own troubles at the moment. How McCrae manages to get goals from his squad will go a long way to determine whether they can sneak up the ladder.
Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe will be welcome returns from injury to steady a relatively young group with the exceptions of the stalwarts Pendlebury and Sidebottom. Collingwood are a relatively inexperienced side so some old heads back in cant hurt.
With a new coach can come a feeling of freedom along with a desire for players to impress the new man in charge. This generally leads to a bump up in form, so we are tipping a minor lift by the Pies but at the same time believe there will be a lot of up and down form as McCrae is firmly building for the future.
PREDICTION 16th with 6 wins
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