On field positional changes 2025 ?

[WhyPhilWhy?]

I understand the idea, but DC's value when he goes forward is more stretching the opposition ruckman to cover him, rather than their key backs.

He would be easier to plan for and cover as a full time key forward.

[LaurieHolden]

One this is evident; our potency up forward will need to improve / evolve.
Hill (30 games - 30 goals/28 behinds) & Elliott (15 games - 21/16), McCreery (15 games - 10/10), Schultz (20 games - 24/21).
Of course being a small forward isn't just about accuracy. If they're not scoring its goal assists and tackles are core KPIs.
Schultz's tackle count (76 from 20 games) is becoming as valuable as McCreery's (84 from 17 games) who needs to evolve is game to either kick more goals or offer us a positional change option.

Depending if a competitive tender emerges for his services over the trade period, I'd prefer to keep Richards as a forward option and depending on what evolves, switch McCreery into a BP or HBF. Particularly if we land Peatling.
Might McCreery then have scope to become our own Dan Houston?
https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_ ... 1=S&fid2=S

All of a sudden, we'd have a few strategy options for our coaches to tinker with over the pre-season.

A small brigade forward line of Hill, Elliott, Schultz, Richards, (Harrison inj.) alongside Mihocek, McStay, INBOUND TRADE, Johnson, McInnes looks potent, gives us some depth.

[SLORT]

Depending if a competitive tender emerges for his services over the trade period, I'd prefer to keep Richards as a forward option and depending on what evolves, switch McCreery into a BP or HBF. Particularly if we land Peatling.
Might McCreery then have scope to become our own Dan Houston?
https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_ ... 1=S&fid2=S

I think that he could even be an improvement on Noble in that he tackles hard and they stick. He has leg speed to break lines. And his disposal efficiency is pretty good (71%) considering the position he's been playing (for comparison Ginni and the Wizard are both lower in the mid 60s). Yeah, this looks like a good move.

[piedys]

Okay beloved scribes, below are our list changes since September:

Aiden Begg (del)
Josh Carmichael (ret)
Nathan Murphy (ret)
John Noble (trd)
Joe Richards (trd)

So with the addition of perryman and houston, are we thinking both will spend time down back and on ball?
And the loss of Noble, that leaves us with only Markov to give us run and carry to break the lines off half back.
So is Markov a lock for the 23, since the departure of Noble?
We will miss Noble's run from half back, despite the frequent turnovers in the process....
I don't think Markov can be relied upon to do this with any consistancy...

[Pies4shaw]

^ We just acquired a back-to-back all-Australian running, goal-kicking, marking, big-bodied halfback and you're seriously concerned we can't cover the hole Noble will leave?

[piedys]

^ We just acquired a back-to-back all-Australian running, goal-kicking, marking, big-bodied halfback and you're seriously concerned we can't cover the hole Noble will leave?

Not exactly; I said we will miss it - I never said we can't cover it....

[Pies2016]

I go back to what Leppa said when we first secured Perryman. Leppa suggested he would spend most of his first year at HB with a view to increase his midfield minutes as the retirements are rolled out. It would be hard to imagine Houston anywhere else than HB but it’s interesting to note, Carlton pitched him the opportunity to play in the midfield, so maybe he rolls through there on an infrequent basis.
So given the above, maybe it’s Quaynor who finds himself in a different position in 2025. He strikes me as more a defender ( when in form ) than an up the ground type, so It might be he starts as a winger and drops back as the extra in defence ( the same could apply to Houston also )
Lots of options around the flanks and through the midfield but our spine still needs some strengthening and depth added onto the 2025 list.

[Haff]

Had a swing at positions for best 23. Not much controversial in there, good problem to have the players missing out.

FF: Schultz, Checkers, Elliott
HF: Hill, Mcstay, Mcreery
C: Jaicos, JDG, Sidey
HB: Houston, Howe, Perryman
FB: IQ, Moore, Maynard
FOL: Pendles, Naicos, Cameron
INT: Crisp, Lipinski, Cox, WHE, Mitchell

EMG: Dean, Membrey*, Allan

Expect Sidey to be forced out by someone, WHE, Mitchell hopefully pushed by some of the kids. Cox by Steene/Smit. I dont see any future for Long, Markov, Sullivan and Macrae unless we have a few injures. Markov a long way back now.

[Boot]

The arrival of the real Dan Houston to Collingwood we don't need to try Beau McCreery as a clone of Dan Houston .
I'm still in love with the potential for McCreery to develop into a more heavily scoring forward by developing his composure and becoming another Steve Johnson type of damaging forward. He has all the physical attributes, apart from a natural tank to run at high intensity for an extended time, to become a targeted, damaging high forward that storms the forward fifty from the center line as Collingwood exit our defence and hit the scoreboard with regularity. Such power football, added to his already displayed opportunist play from stoppages, offers to transform the Collingwood forward line. This with Schultz and Elliot as deep small forwards behind the likes of Mihocek and McStay and the dazzle of Bobby Hill and power of DeGoey I foresee great excitement for Collingwood's 2025 season.

[Boot]

Okay beloved scribes, below are our list changes since September:

Aiden Begg (del)
Josh Carmichael (ret)
Nathan Murphy (ret)
John Noble (trd)
Joe Richards (trd)

So with the addition of perryman and houston, are we thinking both will spend time down back and on ball?
And the loss of Noble, that leaves us with only Markov to give us run and carry to break the lines off half back.
So is Markov a lock for the 23, since the departure of Noble?
We will miss Noble's run from half back, despite the frequent turnovers in the process....
I don't think Markov can be relied upon to do this with any consistancy...

I agree that the run provided by John Noble from defense will be missed, but his susceptibility to being exploited due to lack of one-on-one contested strength will not be missed especially in finals pressure games. However, when Collingwoods poor start in 2024 was rectified it was the run of Noble that jolted the team back into form starting with a stirring win over Brisbane in Brisbane in 2024. We will miss that speed and I always thought his disposal was pretty good in that rebounding defender role. The problem with Markov is that whilst he provides the speed to run the ball from defense, I think his disposal is a weakness with the "long bomb" kick often not to Collingwoods advantage being his go to option far too often. Speed is a necessary weapon in AFL teams so I haven't given up on Markov being a strong contributor to the team success in 2025 but he'll need to be at his best to hold a spot with such a high number of strong players vying for those rebounding defender roles e.g. Houston, Quaynor, Josh Daicos, Maynard, Perryman and even Sidebottom, Hoskin-Elliot and Crisp filling this role.