Jordan De Goey kicks a goal in the Pies’ semi-final win over GWS. The smart forward/midfielder emerged as a genuine star in 2018. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

COLLINGWOOD 2018 record: 17 wins, 9 losses (2nd)

THE INS
Dayne Beams (Brisbane), Jordan Roughead (Western Bulldogs), Isaac Quaynor (Oakleigh Chargers), Will Kelly (Oakleigh Chargers), Atu Bosenavulagi (Oakleigh Chargers), Anton Tohill (Derry – GAA), Mark Keane (Cork – GAA)

THE OUTS
Alex Fasolo (Carlton), Jarryd Blair (delisted), Kayle Kirby (retired), Sam McLarty (delisted), Adam Oxley (delisted), Josh Smith (delisted – West Coast)

THE STRENGTHS
Collingwood now has arguably the best midfield in the competition. An on-ball division comprising Dayne Beams, Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom, Adam Treloar and Taylor Adams, as well as All-Australian ruckman Brodie Grundy, would send shivers down the spine of every single opposition coach. The Magpies’ forward line is also extremely potent with the likes of Jordan De Goey, Jaidyn Stephenson, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Brody Mihocek and Josh Thomas wreaking havoc with their application of manic pressure to rival defences, while Mason Cox has officially arrived as a force to be reckoned with in attack, as evidenced by his incredible preliminary final performance against Richmond. The Pies also have great depth. Though hit badly by injuries, the more they were forced to explore their list, the more they kept digging up gems. The likes of Chris Mayne, Brayden Sier and Mihocek all stepped straight into the side and hardly put a foot wrong, while other fringe players such as Callum Brown, Flynn Appleby, Josh Daicos, Jack Madgen, Ben Crocker and Nathan Murphy all looked comfortable at senior level.

THE WEAKNESSES
Strength and conditioning has to come under scrutiny considering Jamie Elliott (26), Daniel Wells (22), Tyson Goldsack (22), Ben Reid (20), Darcy Moore (19), James Aish (13), Lynden Dunn (12), Levi Greenwood (10), Adam Treloar (nine), Matt Scharenberg (nine), Travis Varcoe (six) and Jeremy Howe (five) missed a combined total of 173 games. Not all of those injuries were preventable, of course, but it has to be said that a decent proportion were due to their soft-tissue nature. And given the Pies lost the grand final by a kick, in a game of inches, the sports science department can quite literally be the difference between premiership glory and September heartache. Collingwood’s backline, which was hit hardest by the injury curse, also looks a bit flaky. While it does very well to punch above its weight, it did get exposed a little on grand final day by West Coast big men Josh Kennedy, Jack Darling, Scott Lycett and Nathan Vardy. That would explain the rationale behind the recruitment of premiership Bulldog tall Jordan Roughead, especially with Dunn, Goldsack, Moore and Reid underlining the unreliability of their bodies.

ONE TO WATCH
Wouldn’t it be nice to see Elliott back out on the footy field doing what he does best? At full flight he is one of the most exciting small forwards in the game, but injuries have conspired against him and stalled a very promising career. He has spent the entirety of two of the last three seasons on the sidelines due to back, hamstring and ankle issues. The cut-throat nature of footy means he gave up his spot in the team and he has now been overtaken by De Goey, Stephenson, Hoskin-Elliott, Mihocek and Thomas. But if anyone deserves a break, it’s Elliott, and footy fans would be the beneficiaries of his return to full fitness.

UNDER THE PUMP
Unfortunately for popular swing man Ben Reid, it looks as though the end is nigh. Injuries once again savaged him in 2018, restricting him to just six games. He has now played just 47 games in the past five years, and the 29-year-old has fallen well back in the key position pecking order. He will probably only get game time now if big men in the best 22 suffer injury or suspension.

BEST 22
B: Brayden Maynard, Darcy Moore, Tom Langdon
HB: Jeremy Howe, Tyson Goldsack, Jack Crisp
C: Steele Sidebottom, Dayne Beams, Adam Treloar
HF: Josh Thomas, Mason Cox, Will Hoskin-Elliott
F: Jaidyn Stephenson, Jordan De Goey, Brody Mihocek
R: Brodie Grundy, Scott Pendlebury, Taylor Adams
Inter: Tom Phillips, Travis Varcoe, Chris Mayne, Brayden Sier
Emerg: James Aish, Jamie Elliott, Daniel Wells, Levi Greenwood

Ordinarily, Dunn and Scharenberg would be in the best 22 after having such impressive seasons, but because they’re not expected to be available until much later in the year due to knee reconstructions, they have been left out. And that means Darcy Moore gets a huge opportunity to cement a spot in the backline. He clearly has the talent, it’s just a matter of whether his body will hold together or not. After four separate soft-tissue injuries last year, he needs a serious reversal of fortune. Roughead is waiting in the wings as well, and while he might not be in the 26 at the moment, he will undoubtedly get opportunities.