News Magpies AFLW/VFLW News.

Remove this Banner Ad

Log in to remove this ad.

Maggie5 said:
Got tickets for 8 games today.

Really looking forward this year.
Click to expand...
Did just mine. For 6 games. Not going to Bris or Sydney. But got tickets for all the melb games.
Dont know why we have 3 away games in a row, but at least we are compensated with a couple vic park ones in a row.
And why we are playing dees at ikon park..
 
Jen2310 said:
Did just mine. For 6 games. Not going to Bris or Sydney. But got tickets for all the melb games.
Dont know why we have 3 away games in a row, but at least we are compensated with a couple vic park ones in a row.
And why we are playing dees at ikon park..
Click to expand...
Great! I too can't believe we play Melbourne at Ikon Park, read it twice thinking it was a mistake.

Practice match tomorrow at Vic Park but I will be watching Mathilda's game. The timing is terrible.
 
THIS is it.

We had been doing the same thing over and over with the same group and not going anywhere. Something had to change, and while it was tough at the time, I think it'll be for the best.


IF THINGS aren't working, something has to change.

For Collingwood, that has meant saying goodbye so some well-loved players over the off-season in order to break past the barriers that have held the club's AFLW side back over the last four seasons.

Steve Symonds took over the head coaching job in 2020, coinciding with the club's first ever finals appearance. Despite reaching finals in every season since he joined the club, the Pies have never made it past the second week.

Masterful performances by former Pies, COVID hitting the playing group, monsoon-like weather, and an agonising bounce of a ball on the goal line ended each of Collingwood's finals campaigns.

But the tough calls the Pies have made during the off-season could have Victoria's biggest club poised for a new, more successful chapter.

Collingwood's finals record

Season Ladder position at end of Home & Away season Finals results
20204th* (4 wins, 2 losses, 153.7%)
  • Semi final loss v NM (two-point margin)
2021 3rd (7 wins, 2 losses, 190.5%)
  • Qualifying final win v NM (six-point margin)
  • Preliminary final loss v BRIS (four-point margin)
2022 6th (6 wins, 4 losses, 123.2%)
  • Qualifying final loss v BRIS (50-point margin)
2022 (S7) 6th (7 wins, 3 losses, 118.4%)
  • Elimination final win v WB (five-point margin)
  • Semi final loss v ADL (12-point margin)
*Conference system, ladder placing within Conference B

'The other side of 30': Why Pies let players go​

Over the Pies' season-on-season finals push, 17 players were ever-present. While consistency in playing list has generally been regarded an important part of successful teams, consistency without result is another story.

Consequently, moving on four of those 17 – Steph Chiocci, Jaimee Lambert, Jordan Membrey and Chloe Molloy – has allowed the Pies to reshape their playing list, and they've shown a clear intention to look longer term.

AFLW FANTASY Pick your team NOW

"I think all clubs realised they weren't going to be able to retain all their squads, which we have seen happen right across the board," Symonds said of the recent player movement period, which saw a whopping 38 players change teams.

"We were expecting to lose some players, that was always going to be part of it, and based on everyone's financial value going up, it's going to be pretty hard to maintain everyone that you had anyway."

So, aware of the reality that some players were likely to leave, the Pies focused on who would best fit the long-term future of the club.

"You've got your Steph Chiocci, who was obviously captain for that period of time, and Jaimee Lambert, two, three times best and fairest, and Chloe Molloy's obviously a highly talented player. But the reality is a couple of them are the other side of 30," Symonds said.

Symonds also made a note of who the club was able to retain despite interest from rival sides, the likes of dual All-Australian Ruby Schleicher, reigning Collingwood best-and-fairest winner Jordyn Allen and emerging leader Lauren Butler.

"It's a different outlook," returning midfielder Brit Bonnici said.

"We're going to be a different Collingwood this year which, truthfully, it's exciting.

"I think the last time we were a 'new Collingwood' was probably when we got Steve… it's like anything, things get stagnant after a bit of time, and how cool that we keep Steve. Usually, the coach has to go to get that revamp."

Collingwood's list changes after season seven

Out In
Chloe Molloy (Priority Signing Period - to Sydney)Tarni White (Traded)
Jaimee Lambert (Traded - to St Kilda)Grace Campbell (Traded)
Steph Chiocci (Traded - to St Kilda)Selena Karlson (Drafted)
Jordan Membrey (Traded - to Gold Coast)Eleri Morris (Drafted)
El Chaston (Delisted)Nell Morris-Dalton (Traded)
Abbi Moloney (Delisted)Brianna Davey (return from ACL)
Alison Downie (Retired)Brit Bonnici (return from ACL)


'It hurt us': Returning stars to fill void​

Collingwood will also regain the class and leadership of star midfield duo Bri Davey and Bonnici from respective ACL injuries this year - something that Symonds admits they really missed last season in their absence.

"They're not only quality players, but their quality inside our program with their leadership is outstanding," Symonds said.

AFLW TIPPING Sign up and get your tips in now

"Just the ability to show the way in their training standards and their football IQ as well really helps our playing group. It's probably something that we missed a little bit during game days is that football IQ on the field in those moments.

"Having a couple of your leaders not out there to be able to provide direction hurt us."

Player intake strategy: Looking long-term​

To support those still in the black and white, the Pies decided to look to youth, particularly with the recruitment of Tarni White and Nell Morris-Dalton.

"We had to revisit what our strategy was moving forward, and now we're in a long-term strategy… So, some of the trade decisions that we made, and the draft decisions were all based around our long-term strategy now," Symonds said.

Seven of Collingwood's list is 21 years old or younger as of the season's September 1 start, while still maintaining an average experience of 28.4 games. In the process, the club has also recruited suitable cover for their oldest players, preparing somewhat of a succession plan in those positions.

Many, rather than the few: Pies' new forward focus

Another area that has troubled the Pies is their ability to score. Often, they have been in strong positions during games, but failed to put their opposition away on the scoreboard.

A new focus on the forward line could mean we see a very different Collingwood in 2023.

Collingwood has kicked more than 60 points just once in its history, the equal-fewest times of the inaugural eight teams alongside Greater Western Sydney.

This is compared to the last three premiers Adelaide, Brisbane, and Melbourne, who have each done so 10 or more times.

The addition of Morris-Dalton, Eleri Morris, and Grace Campbell to the Pies' attack, combined with a developing Eliza James and an ideally fit Olivia Barber offers a really different look ahead of the ball than the club has seen.

While the loss of Chloe Molloy certainly hurts the Pies on the surface, having kicked nearly 20 per cent of the club's goals over the last three seasons, this is now an opportunity for them to find a spread in attack. To lean on the many rather than the few.

Putting it all together: Will this change be for the better?

Now, the club is focused on using the change as a springboard to reach new heights this year. A chance to break past that second week of finals and go deeper than it ever has before.

"I'm not a big fan of ceilings," Symonds says of what he thinks Collingwood can achieve this year.

"I think all you can do as an individual, then as a group, is to explore the actual maximum of what you're able to do… That's what my philosophy is all about. That's what our mindset within our four walls is all about, just being the best versions of ourselves and where that takes us, who knows.

"We're just trying to become the best we can."

And with the men's program barrelling toward finals, the AFLW side has a chance to continue the club's momentum throughout September and beyond.
Click to expand...
www.afl.com.au

Pretender or contender? Pies' tough calls in quest to be dual-comp powerhouse

Collingwood lost plenty of AFLW talent during the off-season, but it may have been by design. Gemma Bastiani looks at how the Magpies are primed to enter a new chapter of genuine premiership contention
www.afl.com.au www.afl.com.au
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

Jen2310 said:
Click to expand...


In addition to this, there is $1 million up for grabs for the McClelland trophy - the best outcome of combined men’s and women’s (men’s 4 points per game, women’s 8 points per game). Given our Men won the minor Premiership, that’ll put us in a good position to for all our players to get a nice bonus.
 
76woodenspooners said:
In addition to this, there is $1 million up for grabs for the McClelland trophy - the best outcome of combined men’s and women’s (men’s 4 points per game, women’s 8 points per game). Given our Men won the minor Premiership, that’ll put us in a good position to for all our players to get a nice bonus.
Click to expand...
I think we would have been a chance if we hadn't dropped the Hawthorn and Carlton games. But sadly I'd expect Melbourne and Brisbane to have stronger AFLW teams than us and be able to leapfrog us.
 
Jen2310 said:



Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com
Click to expand...


Congratulations to Bates, thoroughly deserved, as she has been dominant in her performances all season.
I really can't understand why two players, Bates and Dojiok are not playing in our AFLW team. These two very good players are right under our noses, and l just shake my head as to why they weren't drafted into the AFLW programme.
Bates, we can all see her talent, prolific ball winner, and kicks goals as an inside mid. Think she would be terrific in the midfield with Davey and Bonnici. Then with us struggling to kick goals up forward, we have the exciting talent of Dojiok, who had nearly 40 shots on goal at VFLW level, and is an exciting talent who is good in the air and is athletic. Something we need in our AFLW forward line. Get them in for season 9!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Jen2310
Injury AFLW Injury report
2
Replies
29
Views
2K
Jen2310
Jen2310
Jen2310
Preview Collingwood VFLW season 2023
Replies
8
Views
2K
Jen2310
Jen2310
Jen2310
Game Day VFLW Grand Final. Collingwood v Port Melbourne @ ETU Sadium. Sunday July 30. 12:10pm
2
Replies
25
Views
1K
Jen2310
Jen2310
Dead Eye Didak
Round 1 2023: Magpies 71 d Swifts 63
Replies
1
Views
504
Maggie5
Maggie5
Maggie5
Oppo Camp Other AFLW teams
2
Replies
30
Views
3K
3066
3066
Jen2310
  • Locked
Game Day AFLW Collingwood v Essendon. September 23rd @ AIA 3:10pm.
Replies
20
Views
2K
Jen2310
Jen2310
Maggie5
Game Day AFLW Geelong v C'wood at GMHBA Stadium, Saturday 4:10pm AEST
Replies
16
Views
2K
Markfs
Markfs

Remove this Banner Ad

Back
Top