Collingwood 2023 AFL Preview & Predictions

<p>Collingwood came from seemingly nowhere to give the 2022 AFL season one almighty shake up.</p> <p>Little was expected of the Pies as a club engulfed in controversy, down a coach and a president.</p> <p>However, under new head coach Craig McRae, Collingwood turned over a new leaf and began playing a truly irresistible brand of football.</p> <p>They attacked relentlessly all season, exceeding any and all expectations, but ultimately fell one game, well one point, short of the decider.</p> <p>Can they go one better this season? Or were they simply punching above their weight last year galvanised by media scrutiny and people wanting to see them fail?</p> <p>Read our preview below for the best Collingwood tips and predictions for the upcoming AFL season.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Key Gains</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li><em><strong>Ed Allan (No.19 draft pick)</strong></em></li> <li><em><strong>Billy Frampton (Adelaide Crows)</strong></em></li> <li><em><strong>Bobby Hill (GWS Giants)</strong></em></li> <li><em><strong>Oleg Markov (Supplemental selection period)</strong></em></li> <li><em><strong>Dan McStay (Brisbane Lions)</strong></em></li> <li><em><strong>Tom Mitchell (Hawthorn)</strong></em></li> <li><em><strong>Joe Richards (No.48 draft pick)</strong></em></li> <li><em><strong>Jakob Ryan (No.28 draft pick)</strong></em></li> <li><em><strong>Oscar Steene (Supplemental selection period)</strong></em></li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>It has been a very busy trade period for Collingwood with numerous additions being made to their squad.</p> <p>Tom Mitchell has joined from Hawthorn to help bolster their midfield with his ball-winning abilities, while Dan McStay has signed on to provide another target in attack.</p> <p>Billy Frampton and Bobby Hill are the other two players signed from rival clubs, while a number of draft picks and supplemental selections have been recruited to fill out the rest of the squad.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Key Losses</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li><em><strong>Callum Brown (Delisted)</strong></em></li> <li><em><strong>Tyler Brown (Delisted)</strong></em></li> <li><em><strong>Isaac Chugg (Delisted)</strong></em></li> <li><em><strong>Brodie Grundy (Melbourne Demons)</strong></em></li> <li><em><strong>Ollie Henry (Geelong Cats)</strong></em></li> <li><em><strong>Jack Madgen (Delisted)</strong></em></li> <li><em><strong>Liam McMahon (Delisted)</strong></em></li> <li><em><strong>Caleb Poulter (Delisted)</strong></em></li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>In a changing of the guard moment, former All-Australian and one time Collingwood best and fairest Brodie Grundy has been traded to the Melbourne Demons.</p> <p>One of the main reasons for his departure was the need for salary cap relief. Grundy signed a monster seven-year contract in 2019 worth a reported $1 million a season.</p> <p>Joining him out the door is young forward Ollie Henry who has joined champions Geelong, as well as a host of other players who’s services have been deemed surplus to requirements and as a result have been delisted by the club.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Player To Watch</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em><strong>Jack Crisp</strong></em></p> <p>Widely considered to be Collingwood’s most consistent player, Jack Crisp will once again be integral to his side's hopes this season.</p> <p>As of the end of last season the tireless rover has played 188 consecutive AFL games.</p> <p>This is a record for any Collingwood player in the AFL era (from 1990 onwards) and the longest streak of any active player in the competition.</p> <p>Ultra-durable and reliable, Crisp will once again be the one who sets the standards and tempo that his teammates adhere to.</p> <p>If Collingwood are to have another season to remember, Crisp will be one of the main reasons why.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Collingwood Season Prediction</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Predicted finish: <strong>5th</strong></em></p> <p>Two things working against Collingwood this season will be the draw and the weight of expectation.</p> <p>After finishing 17th in 2021 they were given a soft draw last season as is standard in the AFL.</p> <p>After finishing 4th last season this will no longer be the case and they will find themselves facing the competition’s elite more often than not in 2023.</p> <p>On top of this, little was expected of the Pies last year. Engulfed in controversy and coming off the back of a 17th placed finish, everyone expected them to implode, not finish in the top 4.</p> <p>After coming within a whisker of the GF much will be expected of Collingwood and sometimes heavy lies the crown.</p> <p>On the flip side, they have recruited well, adding a wealth of experienced talent to bolster their ranks.</p> <p>It is also important to note that despite missing out on the decider, Collingwood finished last year as one of the form teams of the competition.&nbsp;</p> <p>Their only losses after round 9 came at the hands of the two eventual grand finalists.</p> <p>If they pick up where they left off, you can expect them to once again be playing finals footy come the end of the season.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Collingwood’s Best 22</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>B:</strong> Brayden Maynard, Nathan Murphy, Jeremy Howe</p> <p><strong>HB:</strong> Nick Daicos, Darcy Moore, Scott Pendlebury</p> <p><strong>C:</strong> Steele Sidebottom, Jordan De Goey, Josh Daicos</p> <p><strong>HF:</strong> Pat Lipinski, Dan McStay, Beau McCreery</p> <p><strong>F:</strong> Jamie Elliott, Brody Mihocek, Jack Ginnivan</p> <p><strong>Foll:</strong> Darcy Cameron, Tom Mitchell, Jack Crisp</p> <p><strong>I/C:</strong> Mason Cox, Taylor Adams, John Noble, Isaac Quaynor</p>