Stronger Magpies primed for AFL flag

FUELLED by the agony of grand final despair and boasting their deepest list in recent memory, Collingwood are determined to scale the AFL summit.

The question is whether the Magpies can back up from the emotional rollercoaster that was 2018 – a year of operatic highs and lows from Nathan Buckley’s coaching resurgence to coming within a Dom Sheed kick of winning the flag.

Buckley’s recent two-year contract extension underscores the deep faith he has earned after lifting the Magpies back to September action. But key figures agree that a repeat performance can only be driven by the players.

As assistant coach at Geelong a decade ago, Magpies forward line coach Brenton Sanderson witnessed a team stacked with leaders turn anguish into triumph.

Stunned by Hawthorn in the 2008 grand final after a season of dominance, Geelong responded by winning 13 straight games on the way to claiming the 2009 flag.

“That was just so well player-driven, with a couple of little adjustments from the coaches,” Sanderson said.

“It wasn’t wholesale changes. It was just getting better at what you do well and making some tweaks to some areas you think you need to improve on. I think that will be similar for us.”

Already, there are reasons to believe for the Collingwood faithful. Favourite son and 2010 premiership player Dayne Beams is back in black and white after securing a trade from Brisbane.

So too are small forward Jamie Elliott and swingman Darcy Moore, who the Magpies hope have overcome longterm injuries.

Taylor Adams will miss at least the first two rounds after having surgery on an injured finger, but Beams is a big addition to a potent midfield led by Steele Sidebottom, Adam Treloar, Scott Pendlebury and a pinch-hitting Jordan De Goey.