MAGPIES CHASE A 90-YEAR DREAM

The lure of back-to-back flags for the first time in nine decades must be an intoxicating goal, given Collingwood hasn’t won consecutive premierships since 1935-36.

Craig McRae’s team looks well placed to contest again.

Arguably, the Magpies’ list should be better. Nick Daicos will enter his third season as one of the best in the game; Jordan De Goey looks as if he is ready to rip the competition apart, Lachie Schultz will add to the craft and talent of an already wellfunctioning forward line.

Can Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom maintain their rage? It would be a brave man to bet against it.

WHO CAN STEP UP FOR MCSTAY?

Collingwood successfully found a way to deal with Dan McStay’s absence in last year’s grand final, but can the Magpies do it for a full home and away season?

McRae and his coaches have been working on a solution since McStay went down with a knee injury.

It has been largely pictured as a head-to-head battle between Ash Johnson and Reef McInnes, but neither really guaranteed a spot in last week’s clash with Richmond.

Johnson played 15 games for 21 goals last season but never locked down a spot. McInnes is good overhead and on the ground and has enjoyed a strong pre-season, but managed only five games last year.

It will be an evolving storyline.

IS IT FIN MACRAE TIME?

Out: Taylor Adams. In: Finlay

Macrae. This looks to be the Collingwood equation heading into 2024 as the patience of hardworking, blue-collar mid Macrae looks set to finally be rewarded.

At stages of last season, the pick 19 from the 2020 draft seemed certain to be on the move after several rival clubs tested the waters. But Macrae backed himself to secure a spot in the Magpies’ team and has spent the summer doing the hard work.

In the final year of his contract, Macrae will likely get a clear run at contributing to an already strong midfield core that includes Nick Daicos, Jordan De Goey, Josh Daicos, Jack Crisp, Scott Pendlebury, Tom Mitchell, Steele Sidebottom and co.

IS SCHULTZ AN UPGRADE FROM GINNIVAN?

The short answer is yes. The former Docker has yet to have a 40-plus-goal season, as Ginnivan did in 2022, but his forward craft, running patterns and defensive pressure craft look well suited to the Magpies’ attack.

He is a very smart footballer who will work well with smalls in Bobby Hill and Jamie Elliott, making a tough attack to match-up.