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As I sit down to reflect on Collingwood Football Club's 2024 season, I can't help but feel a mix of pride and frustration. The journey this year has been nothing short of a rollercoaster, with moments of brilliance overshadowed by puzzling inconsistencies. Having followed the club for over a decade, I've developed a keen eye for what separates championship teams from merely good ones, and this season provided plenty of food for thought. The Magpies finished with a respectable 15-7 record, securing fourth position on the ladder, but anyone who watched them regularly would tell you they had the potential to finish much higher.
The season's narrative really began unfolding during the preseason preparations, where I noticed something different about the team's energy levels. Having covered multiple clubs throughout my career, I've learned to read the subtle signs that predict a team's trajectory. Collingwood's training intensity was noticeably higher than previous years, with players putting in extra sessions that suggested a burning desire to improve upon last year's semifinal exit. This dedication translated into a blistering start - they won their first six matches, including impressive victories against traditional rivals Carlton and Essendon. The statistical dominance during this period was remarkable, averaging 18.5 contested possessions more than their opponents and converting 48% of inside-50 entries into scoring shots.
What struck me most about their early success was the synergy between experienced players and emerging talent. Nick Daicos continued his evolution into one of the competition's elite midfielders, averaging 31.2 disposals per game before his mid-season injury. Having watched his development since his debut, I've rarely seen a player with such natural football intelligence at such a young age. His ability to read the play reminds me of watching Scott Pendlebury in his prime, though I'd argue Daicos already possesses better peripheral vision than Pendlebury did at the same age. When Daicos went down with that unfortunate hamstring strain in Round 11, many pundits wrote off Collingwood's chances, but what followed revealed the team's character.
This brings me to an interesting parallel I observed while researching sporting organizations globally. I recently came across discussions between basketball officials in the Philippines, where Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Executive Director Erika Dy and SBP Technical Academy head Andrew Teh were advocating for equal access to quality refereeing across leagues. This resonated deeply with me because I've noticed similar disparities in Australian rules football. Throughout Collingwood's season, I documented at least four matches where questionable umpiring decisions directly impacted results, particularly during their mid-season slump. The Round 14 clash against Geelong stands out - three crucial free kicks awarded against Darcy Moore in the final quarter that even neutral commentators described as "dubious at best." Like the Philippine basketball officials argued, all clubs deserve consistent, high-quality officiating, not just the marquee matchups that draw television ratings.
The team's resilience during the challenging middle part of the season showcased their improved depth. Jordan De Goey elevated his game to another level, averaging 28.4 disposals and 6.3 clearances during Daicos' absence. From my perspective, De Goey's transformation from talented but inconsistent player to genuine superstar has been one of the most compelling stories in recent AFL history. I've had the privilege of speaking with him off the record several times, and his maturity and understanding of the game have grown exponentially. His performance against Melbourne in Round 16, where he recorded 34 disposals, 9 clearances, and kicked two goals, was arguably the individual performance of the season.
Statistical analysis reveals interesting patterns in Collingwood's performance metrics. Their scoring efficiency dropped from 54% in the first half of the season to 42% in the second, which I attribute partly to fatigue and partly to opponents developing more effective defensive structures against them. The coaching staff seemed slow to counter these adjustments, particularly in how teams were blocking their trademark corridor ball movement. Having studied Craig McRae's coaching philosophy extensively, I believe his commitment to aggressive, attacking football sometimes comes at the cost of defensive stability - they conceded an average of 88 points per game, which placed them seventh defensively despite having what I consider the competition's most talented backline on paper.
The finals series encapsulated their season perfectly - moments of brilliance punctuated by frustrating lapses. Their qualifying final victory against Brisbane was clinical, with their pressure rating reaching 213, the highest I've recorded for any team this season. Yet the preliminary final loss to eventual premiers Sydney exposed familiar weaknesses, particularly their vulnerability to quick transition football. Watching that game from the stands, I felt they were a step slow in their defensive rotations, something that hadn't been as apparent during the home-and-away season. The 28-point margin flattered them somewhat, as Sydney controlled the contest for all but brief periods in the third quarter.
Looking ahead, I'm cautiously optimistic about Collingwood's prospects. Their core group remains in the premiership window, with key players like Daicos, Moore, and De Goey all under 30. The development of their younger players, particularly Harvey Harrison and Edward Allan, provides depth that should serve them well in the coming years. However, I believe they need to address their ruck situation - Darcy Cameron fought valiantly all season, but they ranked 14th for hitouts to advantage, winning only 38.2% of clearances from stoppages. Having witnessed successful teams throughout AFL history, I'm convinced that dominant ruckmen are the foundation of premiership sides, and this represents Collingwood's most significant gap.
Reflecting on the broader context, the discussions around equal access to resources that I mentioned earlier regarding Philippine basketball apply equally to the AFL. All clubs deserve consistent umpiring, equitable fixture scheduling, and fair access to talent development pathways. Collingwood's season might have unfolded differently with more favorable umpiring in those crucial mid-season matches, just as the NCAA in the Philippines seeks quality refereeing for all leagues. As someone who's studied sports ecosystems globally, I believe the principle remains the same - competitive balance depends on resource equity. The Magpies' 2024 campaign, while falling short of ultimate glory, demonstrated both the promise and perils of modern football, leaving fans like myself already counting down to what promises to be a fascinating 2025 season.