Collingwood does not deal in patience. They deal in pressure, expectation, and noise. When you are one of the biggest clubs in the AFL, every season is measured against one question. Are you good enough to contend?
If the Pies want to remain genuinely competitive this year, not just scrape into the eight but threaten in September, several issues need tightening.
It begins with identity. Craig McRae’s game plan is built on speed, corridor bravery and suffocating forward pressure. When Collingwood bring that manic edge, they look like a premiership level outfit. When the pressure dips, even slightly, they look vulnerable and exposed on turnover. The competition is now too even to rely on late game heroics. The system only works if the intensity is relentless.
The midfield remains the heartbeat. Nick Daicos is still the class act. His vision, composure, and ball use elevate everyone around him. But if Collingwood lean on him to be superhuman every week, they are setting themselves up for trouble. The centre clearance battle must improve collectively. When the Pies lose stoppages cleanly, the defensive unit is immediately under siege.
That leads directly to the backline, which has already been tested early in the season.
Injuries to Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe have disrupted cohesion and structure. Moore is not just a key defender. He is the organiser, the interceptor and the emotional leader down back. Howe brings experience and elite aerial judgement. Remove one and the system creaks. Remove both and the domino effect is obvious.
Communication suffers. Match ups become reactive rather than proactive. Younger defenders are pushed into bigger roles sooner than expected. While effort has not been lacking, stability has.
This is where defensive depth becomes a real concern.
On paper, Collingwood’s best back six can compete with anyone. The issue is what sits underneath that. If Moore or Howe miss extended time, or if another key defender goes down, the drop-off is noticeable. The AFL season is brutal. Injuries are not hypothetical. They are inevitable.
A lack of proven defensive depth can derail momentum quickly. It forces reshuffles, impacts rebound speed and increases pressure on midfielders to cover defensively. The best sides in the competition have eight or nine defenders they trust at senior level. Collingwood are still developing that safety net.
The ruck situation carries similar risk.
Darcy Cameron is the clear number one ruck. He competes strongly, provides a contest around the ground and works well with the midfield group. But if Cameron goes down injured, Collingwood are likely to rely on Oscar Steene.
Steene impressed during the pre-season. He competed hard, moved well and showed promising signs. There is genuine upside there. The problem is experience. He is still young and largely untried at senior level.
If Cameron were sidelined for a significant stretch, Steene would be thrust into the number one role. That does not just affect hit outs. It impacts clearance chemistry, midfield confidence and the team’s ability to control territory. Developing rucks learn through sustained exposure at the top level, but that learning curve can be steep. Expecting a young, inexperienced ruck to carry that responsibility in high stakes games is a gamble.
If Collingwood find themselves thin in both defence and the ruck at the same time, structural pressure compounds. Lose the clearance battle and you expose an undermanned backline. That is not a formula for sustained competitiveness.
Up forward, efficiency remains critical. Collingwood generate enough opportunities to win most weeks. The issue has been conversion in tight contests. Against top sides, wasted set shots are brutal. You do not get endless chances to make amends in finals-level football. The Pies must be smarter going inside fifty and more composed in front of goal.
Then there is the player under scrutiny.
Dan Houston needs to fire.
He was brought in to add polish and drive off half-back. Elite kicking, composure under pressure, and the ability to launch attacks with one decisive disposal. So far, his start in black and white has been steady rather than impactful. There have been moments of hesitation and turnovers that stall momentum.
In Collingwood’s system, hesitation is costly. When Houston backs himself and takes territory with his kicking, the Pies look dynamic. When he plays safe or second guesses, the ball movement slows and opposition defences reset. He does not need to dominate headlines, but he does need to own his role.
If Houston hits form, it stabilises the back half, particularly while Moore and Howe work through injury concerns. His composure can steady younger defenders and his rebound can turn defence into attack instantly.
Depth across the list will ultimately define how competitive Collingwood remain. The AFL season tests resilience. Injuries, suspensions, and form slumps are part of the grind. The Pies cannot afford a scenario where two injuries in one position group trigger a chain reaction.
Young players must develop quickly. Role players must execute consistently. The coaching staff must continue evolving tactically, so opposition teams cannot predict their patterns.
In simple terms, the blueprint is clear.
The pressure game must return to elite levels. The midfield must support Nick Daicos rather than rely on him. The defence must hold firm despite limited depth and early injuries to key leaders. Ruck coverage must prove reliable, especially if Darcy Cameron goes down and Oscar Steene is forced into the number one role. The forward line must convert its chances. And Dan Houston must step into the impact role he was recruited to fill.
If those elements click, Collingwood are right in the premiership conversation. If they do not, they risk being talented but fragile. Dangerous on their day, but inconsistent across a season.
At Collingwood, that is not good enough.
You can find more from Dave on his substack HERE and he will be contributing to The Mongrel over the coming season.
