The rebuilding Pies have more than a few exciting youngsters on their list and with some ageing veterans nearing the end of their careers, will this mean we see more of this young talent emerge?
Collingwood Magpies Best 22
If you’re not excited about the Pies from a Fantasy point of view, in my eyes you’re not a real Fantasy fan! While all the hype will be around Nick Daicos, there are so many other exciting young Fantasy prospects on the Pies list. Will they get a crack this year, will be the big question however!
I’m tipping a pretty settled backline for the Pies this year. They really missed Jeremy Howe for those big chunks last year but he’ll settle that backline down nicely. Lots of talk that Scott Pendlebury will be moving to a half back flank. This could mean we see Jack Crisp or Brayden Maynard get a chance in the guts but until we see some preseason action, I’ll back Pendles to start in the pivot.
After a disappointing 2021, Josh Daicos is in no-man’s land a bit and may find himself on a wing opposite Will Hoskin-Elliott this year. He’s got plenty of talent but is a tough one to gauge where his best position is right now. I do see his best footy in the centre square however.
I expect Steele Sidebottom to be playing 70% forward this season as they look to blood some youth through the middle and I think Oli Henry is an incredible talent who will be a force to be reckoned with in the Pies forward line for years to come.
Pat Lipinski will get his time to shine as a genuine on-baller this year and is a player who could seriously turn some heads after year’s of limited opportunity at the Dogs.
Nick Daicos will easily get a game come round one, while I’m tipping a big break-out season from Trent Bianco this year. Jack Madgen will provide some taller, lockdown coverage down back while Isaac Quaynor could be deployed in defence or on the wings.
The often injured Will Kelly is mighty close to breaking into that Pies side but I’ve backed in the experience of Brody Mihocek and Darcy Cameron to start off the year.
Finlay Macrae, Caleb Poulter and Trey Ruscoe will all get chances as stages through the year, while the Brown brothers need big pre-season’s to re-establish themselves as possible Best 22 options. Arlo Draper is the draftee from last year who could easily make his debut this year too.
CBA prediction
2021 CBA leaders (by average):
- Brodie Grundy
- Max Lynch
- Taylor Adams
- Scott Pendlebury
- Jordan De Goey
- Brayden Sier
The Oracle’s 2022 CBA prediction:
- Brodie Grundy
- Taylor Adams
- Patrick Lipinski
- Scott Pendlebury
- Jordan De Goey
- Josh Daicos
Kick-in prediction
2021 kick-in leaders:
- Brayden Maynard
- Jeremy Howe
- Chris Mayne
The Oracle’s 2022 kick-in prediction:
- Brayden Maynard
- Jeremy Howe
- Darcy Moore
