Your 2023 Collingwood Magpies season preview is here, just in time for the start of the new AFL season! Everything you need to know about the Magpies is here, all in the one article – aren't you lucky. We’ve got information about squad changes, rankings and stats from last year, key matches to look for, as well as none other than ex-AFL star Heath Shaw’s opinion on how the Magpies will go this season.
Let’s get cracking shall we!
Recruitment Report
Let’s take a little look at the new signings for the Magpies, along with all the players they’ve parted ways with:
Ins: Ed Allan, Billy Frampton, Bobby Hill, Oleg Markov, Dan McStay, Tom Mitchell, Joe Richards, Jakob Ryan and Oscar Steene
Outs: Callum Brown, Tyler Brown, Isaac Chugg, Brodie Grundy, Ollie Henry, Jack Madgen, Liam McMahon, Caleb Poulter and Jordan Roughead
2022 Rankings
Where did the Magpies rank for disposals in the AFL last season? Or what about clangers? All the key rankings for the Magpies are below:
Kicks: 5th
Handballs: 5th
Disposals: 5th
Marks: 14th
Hit-outs: 4th
Frees For: 3rd
Frees Against: 6th
Goals: 5th
Behinds: 4th
2022 Stats
Who had the most goals for the Magpies? Who had the most marks? All these stats and more can be found below:
Most Disposals: Nick Daicos - 644
Most Tackles: Jack Crisp - 137
Most Clearances: Jack Crisp - 106
Most Marks: Jeremy Howe - 141
Most Goals: Brody Mihocek - 41
3 Key Matches To Watch
These are the key matches you can’t miss if you’re a Magpies fan (up to Round 15):
Match 1: Round 6, vs Bombers, at MCG (Tue, Apr 25, 3:20pm)
Match 2: Round 10, vs Blues, at MCG (Sun, May 21, 3:20pm)
Match 3: Round 13, vs Demons, at MCG (Mon, Jun 12, 3:20pm)
2023 AFL Season Expectations
Not sure who is the accountant at Collingwood but it’s a full-time gig managing the wages of players that you’re paying to play elsewhere, for example Grundy. A kick away from a Grand Final, which broke the hearts of so many Pies faithful. After a season which every part was an overachievement can’t the Pie army roll on?
Tactically targeting players for positions they need and off loaded more of their dead wood (Grundy), pardon the pun. Tougher draw this year and lots of close games last year putting some doubt on credentials, but they do look primed to be right in there come September.
Predicted Finish: Top 6-8
