Harry O'Brien and Scott Pendlebury. Only four per cent of Collingwood fans though either of two highly-rated Pies should be offered up for trade. O'Brien had a consistent year across all 25 of the Magpies' games, and was strong against some of the League's most talented goalkickers.
Pendlebury had another impressive year despite picking injuries late in the season. He averaged nearly 26 possessions across his 21 games, and has no doubt impressed the fans with his skills and leadership.
What the coach said:
O'Brien: "Harry was fourth in the best and fairest and is a player that we look to shut down the opposition's dangerous forwards. He did that on a consistent basis."
Pendlebury: "He's similar to Shane O'Bree in that he's always at the coalface of what's going on at the stoppages. He showed how well he can read the play and he knows where to put the footy when he finds it. Unfortunately, he was another one who was injured towards the end of the season." – assistant coach Mark Neeld.
The keepers
Dayne Beams, Heath Shaw, Steele Sidebottom and Dane Swan. Impressive years from the two first-year players in Beams and Sidebottom have seen them rated evenly with a pair of the club's most talented players. All four were rated by 95 per cent of supporters as untouchable commodities, after seasons that saw Swan (25 games for an average of nearly 31 touches across them) win his second consecutive best and fairest, and Shaw (21 games for an average of 23 touches) place third.
The club's best first-year award winner in Beams combined with Sidebottom to play 29 games. Together, they gave Magpie fans a glimpse of the exciting future of the side's midfield.
Trade bait
Chris Bryan, Anthony Corrie, Ryan Cook and Danny Stanley. A whopping 88 per cent of fans voted to see Bryan moved on to his third club, and the Pies must have been listening as he was delisted this week. Stanley (74 per cent) was also cut from the Pies' list, but at this stage, Corrie (86 per cent) and Cook (79 per cent) remain.
It hasn't been the move former Lion Corrie wanted, as he has managed just three senior games in 2009. Cook failed to capitalise on his strong end to last season by adding just two senior games to his tally this year. Pies fans have clearly decided that after four seasons, his time is up at the Lexus Centre.
What you said
"Trade O'Bree-Johnson-Davis . . . Davis for a high draft pick and we need O'Bree and Johnson to make way for some young midfielders coming through." – Ash.
"Pies need to learn to get rid of players that are no good to us but still have a bit of value with a few years left, eg. Fraser, O'Bree, Cloke. Cloke will never win a Coleman because he has no football smarts … If we don't get Ball or Jolly it will be a disgrace. Swing the axe Mick!!" – PC.
"Must keep Wood and Fraser. Get Russell Robertson, he is an absolute gun and would complete the forward line with Dick, Macaffer, Cloke, Anthony, Leon Davis and Rusling if he can get up and going." – Eamonn.
What actually happened
The Pies were keen to secure homesick Sydney Swans' ruckman Darren Jolly right from the outset, but were met by a tough-talking Paul Roos. The Swans refused to accept Collingwood's offer of a first-round draft pick (No. 14 overall), but agreed when the Pies tossed in pick No. 46 for good measure.
Disgruntled St Kilda midfielder Luke Ball was unable to make it to the Pies when a proposed deal involving multiple clubs fell over.
The Pies have also seen Anthony Rocca and Marty Clarke retire, and recently cut Chris Bryan, Danny Stanley and rookies Toby Thoolen, Johnny Bennell and Kevin Dyas from their list.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
