As the Collingwood Magpies reflect on a challenging 2024 season, the club finds itself at a crucial crossroads. With an ageing roster and limited draft options, the Magpies face tough decisions that could shape their future for years to come. Recent commentary from former player Kane Cornes and St Kilda great Leigh Montagna has highlighted the need for strategic planning as the club seeks to rejuvenate its lineup while maintaining competitiveness.
Ageing Roster Raises Concerns
Kane Cornes, speaking on SEN’s Sportsday, pointed out that the Magpies may have had little choice but to re-sign their ageing stars. With only three draft picks—32, 48, and 50—heading into the upcoming draft, the club’s options for injecting youthful talent into the squad are severely limited. The Magpies traded their first-round pick to Fremantle for Lachie Schultz last year, a decision that initially appeared to bolster their chances but now raises questions about long-term sustainability.
Cornes noted that while players like Steele Sidebottom have shown they can still perform, the overall age of the roster is a pressing concern. “What a consistent star he has been,” Cornes acknowledged, but he also expressed doubts about the future contributions of players like Mason Cox and Tom Mitchell. “I think they probably need to move past [Cox] from what I saw this year,” he stated, indicating a need for a more dynamic approach in the midfield.
Managing Retirements Effectively
A significant issue for the Magpies is the challenge of managing retirements. Cornes emphasized the importance of staggering retirements to avoid losing multiple key players simultaneously. This approach is vital for maintaining competitiveness while gradually introducing younger talent into the fold. The club must find a way to transition from an established core to a new generation without sacrificing on-field performance.
Cornes suggested that players like Jeremy Howe have finished the season in reasonable form, which could provide a foundation for the team moving forward. However, the question remains: how can the club effectively balance the need for experience with the urgency of bringing in fresh talent?
The Bigger Picture: Planning Ahead
Leigh Montagna echoed Cornes’ concerns, urging the Magpies to look beyond immediate success. On Fox Footy’s The First Crack, he stated, “The chat now is about the bigger picture and if age is starting to catch up to them.” Montagna highlighted that last year’s premiership team was one of the oldest in AFL history, and as the team assesses its ageing roster, difficult decisions loom.
Montagna asked critical questions regarding the future of the club: “How many of those 11 players can they go on with? How many do they have to start moving past?” He emphasized the need for a strategic approach to rejuvenating the squad, suggesting that the club must begin considering its long-term viability.
Youth Development: A Critical Concern
One of the most pressing issues for Collingwood is its lack of young talent. Aside from standout player Nick Daicos, the Magpies have an alarmingly thin pool of players aged 25 and under. Montagna pointed out that the club’s youthful core is limited, with only a handful of players like Isaac Quaynor, Bobby Hill, and Beau McCreery showing promise at the top level. “We’re really clutching; there’s a handful of players 25 and under,” he lamented, underscoring the urgent need for the club to invest in youth development.
The lack of depth among younger players poses significant risks for the club. As the more experienced players age, the burden of performance will increasingly fall on a limited number of emerging talents. Montagna warned that while the Magpies might aim to secure another premiership, failure to develop younger players could result in a prolonged period of struggle and decline.
Conclusion: A Call for Strategic Action
As the Collingwood Magpies navigate this critical juncture, they must balance immediate aspirations with long-term planning. The challenges are evident: an ageing list, limited draft picks, and a need for youth development. The club’s leadership will need to act decisively to ensure they do not find themselves in a talent void in the coming years.
Fans and analysts alike will be closely monitoring the Magpies as they make decisions that will shape their future. Whether they can successfully blend experience with youth will determine not just their immediate success, but the sustainability of their competitive edge in the AFL landscape. The time for planning is now; the future of the Magpies depends on their ability to adapt and evolve in a rapidly changing environment.
