What are our chances ~ 2025

[SLORT]

If Condon comes and he’s half the player they believe he can be then that’ll strengthen us again moving forward
IMO the first 6-8 weeks will be vital

NBA draft is end of June. If he fails to get drafted it'd be doubtful he'd be playing afl till mid / end of July? And even then if we are bringing him into the firsts then our season must really be off the rails with the other ruck options all injured. To be honest I'd hope we wouldn't even be considering him till late 2026 / 27.

[The Black and White Lion]

Well despite strong words earlier this season it sounds like we’re in the gun for opening round again. I’m not sure that I like that or that we relented if true. I can only hope that if we play round 0 again it gives us a better draw and better time slots to watch the pies

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/blues- ... 15f4798af2

[Jezza]

^ Can't say I'm happy about it. I was hoping we were opting out of it.

Seems our stance has softened from what Browne said earlier in the year.

[SLORT]

Well despite strong words earlier this season it sounds like we’re in the gun for opening round again. I’m not sure that I like that or that we relented if true. I can only hope that if we play round 0 again it gives us a better draw and better time slots to watch the pies

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/blues- ... 15f4798af2

I'd think it'd be fine this time, considering we didn't play finals. It's only dumb for either of the previous grand finalists to be involved in, and that is what should be written in their scheduling rule book going forward.

[The Black and White Lion]

yeah I agree @SLORT but the naysayers will come back at us with the Brions won in 2024. Either way we need to perform better for longer in 2025.

I'm not a fan of deliberately advancing 8 teams chances by playing them first and giving them a different bye week early. I'd rather the AFL play all games in Round 1 split over 2 weeks so there is less disadvantage for all clubs. Still allows them to focus on the northern market, they could play non GWS, Swans, GC or Brion games in Albury, Canberra, Newcastle, Wagga Wagga and any other NSW regional centre with good facilities and play an extra game in Sydney to make up the 9. Not sure you want to go to north into Qld and NT at the time of year. Would even out the Gather Round impacts of extra home games played abroad.

[RudeBoy]

If Condon comes and he’s half the player they believe he can be then that’ll strengthen us again moving forward
IMO the first 6-8 weeks will be vital

NBA draft is end of June. If he fails to get drafted it'd be doubtful he'd be playing afl till mid / end of July? And even then if we are bringing him into the firsts then our season must really be off the rails with the other ruck options all injured. To be honest I'd hope we wouldn't even be considering him till late 2026 / 27.

IF....as expected, he fails to get drafted to the NBL in June, he would be expected to arrive at the Pies by the end of July. He should be physically ready to play, as he has been in the elite college basketball program for 3 yrs. He already has an extensive football background. Given all that, my guess is he could play 2-3 weeks in the VFL before coming straight into our senior side. If my mail is correct......he is that good. No ifs, no buts, no maybes.

[qldmagpie67]

2025 will be interesting now
Given we don’t expect to be a big player in the draft what we have is what we have
The additions of 3 ready made AFL players makes the list deeper but also questions the positions that will be available in the best 23
If Houston Perryman and Membrey all play (you would expect 2 of them at least to play) and Mitchell coming back in there’s 3 or 4 spots
Noble gone makes room for 1 but there’s going to be pressure on other players to retain spots now
Is there a chance we move checkers to FB and Moore to CHB and play Membrey as CHF and McStay as FF and use our hybrid types ? Or do we plant Cox deep early and give McStay the roving role to play the lead up role and ask Cox just get it to ground ?
McRae has been reluctant to play a full time run with role instead backing us to win our own ball but he did use Sidey in that role late last season. If he goes back to the former plan what role does Sidey play ?
With the extra midfielders in (Houston and Perryman can play there as well as Allan who impressed late last season and Mitchell back) where does Pendles play ?
Josh played the last part of 2024 off HBF does he continue in that role now we have Houston and Perryman who can play there ?
It’s going to be interesting to see the makeup of the 23 and who plays where

[Pies4shaw]

^ I expect all of Pendlebury, Sidebottom and Josh Daicos to be delisted immediately after the draft. No need for generational talent when you've recruited a faceless journeyman from GWS.

[Take_a_Screamer]

Could next year be the last dance for ageing Magpies?
Damian Barrett and Sarah Olle take a look at Collingwood ahead of 2025.

- Pies remain a premiership threat, but is 2025 their last dance?
- A fit and firing Jordan De Goey would hold the Pies in good stead
- Darcy Moore must rediscover his best form
- Off-field instability hurt the Pies this year

Podsast:
https://www.afl.com.au/news/1252364/lis ... od-magpies

[Presti35]

I've got us down for 5 flags in a row

[Pies4shaw]

^ Pessimist. I bet you don't think Pendlebury will reach 700 games, either.

[Presti35]

699 actually, with 5 norm smiths and 2 brownlows

[Take_a_Screamer]

Pre-season has started (can you believe it?)

Collingwood, Melbourne veterans make early pre-season returns
https://www.zerohanger.com/training-not ... ns-156696/

[Take_a_Screamer]

Matthew Richardson thinks the BIGGEST ‘swing’ team in the AFL next season is...

• Magpies - but could go either way

• there are another couple of teams.

https://www.3aw.com.au/who-matthew-rich ... xt-season/

[The Black and White Lion]

Pre-season has started (can you believe it?)

Collingwood, Melbourne veterans make early pre-season returns
https://www.zerohanger.com/training-not ... ns-156696/

Yeah some interesting lines from training. Mitchell taking a coaching role with young defenders. McInnes at HB, AJ in the ruck.