As I sit down to reflect on Collingwood Football Club's rollercoaster 2024 season, I can't help but draw parallels with that emotional Maverick moment from basketball - you know, when he described his brother's reaction to becoming teammates. "When I told him that I was going to be his teammate, he was screaming," Maverick recalled about their video call. That raw excitement and family connection reminds me so much of what we witnessed at Collingwood this year, particularly in how our veteran players welcomed the fresh talent. This season was supposed to be our triumphant follow-up to last year's premiership, but football has its own plans, doesn't it?
Looking back at our 16-6 record through the home and away season, most supporters would call it successful, but those of us who've followed the club for decades know there were underlying issues that needed addressing. We started like a house on fire, winning our first eight matches with that signature Collingwood pressure game that made opponents look like they were running in quicksand. I remember sitting in the stands during our Round 3 clash against Brisbane, watching Nick Daicos weave through traffic like he had eyes in the back of his head - the kid was simply phenomenal, averaging 31.2 disposals through the first half of the season. But then came that devastating hamstring injury in Round 12 that sidelined him for five crucial weeks, and honestly, our midfield never quite recovered the same dynamism.
The real turning point came during that three-game losing streak between Rounds 14-16 where we conceded an average of 92 points per game - a far cry from our early-season defensive solidity. Our backline, usually so reliable, started showing cracks you could drive a truck through. Darcy Moore was playing through pain, Jeremy Howe's aerial dominance wasn't quite what it used to be, and our transition from defense looked slower than Melbourne traffic on a rainy Friday. I've always believed defense wins premierships, and watching us struggle to implement Craig McRae's system during that period was genuinely concerning. Our pressure rating dropped from 195 in the first third of the season to just 178 during that mid-year slump - numbers that don't lie about our diminishing intensity.
What really fascinated me though was how our younger players stepped up when the veterans were struggling. Harvey Harrison, in just his second season, brought this incredible energy every time he stepped onto the ground, reminding me of that Maverick quote about family support within the team structure. The way our leaders like Scott Pendlebury took the rookies under his wing - it was that same brotherhood mentality Maverick described. Pendles, even at 36, was still averaging 24 touches a game and mentoring the kids like a professor teaching masterclasses in midfield craft. I've never seen a player so effectively balance his own performance with developing the next generation - it's something special that doesn't show up on the stats sheet but absolutely impacts wins.
Our forward line presented both our greatest strength and most puzzling inconsistency. Brody Mihocek booted 58 goals for the season, but when he was quiet, we struggled to find alternative avenues. Ash Johnson showed flashes of brilliance with that spectacular Mark of the Year contender in Round 8, but his 28-goal season felt like underachieving given his talent. What we missed was that reliable second key forward - someone who could take the pressure off Checkers when opposition defenses stacked their backline. I've been saying for two seasons now that we need to either develop or recruit another tall target, and this year proved it beyond doubt.
The Collingwood Football Club's 2024 season review and key player analysis wouldn't be complete without addressing our finals performance. We fought hard against Carlton in that qualifying final, but losing by 12 points after leading at three-quarter time stung more than any regular season defeat. Our clearance work got dominated 38-25, and when you lose the midfield battle in September, you usually lose the war. Jordan De Goey tried to carry us with his 28 disposals and 9 clearances, but one man can only do so much against a determined Blues outfit. Watching that final quarter unfold felt like watching a slow-motion car crash - you could see what was happening but felt powerless to stop it.
So where do we go from here? From my perspective, we need to focus on three key areas: developing our next generation of key position players, managing our veteran stars more carefully throughout the season, and adding some leg speed to our midfield rotations. The competition isn't getting any easier, with teams like Sydney and GWS looking formidable for 2025. But if there's one thing I've learned watching Collingwood over the years, it's that we bounce back stronger from adversity. That family culture Maverick described - that's what will carry us forward. The way our players celebrated each other's successes even during tough stretches tells me the foundation is there for another premiership push. We've got the talent, we've got the coaching staff, now we just need to put it all together when it matters most. Here's to 2025 being the year we bring home cup number 16.
