COLLINGWOOD captain Nick Maxwell says that come 2010 his side will be in a stronger position to challenge for a premiership than this year.

Maxwell, 26, expects his teammates to respond emphatically to a campaign that was emotionally tough at stages, including the heartbreak that came with losing a preliminary final to Geelong.

He added that their early commitment to improve on 2009's result was reflected in the condition they returned for pre-season training in on Monday.

"We're definitely in a better position," Maxwell said from the launch of Peter Ryan's Side by Side - A Season with Collingwood on Wednesday.

"We had quite a few guys who went through some serious traumas [this year] that you can never really judge.

"On top of that, we had some injuries at key times. We're not making excuses because we had 47 guys on the list and we expect them all to stand up and play their role when the time comes.

"I think the experience from this year, and even from the previous year with some of the young guys, has held us in good stead.

"Already I can see the way some players have come back on Monday, with the way they've kept themselves fit has amazed me."

Maxwell said he was looking forward to the pre-Christmas block with the Pies to push each other as hard as they could on the track.

Side by Side - A Season with Collingwood is an honest tell-all account of the day-to-day happenings of the Magpies' 2009 season, giving insight into the 'human' side of those involved with the organisation.