Midfielder Taylor Adams has expressed his desire to take on more of a leadership role in 2016 as he embarks on his third year at the Magpies.
Adams believes his “demanding” attitude towards teammates can help captain Scott Pendlebury and the leadership team on the field in 2016.
While he would happily accept an official position in the leadership group, the 21-year-old believes the intensity he brings to the club will be remain constant regardless of any decision.
“It’s an ambition of mine to be seen as a leader of the Collingwood Football Club,” Adams told Collingwood Media.
“It (potentially being in the leadership group) won’t change the way I go about it. I’m still going to demanding out on the field and try to instruct the boys.
“That’s exactly what we need out there.”
After winning eight of its first 11 games in 2015, Collingwood stumbled to an end-of-season record of 10 wins and 12 losses.
Adams believes a lack of depth in leadership attributed to the form slump which saw the Magpies miss the finals for the second consecutive year.
“In the second half of the year we fell away and relied on too few at the top of our leadership group to drive the boys,” Adams said.
“To fill that void that we’ve got there after losing Maxy (Nick Maxwell) and Bally (Luke Ball) a couple of years ago is something that I’ve certainly focussed on.”
One area the Magpies seemingly have no shortage of depth is through its midfield rotations.
Adam Treloar and James Aish will this year join an emerging group of onballers, while all four rookies taken in November’s National Draft have the capacity to play in the midfield.
An integral member is Adams, who says the group is rapidly growing as the 2016 season approaches.
“The midfield group is certainly on the improve,” Adams said.
“If you compare it to the best of the competition, which would be Hawthorn… we’re probably not quite there yet but we’re certainly on that trend.
“We’ve got some really good depth there and some new players coming in who are going to have an immediate impact.”
With less than 70 days remaining until Collingwood’s round one clash against Sydney, Adams believes the club is beginning one of its most crucial chunks of preseason training.
“I think this month is a really important block for us,” Adams said.
“We’ve got good numbers out on the track and most of the boys are relatively fit.
“Training has certainly stepped up in intensity and the competition for spots is as hot as ever.”
As Adams is well aware, the battle is a healthy one that is set to continue in the weeks leading into the new season.
Another certainty is that the voice of the 21-year-old midfielder will continue to get louder on the training track as round one approaches.
"Demanding" Adams continues to lead
Taylor Adams has discussed his position as a leader at the Magpies as he embarks on his third season at the club.