B: Alan Toovey, Chris Tarrant, Nick Maxwell
HB: Harry O'Brien, Ben Reid, Heath Shaw
C: Sharrod Wellingham, Dane Swan, Ben Johnson
HF: Luke Ball, Travis Cloke, Andrew Krakouer
F: Alan Didak, Chris Dawes, Steele Sidebottom
FOLL: Darren Jolly, Scott Pendlebury, Dale Thomas
I/C: Leigh Brown, Leon Davis, Dayne Beams
SUB: Jarryd Blair
Injury list
Nathan Brown (knee) - indefinite
John Ceglar (knee) - 1-2 weeks
Brad Dick (shoulder) -1 week
Tom Hunter (neck) - TBA
Nick Maxwell (internal bleeding) - 1-2 weeks
Ben Reid (ankle) - 1-2 weeks
Josh Thomas (foot) - 4 weeks
Most valuable player
You only had to look at the difference in the Magpies once they recruited the big former Sydney Swan to realise just how important Darren Jolly is to their structure. While Cameron Wood is improving and Leigh Brown has shown his versatility as a back up, Jolly is the crucial link in the Pies' midfield.
Track specialist
Simon Buckley has put together his first injury-free pre-season since 2008 and was rewarded by playing in every NAB Cup game. He failed to break into the senior side last year and was named emergency seven times, but with a fit body finally, he should apply pressure this year for senior selection.
Dream Team special
It's very hard to go past the former Richmond midfielder with his bargain basement price, Andrew Krakouer (midfield/forward, $139,500). He played every NAB Cup game after arriving at Collingwood following his glittering season in the WAFL in 2010. Will definitely play, has proven he can get the ball, and is sure to ascend in value.
Pivotal match View the full Magpies fixture here
Magpie fans will have to wait until nearly the middle of the season for the grand final rematch with St Kilda, which is sure to build the anticipation for the clash between the two sides even more. They fought out an epic decider last year that famously ended in a draw before the Pies easily prevailed the following week in the replay. The Saints won't have forgotten that fact on Saturday June 4 when they meet for the first time since that clash.
Draftee watch
Rookie-listed Bolton came to the club in unusual circumstances last year after being discovered by Nick Maxwell at a draft camp held in Geelong. Since his recruitment in the December NAB AFL Rookie Draft, the 19-year-old has played four of the Pies' five NAB Cup games and has shown plenty of promise.
The Magpies will have a good year if …
... they can have a similar run of luck with injuries as to what they enjoyed in 2010, they can maintain their hunger and intensity across the season, the Malthouse-Buckley coaching handover doesn't become messy, and their backline can hold together with Nathan Brown out for the season, Tyson Goldsack on limited preparation and Maxwell injured for the early rounds.
The big issues
Will the coaching changeover become significant as the season wears on? Malthouse is leaving and Buckley is coming in, regardless of what happens on the field. The triple premiership coach is supposed to remain at the club as director of coaching afterwards but will he be tempted to walk if rival clubs start scouting? And will any attention surrounding his future be distracting?
Will the Pies keep all of their premiership stars with Greater Western Sydney looming? The cashed up Giants have been linked to out-of-contract midfielders Dane Swan, Scott Pendlebury and Dale Thomas. Will their desire to work towards a Collingwood dynasty outweigh the financial lures of the new franchise?
Will it be hard to keep the players consistently motivated after winning last year's flag and this year's NAB Cup? The game is largely played above the head and keeping the players hungry will be a considerable challenge for the coaching staff this year.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
