Over the next few weeks Collingwoodfc.com.au will review the playing list in numerical order.  Each group of players will be reviewed by an assistant coach.

Mark Neeld joined Collingwood late last year as the defensive coach.  This was his first year coaching at the senior level after enjoying a decorated career at suburban and elite junior level. 

Collingwood List Assessment: Numbers 1-10

1.    Leon Davis:  He averaged 17 disposals per game, kicked 32 goals and took 101 marks (all career highs).  Arguably his best game of the season was in round 20 against Port Adelaide polling two Brownlow votes after 28 possessions (24 kicks), eight marks and one goal.

Mark Neeld says: Leon’s season was interrupted in the mid-part by injury.  He started the year extremely well and then was injured.  He took a little bit of time to rehabilitate from an ankle/foot injury but finished the year in outstanding fashion showcasing his classy skills and his ability to read the play.

2.    Sean Rusling: The talented 21-year-old, who has been plagued by injury since debuting in 2005, dislocated his shoulder in round one against Fremantle and underwent a subsequent shoulder reconstruction. 

Unfortunately after a very strong preseason, shoulder reconstruction was required after round one.  Sean dealt with his rehab in a professional manner and is now fully fit and will be starting preseason on time. 

3.    Ryan Lonie: The 25-year-old announced his retirement at the end of the 2008 season.  Riddled with injury (shoulder) for most of the season, Lonie managed only one game in the senior side. 

Lonie was a terrific club person and played over 100 games of AFL which is an outstanding AFL career and we wish Ryan all of the best in his future endeavours.

4.    Alan Didak:  He averaged 22 possessions a game, 18 kicks, six marks and five inside-50s.  His standout game was a three vote Brownlow performance against minor premiers Geelong in round nine.  He collected 27 possessions, seven marks and kicked three goals.

At times throughout the year he certainly showcased his ability to read the play and his classy left footed goal kicking.  We definitely missed Alan’s contribution on the field when he was unavailable to play.

5.    Nick Maxwell:  The 25-year-old averaged a career-high 14 possessions, five marks, three tackles and led the team in one-percenters.  Maxwell was used as a midfield tagger in both finals matches and could potentially play that role in 2009.

He had a terrific year and is a young leader of the team.  He added new depth in the finals when he played in the midfield which has now added another string to Nick’s bow.

6.    Brodie Holland:  Plagued by an achilles injury in his last three years, the 10-season veteran only mustered one AFL game (round five) before breaking his arm in a VFL match mid-season. 

He has suffered a lot through injury and only managed the one game.  Brodie won’t be going ahead with us due to injury.

7.    Paul Medhurst:  His All-Australian selection was thoroughly deserved after a career-best year.  He contributed 50 goals for the 2008 season and set a personal best in disposals per game (16) and marks per game (8).  A six-goal performance against Essendon on Anzac Day resulted in Medhurst wearing the Anzac Day Medal.

He had an outstanding year culminating in All-Australian selection.  I am looking to seeing how Paul goes in the Copeland Trophy.  Paul’s effort was on the back of one of the hardest working preseason’s I think the coaching staff has ever seen.

8.    Harry O’Brien:  The Brazilian-native played 24 games averaging 14 disposals and four marks per game.  He was also benched only three times this season and played 99.7% of possible game time (ranking first in the competition).

Harry’s standing in the game increased dramatically this season.  He went from a player who was purely a stopper to someone who now not only negates but is a legitimately running, rebounding defender.  Harry was averaging a high disposal rate and still managed to play on the most dangerous opposition forward.

9.     John Anthony: He played 12 games this season after debuting in round three.  The 20-year-old kicked 25.6 and averaged eight disposals and six kicks per game.

He had a pleasing debut season after having a year off last year with a severe neck injury.  He came in after playing a lot of junior football as a full-back and made his mark in the forward line.  I would see the development in Jack occur as a forward and down back.  We learned from the Grand Final on Saturday that it is important to have players who have the ability to play both roles.

10.    Scott Pendlebury:  In his third season of AFL football he averaged 23 touches, five marks and three tackles a game.  The 20-year-old polled three votes in round 21 against Sydney collecting 28 disposals, four marks, four tackles and kicked one goal.

He is another player in the young leadership category who is a head-strong player who trains very hard and sets the professionalism for the entire club albeit at only 20 years of age.  We don’t have to worry about the way he conducts himself over the preseason.  He will be ready to go and step up to another level in the midfield in 2009.