Can anyone stop Nick Daicos, and Collingwood, from clinching back-to-back flags this year? Photo: GETTY IMAGES

COLLINGWOOD
2023 record: 21 wins, 5 losses (1st)

THE INS
Lachie Schultz (Fremantle), Harry DeMattia (Dandenong Stingrays), Tew Jiath (Gippsland Power)

THE OUTS
Taylor Adams (Sydney), Jack Ginnivan (Hawthorn), Trey Ruscoe (delisted), Trent Bianco (delisted), Will Kelly (delisted), Tom Wilson (delisted), Arlo Draper (delisted), Cooper Murley (delisted)

THE STRENGTHS
The reigning premiers head into season 2024 with the biggest target on their backs, and with good reason. They might not have been the most fashionable premiership team, but their ability to monotonously take care of the little things and meticulously follow coach Craig McRae’s instructions week after week is a credit to the concept of team-first footy. And it all starts with their pressure. The Magpies are hands down the most ferocious tackling side in the competition. They are relentless and give the opposition no time to breathe. Last year, they averaged 7.8 more tackles than their opponents every week, making them by far the best team in that category, a whopping 1.6 clear of the next best GWS (6.2). Their strict adherence to their system all over the ground, and their ability to seamlessly adapt to any match situation, allowed them to continue their remarkable record of winning close games from 2022. Last season they boasted a 6-1 record in matches decided by a goal or less and their mastery of tight finishes came to the fore when it mattered most as they won their three finals by a combined total of just 12 points, which is a new record. As the defending champions, they have no shortage of star power. If it wasn’t for a knee injury in Round 21, wunderkind Nick Daicos would almost certainly have won a Brownlow in just his second season. Instead, he finished on 28 votes, just three behind winner Lachie Neale (31), after sitting out the final three home-and-away games. Daicos is a phenomenon. His ability to routinely impact games at such a young age is extraordinary. He’s already Collingwood’s best player, and could very well be No.1 in the league by the end of this season. When he goes into the midfield, he is supported by a stellar cast of on-ballers, featuring the ageless Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom, his brother Josh, contested bulls Jordan De Goey and Tom Mitchell, as well as the ever-durable Jack Crisp. When he hangs back in defence, he finds himself surrounded by an imposing backline unit, ranked third in the AFL, which includes captain Darcy Moore, Jeremy Howe, Nathan Murphy and rebound aces Isaac Quaynor and Brayden Maynard. And their fourth-ranked attack, spearheaded by the unlikely Brody Mihocek, is superpowered by the best fleet of pressure forwards in the game comprised of Norm Smith Medallist Bobby Hill, Jamie Elliott, Beau McCreery and now Schultz who is a huge upgrade on Ginnivan after kicking a career-high 33 goals for Freo last year.

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THE WEAKNESSES
There aren’t too many, understandably. But after losing a preliminary final in 2022 by one point, McRae still identified clearances and contested possessions as areas that had to be improved for the 2023 season, so he went out and got himself Mitchell and the rest is history. The former Hawk certainly made a huge difference in both departments, but the Pies were still ranked ninth in both categories, so perhaps they will be aspects that they’ll continue working on over the summer. Surprisingly, the Pies were also sixth for inside 50s and fifth for scores per inside 50 last year, so McRae can easily sell the message to his team that it is still not the finished product, giving him plenty of ammo to keep his troops motivated as they aim for back-to-back flags for the first time in 88 years.

ONE TO WATCH
It’s pretty hard to go past Nick Daicos. Given the incredible trajectory that his career has been on since making his debut two years ago, the sky truly is the limit for this prodigy and season 2024 could quite easily be the best of his young career so far. He’s already got a flag, an All-Australian jumper and a Rising Star under his belt after just 47 games, it wouldn’t be surprising at all if he captures the Brownlow that he seemed destined to claim last year. The 21-year-old is an absolute excitement machine with impeccable skills, speed to burn and top-tier footy IQ. He has an impact wherever he is stationed and while he will undoubtedly receive more attention than ever before, expect him to rise above it and continue to shine brightly.

UNDER THE PUMP
This isn’t an easy exercise when analysing the premiership side, but someone has to be nominated, and Elliott is the one who draws the short straw. After a career-best home-and-away campaign, the star forward went missing in September, kicking just one goal across three finals, and averaging only 10 disposals, well down on his regular-season averages of 1.8 goals and 11.5 disposals per match. You get the feeling McRae won’t even have to mention that to Elliott to get him fired up for the new season and return to his best form.

BEST 22
B: Brayden Maynard, Nathan Murphy, Jeremy Howe
HB: Isaac Quaynor, Darcy Moore, Oleg Markov
C: Josh Daicos, Jordan De Goey, Steele Sidebottom
HF: Lachie Schultz, Ash Johnson, Beau McCreery
F: Bobby Hill, Brody Mihocek, Jamie Elliott
R: Darcy Cameron, Scott Pendlebury, Nick Daicos
Inter: Tom Mitchell, Mason Cox, Jack Crisp, Will Hoskin-Elliott
Emerg: Billy Frampton, John Noble, Patrick Lipinski, Reef McInnes

As rock-solid a best 22 as you’ll find this year. It could’ve been even stronger with the addition of key forward Daniel McStay, who missed the grand final due to a knee injury. But sadly for the former Lion, he ruptured his ACL late last year and will likely take no part in season 2024. His absence swings the door wide open for Ash Johnson to grab onto that key position post in attack. Johnson’s freakish talents are undeniable, but his commitment and work ethic are questionable. But if he heads into the season with the right attitude, he could very well be rewarded with a premiership medal by year’s end.

*all team stat rankings mentioned are based on differentials, not totals (apart from overall offence and defence).