Collingwood Football Club's 2024 Season Review and Key Player Statistics

I still remember the moment I first heard about Maverick's reaction to joining his brother at Collingwood - "When I told him that I was going to be his teammate, he was screaming," he'd said during that video call. That raw emotion perfectly captures what made our 2024 season so special, even though we fell just short of our ultimate goal. Having covered Australian Rules Football for over fifteen years, I've learned that team chemistry often matters more than raw talent, and this year's Collingwood squad demonstrated that truth in spades. We finished the regular season with 16 wins and 6 losses, securing third position on the ladder with a percentage of 118.4, numbers that don't fully convey the rollercoaster journey we experienced from March through August.

The brotherly dynamic between Maverick and his sibling became a microcosm of our entire team's connectivity. I've never seen a Collingwood side where players seemed to genuinely enjoy each other's company both on and off the field quite like this one. That video call moment wasn't just a cute story - it translated into tangible on-field performance. Our ball movement efficiency improved by nearly 12% compared to last season, and I'd attribute at least half of that improvement to the almost telepathic understanding players developed through genuine relationships. Nick Daicos continued his ascent toward superstardom, averaging 29.4 disposals per game while kicking 15 goals from the midfield. What impressed me most wasn't just his statistical output but his leadership development - at just 21 years old, he's already directing traffic like a ten-year veteran.

Our defensive unit, led by Darcy Moore's 142 intercept marks (third in the league), formed what I consider the most organized backline I've seen at Collingwood in my coverage. Moore's partnership with Isaac Quaynor, who averaged 19.2 disposals with 85% efficiency, gave us a foundation that kept us competitive even when our midfield was struggling. Speaking of struggles, we did have our challenges - our clearance work in contested situations remained inconsistent, particularly against top-four opponents where we won only 42% of center clearances in those crucial matchups. Jordan De Goey's injury issues limited him to just 14 games, and while his 21 goals in those appearances showed his class, we desperately missed his explosive power during the mid-season stretch where we dropped three of four games.

The forward line saw Brody Mihocek continue his reliable goal-scoring with 48 majors from his 20 appearances, but the real revelation for me was Beau McCreery's development into a genuine two-way threat. His pressure acts increased from 18.3 to 22.6 per game, while he still managed to kick 24 goals himself. I've been particularly critical of our small forward group in previous seasons, but McCreery's improvement represents exactly the kind of player development that separates good teams from great ones. On the topic of improvement, our accuracy in front of goal saw meaningful progress - we converted 53.2% of our scoring opportunities into goals, up from last season's 48.7%, though we still have work to do compared to the competition's best finishing teams.

What made this season uniquely compelling from my perspective was how different players stepped up at different moments. When Jamie Elliott went down with that hamstring issue in Round 14, many of us worried about where the goals would come from. Instead, we saw Patrick Lipinski kick 11 goals over the next five games, including that memorable four-goal performance against Carlton that essentially sealed our finals position. Scott Pendlebury, at 36 years young, continued to defy Father Time with his 25.8 disposals per game at 79% efficiency, but more importantly, his mentorship of our younger players like Harvey Harrison demonstrated the kind of institutional knowledge that simply can't be quantified.

Our finals run delivered some of the most electrifying football I've witnessed in years, particularly that semifinal thriller where we came from 28 points down in the third quarter to secure a memorable victory. The way our players trusted each other under pressure reminded me of Maverick's description of his brother's reaction - that pure, unbridled excitement about the opportunity to compete together. We ultimately fell in the preliminary final, and I'll be honest, that loss stung more than most because I genuinely believed this group had the chemistry to go all the way. Looking at our statistical profile, we ranked third for disposals, fifth for marks, fourth for tackles, and second for inside-50 efficiency - numbers that suggest we were legitimate contenders, which makes our exit even more difficult to process.

As I reflect on the 2024 campaign, what stands out isn't any single statistic or individual performance, but rather the collective spirit that reminded me why I fell in love with this game decades ago. In an era where football has become increasingly analytical and systems-driven, Collingwood's success this season proved that human elements still matter tremendously. The players genuinely seemed to play for each other in a way that transcended game plans and structures. While we'll undoubtedly spend the offseason analyzing what needs improvement - our contested possession work, depth in key positions, and finishing in big moments - I hope we don't lose sight of the magical chemistry that made this team so special to follow. That video call between brothers wasn't just a preseason story; it became the season's defining theme - people matter, connections count, and sometimes, the most powerful motivation comes from simply wanting to succeed together.