been urged to look to the future and make a host of changes for the
remainder of the 2024 AFL season, with the likes of Tom Mitchell, Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom all on
the chopping block. The Pies’ dream of snaring back-to-back flags for the first time since 1935-36 looks almost certainly
over after a 66-point thrashing from Hawthorn on the weekend left them 13th.
It was the heaviest defeat of premiership coach McRae’s tenure and leaves the club likely to miss the top eight in what has
been a horror campaign. The Magpies face Richmond next round before a tough run home against Carlton, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.
But the brutal fact Collingwood must come to terms with is that they have an ageing squad. And while this year may be too far gone to save for the proud
club, it provides them the perfect opportunity to blood some of their inexperienced youngsters. Having had
the oldest team in the competition in Round 19, the Pies currently have 11 players on their list aged over the age of 30.
