Premature speculation

Can Collingwood win a premiership without a superstar? Jake Niall at The Age asks the question.

He also asked that question about Geelong in 2005. It took them a couple more years to win a premiership, but it's an interesting comparison.

Dane Swan

I think Collingwood have, at the moment, a few players who would go to any other team in the league no problems. Alan Didak, Dane Swan, Heath Shaw and Leon Davis are top players. They would slot into St Kilda or Geelong no worries. But the key for the Pies is depth. Dayne Beams, a standout first year player in 2009, could not get a spot last weekend. Neither could Tyson Goldsack, a key defender with impressive mobility. Or Nathan Brown, a third year defender who held down some of the biggest names in 2008. Recruit Simon Buckley couldn't get a guernsey either.

Alan Didak

Depth is what wins you games during the season, but it's tempting to argue that superstars win you games in the finals. It's here where I believe Collingwood is somewhat underrated (hard to believe, I know). Didak's foot skills have no peer. Dane Swan gets his own ball and uses it well. Davis can produce game-winning magic (more and more regularly in recent seasons). Harry O'Brien is turning into the dashing rebounding defender I hoped he would become.

Harry O'Brien

And that's without even mentioning Scott Pendlebury, who looks like he has more time on the ball than anyone (except perhaps Nick Dal Santo). Or Paul Medhurst, who combines strength and goal-kicking ability. Or new recruit Luke Ball, who is ferocious in the tackle and effective in distribution.

Even the ruck division is finally going well at Collingwood. After a decade without a ruckman, we now have two. Darren Jolly was the business at Sydney, while Cameron Wood is improving. It has freed up Josh Fraser to finally play his correct position, which is wing/half forward.

This is the strongest Collingwood team I can remember. Much, much, much better than the team of 2002-2003, which made Grand Finals but lost to the ridiculously talented Brisbane Lions (the toughest, meanest, hardest team I have ever seen).

The 02 granny was a bitch

Will we win the premiership? I don't know. But the window is well and truly open for the next three to four years.

Also, fair play to Harry O'Brien, the first Brazilian born AFL player.

Harry O'Brien and foxy date