Hot Pies Anyone? | Thebigtip

Can Collingwood win the premiership?

As arguably the most hated team in the competition (claim to fame or infamy?) can the Pies do the unthinkable and actually win this year's premiership? Barring a bout of the Colliwobbles, the Pies might be able to go all the way. I know it is a scary thought.

Collingwood are currently sitting on top of the ladder deep into the home and away season and this week play the reigning premiers Geelong at the MCG. The Cats  have had the wood over Collingwood during the past few years. A crowd of 90,000+ is expected, and some so called experts think this is going to be a rehearsal for that ‘last Saturday in September’.

Analysing Collingwood's team you find that everyone is doing their job and they are is peak condition injury wise. There are a couple of factors however that have the potential to make or break the Pies when it comes to September.

1. Travis Cloke's goal kicking
His goal kicking this season has not be great and we all know when it comes down to finals, goal kicking is vital. You need to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and kick goals to put your team in front. Recently Travis Cloke has not had his kicking boots on. He can dob them from outside 50 metres, but whenever it seems an easy goal, he manages to miss. Travis Cloke's goal kicking is vital if the Pies are going to walk away with September glory.

2. Leigh Brown, the utility
Leigh Brown who was touted by most North supporters as a huge underachiever is doing his job and keeping experienced ruckman Josh Fraser out of the team. I know some people might think I'm crazy but this man is very important to the Collingwood lineup. He is the old fashioned utility who can be a swing man in the finals similar to Adam Hunter a few years back. He has shown he can kick goals against the big teams and can provide that extra aggression for Collingwood to go all the way.

I rate Mick Malthouse as a very good coach, to be honest Collingwood do not have any A+ grade matchwinners like Ablett, Riewoldt or Jonathon Brown, but gelling as a team, no one does it better than the Magpies. Youngsters in Sidebottom, Beam and, Goldsack are playing their roles, and are in the top tier of upcoming youngsters in the competition. People forget how young they really are.

This match against Collingwood could be a dress rehearsal for the last Saturday in September but I would not count out the Dogs or Hawthorn.

In my opinion, I think Geelong will beat them this week and will be the eventual premiership team but if Collingwood bring their A game anything could happen. If Collingwood does win the premiership, the Collingwood army will be marching the streets for days to come after the Grand Final, and supporters of all other teams in the competition will look to relocating to rural and remote Australia far away from a legion of ‘impossible Collingwood fans’ at least until the beginning of the 2011 season, and hopefully the re-emergence of the Colliwobbles.