Macrae shines, train-on mid impresses and more: The five takeaways from Collingwood’s intra-club match
The reigning premiers Collingwood battled it out in an intriguing intra-club match on Wednesday evening.
The playing list was split into two teams in what was labelled the ‘Goldfields Cup’, with assistants Jordan Roughead (Team Ballarat - white team) and Scott Selwood (Team Bendigo - black team), who are both from the Goldfields region, coaching the sides.
While Collingwood did their best to split their stars on both sides, with Nick Daicos, Scott Pendlebury, Jack Crisp and Brody Mihocek among others on team black, they were no match for team white led by Jordan De Goey, Darcy Moore, Bobby Hill, Fin Macrae and others who prevailed comfortably.
The clash went for three full length quarters plus a scenario-based fourth term at the AIA Centre before the side was presented their jumpers in front of adoring fans.
Check out the key takeaways from the intra-club clash below.
Fin Macrae has done his time in the VFL and is ready to go to the next level
21-year-old midfielder Fin Macrae surely won’t see VFL football again.
The former first-round pick was clearly best afield in Wednesday’s intra-club and looked the pick of all of the midfielders with his burst away from stoppage and clean hands a standout.
Macrae has played just 12 career games, but by the looks of things, he should add 20+ to that tally in the upcoming campaign.
After two dominant seasons at the state-league level, Macrae has more than done his apprenticeship.
A starting midfield spot is his if this form continues over the rest of the pre-season.
Lachie Sullivan looks the pick of the train-on players
Collingwood are yet to announce who they’ll select via the Pre-Season Supplemental Selection period, but Lachie Sullivan appeared to sure up his chances of earning a list spot on Wednesday evening.
Linking up with Macrae in the middle, the former Footscray VFL captain more than held his own up against a midfield group that included Pendlebury, Daicos and Crisp.
While it’ll be a hard on-ball unit to break into, the 26-year-old is at the age where he wouldn’t look out of place at the top level.
Other train-on players Sam Sofronidis, Brynn Teakle, Campbell Hustwaite and Jack Bytel all showed flashes, but Sullivan looked head and shoulders above his fellow hopefuls.
Jordan De Goey has picked up where he left off
After his first incident-free off-season in recent memory, Jordan De Goey looks ready to shine in season 2024.
Supported by Macrae and Sullivan in the white team’s midfield, De Goey was everywhere and had too much class and power for the opposition.
While De Goey rubber-stamped himself as a superstar of the competition in last year’s finals series, he’s still yet to earn an All-Australian blazer.
Entering 2024 fully fit and at 27 years old, surely now is the time for the midfielder to produce enough consistent performances to start picking up some genuine individual honours.
It’s there for the taking if he wants it enough.
Get ready to see more of Beau McCreery the midfielder
While the black team were well beaten out of the midfield, one player that showed signs of some intriguing on-ball potential was Beau McCreery.
The lightning fast forward split his time inside 50 and on-ball and showed off his power at several stoppages as he pulled away from the contest.
While he didn’t have a heap of the footy, McCreery’s ability to pinch hit on-ball is another ace up Craig McRae’s sleeve heading into season 2024.
He’s a wildcard option but there’s no doubt fans will see more of the No. 31 at centre bounces this campaign before he pushes forward.
No Norm Smith hangover for Bobby Hill
2023 Norm Smith Medallist Bobby Hill was up to his same old tricks on Wednesday, kicking three majors as he buzzed around the white team’s forward line.
The small forward was a matchup nightmare and simply too quick and nimble for his opponents as he finished with some impressive skills.
He was well supported by tall forward Nathan Kreuger who also kicked three goals for team white as he attacked the ball well aerially.
For the black team, Reef McInnes was the standout forward on a day without getting much opportunity from his midfield teammates.
While the youngster didn’t kick a goal, he played a hand in setting up others and showed glimpses of his x-factor both on the air and on the ground.
Collingwood begin their 2024 season proper with an Opening Round clash against GWS at GIANTS Stadium on Saturday, March 9.
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