Heraldsun: "Magpies' success embarrasses experts"

[Sinclair]

WE underestimated the Magpies. Sold them short. Suddenly, it's bordering on embarrassing for so many of us.

The Pies sit fourth after six rounds on 4-2. They have beaten Adelaide in Adelaide and run West Coast to 12 points in Perth. The losses have come against the teams occupying the top two positions - West Coast and Port Adelaide - by a total of 30 points.
That is excellent form.
When the final siren sounded at the MCG on the first Saturday of the new season, most of us who had seen Collingwood pinch victory from the Kangaroos thought we might have seen the two leading candidates for the wooden spoon.
Now they have seven wins between them, and the respect of the competition.
Historically, Adelaide simply doesn't get worked over at AAMI Stadium. While the Crows aren't invincible at home, they're the next best thing.
They got worked over over Saturday night. They trailed at every change. Beaten by 2.12. By a team that hit goalposts seven times.
Three of the Herald Sun's 20 experts tipped Collingwood to make the final eight. Michael Horan, a known sympathiser, had the Maggies highest at fifth.
The educated view was that while Collingwood was on its way to exciting places, it might have to wait until 2008-09.
What's happened is boys named Shaw (Heath), Thomas, Cloke, Pendlebury, O'Brien and Toovey have come on much more quickly than expected, and Cox and **** have added to the youthful enthusiasm.
Shaw and Thomas looked special last year, but the development in the others has exceeded expectations.
It needs to be noted that Nathan Buckley, Brodie Holland and Sean Rusling haven't played a game this year, that Alan Didak has played just one game, that Anthony Rocca has kicked only 12 goals.
Holland and Didak will improve the team significantly. From this week.
Collingwood's win in Adelaide came against the odds, yet there's no team in the league more competitive on the road.
In 2006, the Magpies won at Telstra Stadium (Sydney) and AAMI Stadium (Port Adelaide) and lost to West Coast in Perth and Adelaide at AAMI by a total of 18 points.
Why are we surprised? The trademark of Malthouse teams over more than 20 years is their self-belief on major assignments.

We say sorry to the Collingwood Football Club.

[PAFC]

Yawn. Wait till finals time

[EagleRock]

That is a waste of space.

[PieMan73]

Even if the Pies have no finals impact or even just miss out, they still would've been underestimated by the so-called 'experts'.

[PAFC]

Not really.

[Back Flank]

Can't make any judgements this early. Many teams start off well and then lose their way, Richmond are experts at it. Although not this year.

[adrianhood007]

They do seem to be doing well considering they have a lot of youngsters playing. With Didak having had no pre-season, Buckley out and Medhurst, Licuria and Clement missing a couple that would have normally pointed to a few losses but they've managed to cover them somehow... Who knows how long they'll keep it up though...

[PieMan73]

Originally Posted by PAFC

Not really.

Yes really. Most 'experts' had us in the bottom 4 and I can't see that happening from here.

[Borak]

yeh well done to Collingwood - they've done really well up untill now. Just got a feeling that towards mid season they'll get the Collywobbles and it may bring them back down to earth a bit.

Good chance of making the 8 though and setting the youngsters up for the future

[Eagle Eye]

That's what I love about this game. So unpredictable! I may have not rated the Pies highly nor the Kangas for that matter . Look at 'em now....

I thought and expected more from the Dons , Richmond and Melbourne. I know the Dees are suffering massive injuries , but the other two. Swans are surprising me too. I know they start slow , but I thought this year would be different....
The Saints? I'm still waiting to see what's going on there , unpredictable in my eyes

Freo have come off the boil , but I do expect these blokes to get sorted soon and push towards the final....

any way strange season!