September, my favourite month

In the face of much opposition and many back-handed compliments, Collingwood finds that it has cemented a place in the 2007 AFL finals. In a year where the requisite number of wins needed to make the finals has gone from 11 to 13, Collingwood now sits confidently on 13 wins with one game to go. Of interest this year is the resurgence of Victorian teams. While it's been many years since the last Victorian premiership, this year would seem to be the best opportunity since 2000 to bring the premiership cup back to the state if its birth.

Now this supporter has been critical of Nathan Buckley's decision to play on. With each injury setback this year I have decried his place on the senior list as selfish and pointless. I didn't think he would play again, and certainly felt that a better long-term solution would be to elevate a youngster from the rookie list. In 2007 Collingwood has played no less than eight first year players. Some of whom, I'm looking at Tyson Goldsack and Marty Clarke in particular, have become essential components of the side. Over the past month it's become painfully obvious that the youngsters have been running out of steam and motivation. And back comes Nathan Buckley. A part of me saw this coming and thought that it would be a disaster to have a player, even one of Buckley's caliber, come back to play finals in a team that had spent a year without him. The mere presence of Buckley on the field seemed to have an impact on the youngsters. After all, who would want to fumble a pinpoint pass from the Collingwood champion?

Watching last night I realised that Nathan Buckley is indeed a champion and it's GREAT to ave him back. He didn't have a significant impact, particularly in the second half when he became a bit more tired, but it was clear that he has lost none of the mental hunger for a premiership. His passes were accurate and he provided the voice of experience that some of the youngsters have perhaps been needing over the past few weeks.

Yes, Collingwood are back and we want the premiership cup.