But, it’s worth preparing for a downturn in 2012 from the 2010 premiers and last year’s beaten grand finalists and early flag favourites.
With a tough fixture draw and early injury worries, the Pies might only win around 15 or 16 home-and-away games and be on the edge of missing the final top four.
New coach Nathan Buckley can sugar-coat a growing summer injury toll as much as he wants just a month out from launching a new home-and-away title campaign for the nation’s most famous sporting club.
Buckley steps into final stages of football’s most awkward succession plan after taking over from coaching great Michael Malthouse with almost an entire premiership backline suffering from injury woes.
As potentially dynamic creative forward Andrew Krakouer resumes after a month-long leave of absence to sort out a stack of personal issues, Buckley finally confirmed gun back man Chris Tarrant is “weeks away” from getting back into full training.
The re-born Pies key defender had been conspicuous with his training absence virtually since the New Year resumption from annual Christmas leave and it is now disclosed that the 31-year-old has a nasty foot problem.
Premiership defenders Nathan Brown, Ben Reid and Ben Johnson, as well as Tarrant have all missed significantly big chunks of vital pre-season training conditioning and loading.
As well, power forward Travis Cloke has been restricted at times in his training loads with a nagging knee complaint and opportunist forward Alan Didak continues to suffer groin and thigh strains that will hamper the decorated veteran as another arduous season unfolds.
Buckely and his management can dismiss external early concerns at a lack of full Magpie numbers in total training.
The famous black and whites also have a crucial commodity in fitness and conditioning science guru David Buttifant to coordinate the recovery and strengthening programs of all of those Pies to have endured interrupted summer training schedules.
But, if there is a constant in the ruthless game that is AFL football confrontation it’s that all players admit when they’ve had a complete and uninterrupted summer they invariably turn in their finest seasons.
Buckley and his Pies are also attempting to implement a somewhat refined game-style to Malthouse’s disciplined tight along the boundary line strategy and potentially one of the toughest fixture draws in the competition.
In early assessment of Buckley’s playing instructions, the new look Pies have clearly indicated a more attacking style with an aggressive willingness to swing the ball into the corridor and head direct to goal quicker than under Malthouse.
That approach tends to suggest vital need for ground level crumbing depth for any potential ball spill as well as a relentlessly disciplined and completely healthy list of defenders up, running and fully fit to repel any turnovers inside the corridor and so often potentially closer to opposition goals.
Buckley’s Maggies are definitely unlikely to repeat their club-record 20 home-and-away wins of last season this year.
They launch the new crusade in a blockbuster showdown with one of the most serious title threats for the year Hawthorn at the MCG on Friday March 30.
As such an attraction and cash cow for the league whenever they turn out, the Pies have all the toughest “double ups” against competition powers.
Buckley’s Pies confront flag contenders Hawthorn and Carlton, reigning titleholders Geelong, as well as last season’s preliminary finalists West Coast.
A hefty schedule indeed awaits the Pies straight out of their bye in Round 12 when they host West Coast then Fremantle in successive weeks, followed with the Blues, Cats and Hawks through to Round 17.
Pies and Buckley faithful will remain convinced that the longer the 2012 premiership season unfolds, that Collingwood will remain in serious contention to finish in the important top four and within reach of another title.
A more realistic analysis though indicates some troubled times ahead for a first-time coach and player list suffering from some intermittent summer training mishaps.
The famous Pies might be held to some 15 or 16 wins, which last season wouldn’t have earned a double-chance final-four spot.