afl snapshot: Collingwood

Summer snapshot: Collingwood - AFL.com.au

With another healthy turnover of players and a fresh influx of young talent, the talented young Pies will fancy their chances of another finals tilt next season.

Arrivals
On field: Anthony Corrie (trade - Brisbane Lions), Dayne Beams, Jarrad Blight, Leigh Brown, Luke Rounds, Steele Sidebottom (NAB AFL Draft), Johnny Bennell, Jaryd Blair, Tristan Francis, Scott Reed (NAB AFL Rookie Draft).
Off field: Paul Hudson (assistant coach), Luke Beveridge (development manager).

Departures
On field: Rhyce Shaw (Traded - Sydney Swans), Scott Burns, Shane Wakelin, Ryan Lonie (retired), Brodie Holland, Sam Iles, Chris Egan, Luke Casey-Leigh (delisted).
Off field: Guy McKenna (assistant coach), Alan Richardson (development manager).

Pre-season training started: Monday, November 3.

Pre-season training resumes: Monday, January 5.

Post-Christmas training venue: The Magpies have the luxury of being based at the Lexus Centre, where they have state-of-the-art facilities at their fingertips. While they share the use of the first-class gym at the Victorian Institute of Sport, most of their ball work and training will continue to be done at Gosch's Paddock – just a few drop punts from the Lexus Centre.

Medical room
Anthony Rocca (ankle): Training strongly, likely to resume full training by late January.

Sean Rusling (shoulder): Training well, likely to resume full training by mid January.

Kevin Dyas (hamstring): Modified program

Head of conditioning David Buttifant:
"Everyone's training really well. Rocca's on a slightly modified program, Rusling's on a slightly modified program.

"Brad Dick's coming back from a knee reco but he's probably more advanced than the other two; he's nearly into full training now.

"But we're in a pretty good position, everyone should be available by round one, bar Dyas."

Who's burning?
Chris Dawes, finally free of the leg troubles that have plagued him throughout his first years at Collingwood, is reaping enormous benefit from his first-ever full pre-season at AFL level.

The club is also thrilled with the progress of Ben Johnson and Alan Didak, both of whom have impressed with their work ethic and attitude on the track.

Meanwhile, Magpie fans will be thrilled to know exciting young guns Scott Pendlebury and Dale Thomas are also firing this summer, with fitness staff reporting the pair has gone to new levels with their fitness during the off-season.

Pre-season training camps
Plans for a trip to South Africa appear unlikely after the Magpies' NAB Cup match there was scrapped. Collingwood did enjoy a two-week high-altitude stint in Arizona in mid-November, the getaway enabling the young squad not only to work on their fitness and athletic program but further bond.

Pre-season training overview
"We have very much a holistic approach to the pre-season; everything goes to support Mick's game plan, so it all revolves around that and it's all got to transfer and enhance that.

"We have got a very young list and we've been very mindful of that. Rome wasn't built in a day and while you'd like to be able to get more [work] into them both technically and physically, they just don't have the foundations to tolerate that load.

"Subsequently they are vulnerable to break down, and given we have got a young list and we have to aware that they're not as mature and experienced as some of the other teams going around,