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Career High SuperCoach Score: 125 Vs Gold Coast (2021)
Career High AFLFantasy Score: 111 Vs Richmond (2022)
Career High SuperCoach Average: 75.7 (2021)
Career High AFLFantasy Average: 65.3 (2021)
Impact on new club
The recruitment of Dan McStay is a fascinating addition to the Collingwood forward line. Dan’s a versatile tall who can impact the game through what he does as a tall marking forward and the option that creates space for his team’s medium and small forwards.
You could argue that Brisbane and Collingwood’s small to medium forwards are comparable. But the key position posts are not. So while we should still see the likes of Jamie Elliott thrive, the lack of dominant talls might become more noticeable and highlight the work of McStay on the side. That could be for better or for worse. As good as Brody Mihocek has been, he’s not Hipwood or Daniher.
It will be interesting to watch over the preseason Collingwood structure up this forward line in 2023. Do they continue to play Mason Cox off the bench? Or will Dan become the relief ruckman/second tall forward? If he moves into the second tall forward and relief ruck role, we might see a more versatile and potent Collingwood forward line. However, we also might see less scoreboard impact as McStay becomes the number two target and gets better opposition defenders marking him. Nevertheless, I think he’s a nice addition to the Collingwood Football Club structural perspective.
Impact on the old club
The role that Dan McStay had been playing for the club was as a third tall forward. His job was to be a competing tall forward but to create important space and separation. He was sometimes required to pinch-hit for moments in the ruck, especially in the later rounds of the year.
McStay allowed others like Charlie Cameron, Joe Daniher, Eric Hipwood and Zac Bailey to get dangerous at his best.
His departure in isolation could’ve created a need to restructure the lineup; however, with the impending arrival of Jack Gunston later in the trade period, the Lions will have arguably upgraded in this space.
Fantasy Summary
There were a handful of games in 2022 where Dan McStay scored 90+. The most recognisable was in the elimination final against Richmond, where he was forced to play predominantly as a ruckman. This game aside, he still had multiple matches where he scored 90+. But with every score that looks promising, an equally low score in the 40s or 50s would be present. That’s why instead of regularly averaging in the mid ’70s, he’s closer to a low 60s.
Even under a new system and structure, McStay isn’t someone you should consider in salary cap formats at Collingwood, even if he starts to pick up the secondary ruck role. In drafts, he’ll only become a target to consider IF you are in either a deep league or if certain customizations have been activated. Beyond that, he’s a pass there too.
