BY THE end of last season, ‘Dangerwood’ was widely regarded as the AFL’s best one-two midfield punch.

But there’s an unheralded on-ball combination that deserves to be put in the same echelon as the star Geelong duo.

Champion Data’s 2017 AFL Prospectus dubbed them ‘Pendleloar’. We prefer ‘Trendlebury’ at foxfooty.com.au.

No matter your title preference, Scott Pendlebury and Adam Treloar form an exciting on-ball for Collingwood fans and loom as one of Nathan Buckley’s biggest weapons ahead of the biggest season of his coaching career.

Round 18

Geelong fans entered 2016 full of excitement at the prospect of superstar on-baller Patrick Dangerfield uniting with skipper Joel Selwood at Simonds Stadium.

The results were electric, with the two players thriving both individually and collectively.

Dangerfield had a career-best season in 2016, winning his first Brownlow Medal, averaging one goal per game and breaking Champion Data’s metres gained record. His presence also helped ease the burden on Selwood, who averaged four more uncontested possessions per game compared to 2015 while also maintaining his elite contested ball status.

But if you were a Magpies fan disheartened by your side’s slide down the ladder, you would’ve found great joy in Pendlebury and Treloar’s output.

In fact, Trendlebury’s numbers were on-par — if not better — than Dangerwood’s.

Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood were excellent at winning the contested ball. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia

According to the Official AFL Player Ratings — which Champion Data recognises as the best indication of a player’s performance as it emphasises the quality of games played over the quantity — Dangerfield and Selwood only averaged one more point per game than Pendlebury and Treloar.

When it came to winning the footy, 0.9 of a disposal separated the two pairings. Dangerwood won a lot more inside ball (+5.3) and clearances (+3.2), but Trendlebury was better in racking up the uncontested possessions (+3.7).

But it’s on the defensive side of the game where the star Magpies combination had Dangerfield and Selwood covered, with Trendlebury averaging 1.6 more tackles and 1.8 more pressure points per game. They were also +3.6% up on Dangerwood for kicking efficiency.

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While there was a distinct chasm between the two clubs’ 2016 finishing positions — Geelong made a preliminary final and Collingwood finished 12th — Trendlebury was level with, what the 2017 AFL Prospectus described as, “the most vaunted super pairing in the competition”.

With Buckley’s Collingwood coaching tenure essentially dependent on wins and losses this year, ample responsibility will be on Pendlebury and Treloar’s shoulders in 2017.

But the luxury Trendlebury has is the Pies’ midfield class and depth to call upon. In fact the Pies have the best midfield in the competition, according to Champion Data.

While the on-ball brigade is obviously headlined by the ‘elite’ duo of Pendlebury and Treloar, the ‘above average’ trio of Taylor Adams, Steele Sidebottom and veteran recruit Daniel Wells are quality players. Add an exciting prospect in Jordan De Goey and the ever-improving Jack Crisp, it sees the Pies’ midfield sit above both the Bulldogs and Giants’ groups.

Collingwood’s Taylor Adams, Adam Treloar and Scott Pendlebury will lead the league’s No. 1 midfield in 2017. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia

That midfield strength is why Essendon champion Tim Watson is optimistic about Collingwood’s chances in 2017.

“I think they’re stronger (overall), but if you really want to cut to the chase with Collingwood, you talk about their midfield power,” Watson told SEN on Thursday.

“Pendlebury and Treloar as a pair are greater (numbers-wise) than Dangerfield and Selwood in terms of their impact. Then you add Steele Sidebottom into that mix and then you’ve got Wells — hopefully — Adams, (Levi) Greenwood, Crisp and (James) Aish.”

But Watson said the Pies’ on-ball brigade had to perform this season to save Buckley, as there’s still ample development needed inside both 50m arcs.

“That midfield has to be that good, because I think they’ve got to have the most powerful midfield in the competition because there are still some doubts about their front half and there are still some doubts about their back half,” Watson said.

No matter Collingwood’s win-loss ratio this season, Pies fans will be able to rely on consistent, high-level efforts from both Pendelbury and Treloar.

And perhaps by season’s end, Trendelbury might’ve superseded Dangerwood.

The newly-formed ‘Pritchell’, however, could have something to say about that.

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