Collingwood ruckman Darcy Cameron didn't mince his words when reflecting on the 2024 season and the lack of playing finals football.
"It was quite a depressing September."
The Magpies achieved the pinnacle of success in Australian rules football just under 18 months ago, claiming the club's 16th premiership in an intense contest against the Brisbane Lions.
12 months after that feat, they were sat at home watching their dispatched opponents from the season before go on to win the 2024 premiership, with the Pies not participating in any September action after finishing ninth on the ladder.
Cameron believes that Collingwood will be right up the top of the mountain again in 2025 however.
"We're about winning," Cameron said.
"We're trying to get back to winning, we want to make up for last year. We obviously didn't make the top eight, and it was quite a depressing September watching all the other teams compete at that time of year.
"We want to get back to where we think we belong.
"It was a bit of a wake-up call last year and we'll take the learnings from that and keep moving forward.
"We've discussed a lot (of last year). It is a big drive, it's quite flattening sitting there in September... It's fuelled a lot of fire for a lot of the boys and we're looking forward to making amends."
The additions of Harry Perryman, Dan Houston and Tim Membrey have accelerated Collingwood's ambitions to re-enter the finals equation next season, with the new recruits already making their ability to contribute known.
"All the new boys have settled in seamlessly," Cameron said.
"All of them can (contribute to the side), 'Pez' (Harry Perryman) has been training really well, Dan (Houston)'s been training really well, same with Tim (Membrey) and all the young boys they're putting their best foot forward as well.
"You look at our list we've got a lot of depth throughout it."
Cameron also mentioned crafty winger draftee Will Hayes who has shone brightly in Collingwood's pre-season match simulations, while Oscar Steene and Ilrio Smit are vying for their own debuts in the ruck.
"Will Hayes is exciting a lot of the club the way he's been training, he's doing really well.
"Oscar Steene looking really well at the moment, he's put on a bit of size. He's a very competitive guy, and so is big 'Roo' - Iliro Smit - they're both doing really well at the moment."
Cameron also provided updates on the progress of a star trio who are on the mend in individual programs currently this pre-season.
Josh Daicos nursed a calf injury in the latter stages of 2024 and has been on a modified training approach, while brother Nick is overcoming mild plantar fasciitis.
Tom Mitchell suffered another frustrating setback earlier in the pre-season with a stress fracture in his foot.
"Both (the Daicos brothers) are running now. I know Josh is back into full training next week and Nick is progressing really well," Cameron said.
"(Mitchell) is really positive around the club still and he's running either today or yesterday for the first time in a few weeks since getting that stress fracture, so looking forward to seeing him back on the track.
"You feel for him because he does everything right and he works so hard around the club, and outside the club as well.
"He's a big in for us but he's handled it really well, he just takes it in his stride and we're looking forward to getting him back also."
Collingwood's bid to begin their 2025 campaign in winning fashion begins in Opening Round against GWS on Sunday, March 9.