The reigning premiers Collingwood have come a long way since their 0-3 start to this season, but some damning defensive flaws from two stars during last weekend’s loss to Gold Coast has left coach Craig McRae “frustrated”.
Despite overturning a 32-point deficit late in the third quarter, the Magpies – who are so often dubbed the comeback kings – failed to end the Suns’ unbeaten run at home this year.
Instead of sitting clear in third on the ladder, Collingwood’s loss has thrown them back among the back in sixth place and only a game away from exiting the top eight.
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And as a result, the efforts of Nick Daicos and Jordan de Goey at crucial points last weekend have been put under the microscope.
Speaking on Fox Footy’s AFL 360, St Kilda great Leigh Montagna analysed several key plays during the second and third quarter of their clash at People First Stadium which would have left McRae scratching his head.
“(There has been) a lot of chat about the Pies – no doubt there’s an edginess around Collingwood now coming out of Craig McRae; there is a sense of frustration because clearly, they’re not playing how they want to play … I think McRae knows that,” Montagna begun by saying.
“When you take a lot at what it is, from my point of you it’s the defensive aspect of their game … they’ve conceded 100 points three of the last four weeks, that ain’t going to get it done in finals.
“When you take a bit of a deeper dive – obviously points against has been an issue, they’re not winning the ball back through the midfield, they’re not winning contested ball (particularly through the midfield), they’re allowing the opposition to move the ball from one end of the field to the other, and that is putting their defence under pressure.”
A drop in their output across numerous stat lines has been highlighted in the wake of their loss to Gold Coast, in particular during the last six weeks.
Since Round 10, the Magpies ranked lowly for the following:
13th for points against
17th for midfield intercepts
14th for contested possessions differential
12th for opposition defensive 50 to forward 50
17th for inside 50’s against
Montagna went on to dissect where Collingwood’s leak defensively has come, underlining their midfield’s work rate as a bigger concern over their defenders’.
“There’s a lot of talk around their defence, but I want to put it fairly and squarely on the Collingwood midfield, because they’re the ones for me at the moment that I don’t think are getting it done defensively, and I think they’re playing a little bit of lucky dip footy,” the 287-gamer continued.
“There’s a little bit too much of ‘we’ll go our way, you go your way, and we’ll see who wins the footy.’”
The two-time All-Australian then went on to show footage from the 11-point loss, with Daicos and de Goey pinpointed as two of the side’s stars caught out for not running both ways as their direct opponents went on to impact the play.
Montagna compared the efforts between last Saturday and their premiership less than 12 months ago, noting that they “just might not be doing the work they were doing last year.”
“They’re just taking liberties at the moment – they’ve got time to correct it – but I think this is what Craig McRae’s seen, and why he’s getting frustrated,” he added.
“I reckon he’s hitting the midfielders fair and square in the eyes, and saying ‘let’s play a bit more honest footy, that will keep us in the game – that’ll mean we won’t have to play catch-up.’”
Daicos is hotly tipped as a Brownlow Medal winner come season’s end, while de Goey came back for his first game in six weeks against the Suns on the Gold Coast.
The Pies will be looking to rectify their recent loss with a win over the vulnerable Bombers at the MCG this Friday night.