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The Magpies have conceded the fourth most points (532) of any team in the AFL this season, at an average of 106.4 per game. Figures also reveal the Pies have allowed more points from opposition clearances (124) in their back half than any other side. Speaking at the Westpac Centre on Tuesday afternoon, Buckley said the club's defensive lapses were something the Magpies were aware of several weeks ago. "The public are probably two weeks behind us on this one," Buckley said. "We highlighted it after the Hawthorn game (round three). We were pretty disappointed with our ability to prevent large scores. "It's been an issue we have been trying to address, but clearly we need to do more about it." A frustrated Scott Pendlebury raised the subject publicly after the Pies' 46-point loss to Essendon on ANZAC Day, putting the acid on his team's ability to lock down defensively. "They (Essendon) burnt us pretty badly by playing honest football. We started cheating," Pendlebury said. Buckley said the defensive side of Collingwood's game was still a work in progress and he hoped there would be a significant improvement against St Kilda on Friday night. "I think it's holistic. We're not defending as well as we would like to as a team. We're giving up too high a score," he said. With injuries impacting on player personnel, Buckley said it was a challenge the club needed to find a way around. "We've been taken to the cleaners by Hawthorn and Essendon, two very good sides, that have been able to maintain their composure and complete at a high rate," he said. "Our structures are sound ... it ends up becoming how committed you are to defending at the contest and then winning your one-on-ones behind the ball." Buckley also said it was up to the players to adjust their defensive tactics, after umpires boss Jeff Gieschen gave his tick of approval to a contentious free-kick paid against Ben Reid against the Bombers. "There's going to be a hell of a lot more frees than we've known in the past. And a hell of a lot more than are paid at the moment, if we interpret it that way," Buckley said. Pendlebury accused the Magpies of "cheating" after they sprung leaks late in the 46-point Anzac Day loss to unbeaten Essendon. It was the second time in three games the Pies had been burned defensively by good sides - Hawthorn also exploding in the second half of their match for a huge win. Giving up an average of more than 106 points a match this season and with their back-half turnovers proving among the most costly in the competition, Buckley admitted a fix was needed. But the coach had no problem with Pendlebury going public on the issue, saying the statistics spoke for themselves and far harsher words were spoken behind closed doors at Collingwood to address the matter. "The public are about two weeks behind us on this one," Buckley said on Tuesday. "We highlighted it after the Hawthorn game. We were pretty disappointed with our ability to prevent large scores. "It's been an issue we've been trying to address, but clearly we need to do more about it. "The stats are there for all to see ... we've been taken to the cleaners by two sides in particular in Hawthorn and Essendon that have been able to maintain their composure and complete (passages of play) at an exceptional rate. "Whether that's our (lack of) pressure, whether that's their skill, whether it's a bit of both, we need to look after our end of the bargain." Buckley is refusing to panic, believing the Magpies remain a good side - just one with work to do. That is evidenced by a 3-2 win-loss record - the wins coming against solid outfits in North Melbourne, Carlton and Richmond. "We haven't played some of the sides that have been belted. Having said that, we've won three games ... all against very good football sides," Buckley said. "What it shows is we've got some work to do. "I'm not anticipating us playing our best football in round five. We've still got some players to come back in. We know we'll be a better side in 10 weeks than we are now." Ruckman Darren Jolly looks a likely inclusion for Friday night's Etihad Stadium showdown with St Kilda. The veteran pleased Buckley with a strong showing in the Magpies' reserves last weekend after an early season marred by kidney problems and a rib injury. Experienced Ben Johnson may also be in line for a recall after overcoming a calf injury. The Magpies need to fill the void left by the season-ending knee injury to reliable defender Alan Toovey. |
Buckley said the Magpies were attempting to address the issue and the proof would be against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Friday night. "We've been taken to the cleaners by two sides in particular, Hawthorn and Essendon, two very good sides who have been able to maintain their composure and complete at an exceptional rate. Now whether that's our pressure or their skill or a bit of both, we need to look after our end of the bargain,'' Buckley said after training today. "We highlighted it after the Hawthorn game. We were pretty disappointed with our ability to prevent large scores. "Last year Hawthorn kicked an average of 137 points against. I think they went 145 (against the Magpies) two weeks ago, so it has been an issue we've been trying to address, but clearly we need to do more about it. "I think it's holistic. We're not defending as well as we'd like to as a team. We're giving up too big a scores. The stats this morning were there for all to see. They highlighted our scores against from turnovers in our back half and from clearances in our back half. "Our structures are sound. If you look across the competition, the way we set up defensively is no different. It has sutle differences, but it's very similar how most sides set up defensively. It ends up how committed you are to defending at the contests, first and foremost, and then being able to win your one-on-ones behind the ball. "If you put a loose number behind, can he impact? And if you're going to get support, how hard do the runners come to support you, your back six. "There's no doubt personnel changes are going to challenge us, our skipper (Nick Maxwell) is out, our best defender in Toovs (Alan Toovey) is now out, we've had changes to our key defenders in the first five weeks and we're introducing new defenders into that role, so we rely on team defence. "We rely on our forwards to be able to put pressure on, our mids to be two-way runners and our defenders to be able to win those one-on-ones. And we haven't been able to do it for long enough to this point of the season.'' Buckley said he had no problem with midfield ace Scott Pendlebury accusing teammates of being "cheats" on the defensive aspects of the Anzac Day loss to the Bombers. "We're prepared to speak openly about the challenges we have in front of us. There's stronger words spoken being closed doors on where we're are and where we want to be. How much we're talking about what we want and how much we're actually doing it,'' he said. Buckley emphasised the massive blow from defender Alan Toovey's season-ending knee injury, particularly with skipper Nick Maxwell still several weeks away from returning from his broken wrist. "Obviously Brent Macaffer has played the last couple of games there and he has an opportunity to re-establish himself as a defender and we'll give him that chance,'' he said. "Heath Shaw is established back there now, Paul Seedsman, Marty Clarke, Harry O'Brien, have all played down back and they'll all be given their chances there. But, as I've said, it's not going to be one bloke that replaces Alan Toovey. "We're not going to be able to replace a player who has played that period of time with that sort of assurity in his own role. We need to spread that responsibility across the back six.'' And on the free kick against Ben Reid to Essendon forward Tom Bellchambers, the Pies coach said: "I haven't got to Giesch (AFL umpires boss Jeff Gieschen) yet this week, But there's clearly two movements, so under the letter of the law, he's right. "There's going to be a hell of a lot more frees than we've known in the past and a hell of a lot more than are being paid at the moment if we interpret that way, so our players are going to have to adjust.'' Ruckman Darren Jolly is ready to return after testing his ribs in a VFL game. And Buckley declared Andrew Krakouer as "not far away.''  |
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Collingwood Shutting Door
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