Mid-Season Report Card

REAL FOOTY - Jon Pierik

Pre-season expectations: By their own admission, the Pies were expected to contend for the finals. Taylor Adams said the season would be a "100 per cent fail" if they don't feature in September.

Very little has gone right for Collingwood this season.

Record: 14th (4-8)

What's gone right

Bad start: Dane Swan went down in round one. Photo: Getty Images

Little. They were expected to seriously challenge for the top eight, and some commentators thought they were good enough to even finish top four. Darcy Moore, until he fractured his collarbone against the Western Bulldogs, had shown glimpses of the player he will become, booting 14 goals. Ben Reid is finally enjoying a sustained run after terrible soft-tissue injuries, while former American basketballer Mason Cox has been a revelation as a marking forward since making his debut on Anzac Day. So good has Cox been that he took Travis Cloke's spot in the side. Jeremy Howe, after a frisbee incident over summer, has emerged as a solid defender. Alex Fasolo, the Pies' leading goalkicker (22), started the season strongly but is now sidelined with a fractured scapula.

What's gone wrong
Plenty. Finals now appear over. From the opening minutes of the season when Dane Swan's leg and foot crumbled against the Swans, the Pies have been under siege. They have missed his on-field presence and bullocking play. Travis Cloke has endured the toughest year of his career, and it increasingly appears he will be traded at season's end. He has been dropped twice but continues to fight hard in the VFL. The heavy loss to Carlton in round seven even prompted president Eddie McGuire to question his position. He was persuaded to stay by his two boys, who urged him to fight on. Nathan Buckley's pre-season contract extension until the end of 2017 has also been regularly questioned publicly – but Buckley has remained process-driven and of the belief his methods will work. Such was the heat on the Pies after the defeat to the Blues that McGuire said he wouldn't hesitate to sack Buckley if that was the right thing to do for the club. Injuries and the poor form of the team's leaders, including Nathan Brown, Taylor Adams (hamstring) and Brent Macaffer, have also been an issue, and have been highlighted by using 37 players. The Pies have barely had their best six defenders on the field together, and their set-up behind the ball has suffered as a result. Tactically, they have often been opened up when opponents have switched play, exposing their lack of pace and defensive positioning. The plan to counter Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn on Monday with three talls also failed. The Pies have won fewer games each season under Buckley – 17 to 14 to 11. Anything less this year and ... we hold grave fears for anyone associated with the Holden Centre.

Stand-out star
Hard to split Adam Treloar, Steele Sidebottom and Scott Pendlebury. The captain had a tough start to the year when he was forced to play more of a sweeping role across half-back because of a rib injury, but he has been in strong form in the past month, averaging about 30 disposals for the season. However, he has been criticised by former Magpie Mick McGuane for chasing "easy ball". Treloar, the high-priced recruit from Greater Western Sydney, has added much drive through the middle, and also averages 30 touches. Sidebottom is one of the league's best, averaging about 28 disposals, but was beaten by Demons' tagger Tomas Bugg on Monday.

Who is under the pump
Nathan Brown, 27, Alan Toovey, 29, Tyson Goldsack, 29, Brent Macaffer, 28, Cloke, 29, and Jesse White, 28, all face uncertain futures. White has enjoyed a rebirth of sorts as a forward and defender since being recalled for the second time this season. James Aish, the former Lion, will be with the Pies next year but more had been expected of him.

The run home
The Pies will need to win at least eight but, more likely, nine of their last 11 matches to be alive come September. That seems unlikely. They will resume against Fremantle at the MCG, and must win this. Then comes a rematch against the Blues, and even more imposing clashes against Greater Western Sydney (Spotless Stadium), the Crows (Adelaide Oval) and North Melbourne (Etihad Stadium). That's a potentially harrowing run. The Pies have capitulated after the bye in recent seasons, including winning only two matches from round 13 last year. Should that happen again, expect the pressure gauge on Buckley to hit code red.

What coach Nathan Buckley says: "We have got a vision of where we want to go and we have to embody that more often. You're either learners or losers and in many ways we're in that position."

Grading: D