Collingwood 'defensive plonkers'

 SUPERFOOTY

EVERYBODY is thinking it, so let's say it.
Under Mick Malthouse, when Collingwood was at its best, the Magpies were a defensive juggernaut.
Under Nathan Buckley this year, the Pies are defensive plonkers.
Malthouse kept Collingwood hungry, maniacal in its approach to every contest.
Buckley has the Magpies being labelled "cheats" by his acting captain. By one definition that makes them lazy and unaccountable.
They are a middle of the road team playing middle of the road footy.
There are stats that concern and stats that excite and the Magpies are a concern. For instance, they concede an average of 101 points a game, with only Melbourne, the Giants, the Western Bulldogs and Brisbane Lions conceding greater scores.
They are scored too easily against at stoppages, when in 2010 they were ranked No.3, in 2001 No.1 and in 2012, Buckley's first year, No.5. Now they are 14th.
Buckley wondered in his interview after the loss to the Dockers if his side was a "good team". He should wonder no more.
It is 4-3 in the win-loss category and may be out of the top eight tonight. Defensively, it gets opened for long periods and the final quarters against Hawthorn, Essendon and Fremantle are Exhibits A, B and C.
Its once famous press couldn't straighten a shirt, meaning it can't lock the ball in its forward-50 and its ball retention is so-so.
If Travis Cloke doesn't kick goals, or is not a commanding force that helps the smalls, the Pies struggle.
Cloke has 22 goals, then follow Jamie Elliott and Steele Sidebottom with 10, and those numbers have Buckley scratching around for goalkickers, hence his use of Dane Swan as a forward, when Swan was badly needed in the midfield.
With Scott Pendlebury subdued and Swan elsewhere, the Magpies midfield lacked punch.
On Saturday night, Collingwood and Hawthorn, two of last year's preliminary finalists, were in action.
Both have suffered serious injuries to their lists, but only one of them has had the depth and character to soldier on.
The Hawks were truly frightening against Sydney, while the Magpies were frightened by the character of the Dockers, frightened by their ferocity and discipline in the first, second and all-important final quarter.
Collingwood missed Luke Ball, Dayne Beams, Ben Johnson and Tyson Goldsack. Alan Toovey is out for the year, Clinton Young will get a game, as will Alan Didak.
The Dockers were without Matthew Pavlich, Aaron Sandilands, Nathan Fyfe and Stephen Hill and lost ruckman Jonathon Griffin in the first quarter.
So, no excuses there for the Pies.
In fact, very disappointing.
Unquestionably, Ball will help defensive attitudes in the middle and Beams will win the ball, but, as Buckley also noted, returning players don't automatically fix attitude issues.
The Dockers proved that personnel is not everything.
They had four of their best five players out, yet names such as Hayden Crozier, Lee Spurr, Cameron Sutcliffe, Nick Suban, Tendai Mzungu and Alex Silvagni all played their roles. And Zac Dawson played as the ruckman in the final quarter and had four clearances.
The Dockers won it the hard way. Not only did they lose momentum in general play and on the scoreboard, they fought back to level it and then powered away again.
It was a victory based on discipline and self-belief -- neither of which the Magpies have in abundance.