They arrived back from the Gold Coast fighting for a position in the eight.
The shock loss to the Suns has changed the goalposts dramatically in the run home for the Magpies.
While there is some brief respite next week with an MCG clash against GWS, after that the Pies face three of the top four teams.
A three-week block against Essendon (MCG), Sydney (ANZ Stadium) and Hawthorn (MCG) will decide the fate of Nathan Buckley's team.
Richmond's victory over Fremantle now puts the Tigers a game clear of the Pies in sixth position.
Port Adelaide is a game behind them in eighth but have an easier draw with games against Brisbane, Adelaide and Gold Coast at AAMI Stadium in the run home.
Carlton is two games away from the Pies but would need to win its next three games - Gold Coast (Metricon Stadium), Fremantle (Etihad) and Western Bulldogs (Etihad) - to put themselves in the equation.
Collingwood is hopeful Harry O'Brien will be ready to resume playing next Saturday against the Giants.
Key defender Nathan Brown, who was a late withdrawal against the Suns because of a tight hamstring, should return, while rover Jarryd Blair, who missed with a calf injury, is also a chance.
Goalsneak Ben Kennedy was best for Collingwood's VFL team while veteran Alan Didak and Irishman Marty Clarke also went around in the reserves.
Buckley was seething after the loss to the Suns about the Pies' ball use, particularly into its forward 50.
While Travis Cloke's inaccuracy again hurt - he's kicked 4.9 over the past two weeks - there were numerous other examples of woeful kicking that came back to haunt Collingwood.
The Pies kicked 2.7 in the first quarter and ended up having 12 more inside 50s and 24 more possessions than the Suns.
"We butchered plenty of opportunities," Buckley said. "I could rattle them off for you.
"There were six, seven, eight opportunities that we really should have converted, especially early, and then the game changes."
Vice-captain Scott Pendlebury also expressed his frustration afterwards.
"We had some easy shots in front of goal like 30 metres out. You have got to kick it."
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