Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley understands questions are going to be asked after his side's 16-point loss to Adelaide at the MCG on Sunday.
The Crows consigned the Magpies to their fifth loss from six starts, while Collingwood also slipped out of the top eight at the expense of Sunday's adversaries.
"The industry we're in, you're going to get picked apart and questions are going to be asked. They should be. Questions on why you're going well. Why you're going poorly. Questions on where you go from here," Buckley said post-match.
Despite the finals implications associated with the clash against the Crows, Buckley saw some definitive improvements from the team that was humiliated by Essendon at the same venue a fortnight ago.
"If we bring that energy and that effort, I think the supporters at the club, the players themselves, the coaches and staff and anyone involved with the club are going to be far more satisfied if we give them that effort (rather) than the one we gave against Essendon," he said.
Buckley refused to be drawn on what the loss means for the club's season with a meeting with fifth-placed Port Adelaide at the MCG next on the agenda.
"We've played some good footy, we've played some poor footy. Today was closer to the good footy that we've been able to play, but we didn't get the result," Buckley said.
"We go in, seven days into Port Adelaide with a much improved effort on what we've seen in the last two or three weeks, in particular, but we just need to sharpen up on our execution."
Although industrious, the lack of polish – particularly with their forward 50 entries – was a major sticking point for the Magpies coach.Collingwood pipped Adelaide in inside 50s (48-47), but there was a giant chasm in how both sides were able to convert their chances on the scoreboard.
The Magpies scored 46 per cent of the time from their forward 50 entries, while the Crows were far more efficient at 60 per cent.
He said key forward Travis Cloke was caught grappling opponent Daniel Talia too much, but added the umpires did not give Cloke much help in his one-on-one battle.
"More often than not we were able to bring it to ground and we hunted really well," Buckley said.
"But we just couldn't execute, couldn't finish off well enough."
With the Magpies seemingly in transition mode, Buckley was as realistic as ever when asked whether ninth place on the ladder was where his side fitted in the AFL spectrum.
At the start of the season, Champion Data ranked Collingwood's list at No. 10 in the competition when compared to other clubs' squads.
"Internally, we had higher expectations than that and we began the year as we wished to, regardless of age profile or experience profile," he said.
"We're definitely not going to use that as an excuse, but we could be playing more consistent football."
Collingwood has tumbled outside the top eight for the first time since round five with its fifth loss in six weeks, but coach Nathan Buckley is confident that his players’ improved endeavour and effort can see them work their way back into form with five rounds left before the finals.
Adelaide moved into the eight for the first time all year with its second win over the Pies for the year, a 16-point win that saw the Crows move level on points with Collingwood and Gold Coast but ahead of both clubs on percentage.
All three are placed one game behind Essendon and North Melbourne.
Collingwood missed out on the opportunity to move two games clear of the Crows, and face the prospect of missing out on playing in September for the first time since 2005, while the Crows won without midfield star Scott Thompson and fielding what coach Brenton Sanderson guessed was the youngest side his club had sent out all season.
Unsatisfied with his side’s effort two weeks ago against Essendon, Buckley was this time displeased with the number of one on one contests lost in defence when Adelaide got on four-goal runs at the end of the first and last quarters, and thought his players could have made more of their forward 50 entries.
But he was pleased with his players’ improved effort, and he was sure that they would improve if were able to maintain that effort in their last five games, against Port Adelaide, West Coast, Brisbane, Greater Western Sydney and Hawthorn.
“For the most part our attitude and our effort was really strong; chalk and cheese to last time we took the field two weeks ago. We focused on contests and pressure. Statistically, if you win both of those stats you win nine out of 10 games and this is the one that falls into that one out of 10,” Buckley said.
“You can only ever deal with it one game at a time. We’ve played some good footy, we’ve played some poor footy.
‘‘Today was closer to the good footy that we’ve been able to play, but we didn’t get the result.
“We go in, in seven days, to Port Adelaide with a much improved effort on what we’ve seen in the last two or three weeks in particular. We just need to sharpen up on execution in both offence and defence.’’
‘‘We’re definitely not going to use that as an excuse but we could be playing more consistent football and we’ll continue to coach around that and we’ll continue to play around that.
‘‘But if we bring the effort that we brought today, more often than not we’ll improve and if we improve we’ll win more games of footy.’’
The Crows play West Coast, Brisbane, Richmond, North Melbourne and St Kilda in their run home, with their games against the Eagles, Tigers and Saints to be played at home.
Having lost their first three games of the season, Sanderson said his side had the hunger to want to stay in the eight. The win over Collingwood was just the Crows’ second in 13 games at the MCG.
‘‘We’ve really been chasing the opposition. I know it’s round 18 and the season’s quickly coming to a close, but tonight we’re in the eight. We’ve got to enjoy this win tonight, it’s great to beat Collingwood at the MCG, but it’s a six day break and prepare for West Coast,’’ Sanderson said.
Already missing Dane Swan and Luke Ball from its midfield, Collingwood may have to play the Power without Clinton Young, who was reported following a first-half collision with Crow Brodie Smith.
Young caught Smith high with his left arm as he raced towards a marking contest in the centre square and arrived late. Smith was able to get up, take the 50-metre penalty and kick a long goal.
THERE are absolutely no excuses for Collingwood's fifth loss from six games, captain Scott Pendlebury says.
The Magpies led by a goal at the 12-minute mark of the final term in Sunday's clash against Adelaide at the MCG, only to fall to the Crows by 16 points.
"We're not making any excuses. We were in position to win that game," Pendlebury said.
"We put ourselves in a position to win and we've just got to be better."
The loss relegated the club to ninth position and with plenty of ground to make up if it is to force its way back into the top eight.
Collingwood has had to deal with a lengthy injury list for much of the season, only managing to get Ben Reid back in action for his first game of the season against the Crows.
Star midfielder Dane Swan is expected to miss up to a month with a plantar fascia problem in his foot, while Luke Ball and Alan Toovey were ruled out before the game started.
But it was not the lack of seniority that cost the Magpies the game, according to Pendlebury.
It was their sluggish opening and the side's inability to cope with pressure that stood out most to the Magpies' skipper.
"In the heat of the moment we've got to be better. You've got to stay clear in your mind and know what we want to do as a side," Pendlebury said.
"You can't get caught up in the atmosphere, which is what we're trying to teach the whole team.
"We've got to stick to the way we want to play all game and [Sunday night] it was the start that really hurt us."
Pendlebury said the loss to the Crows was "gut wrenching" as he turns his attention to another season-defining game against Port Adelaide next Sunday.
Finals, he says, are not even being thought about at this stage of the season.
"Even early in the year, when we were sitting fourth, it wasn't in the conversation," Pendlebury said.
"Round 23 is when it will be in the conversation, whether we're playing or not and that's as simple as it is." |
COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley knows the pressure is building after loss to Adelaide dumped the Pies out of the top eight.
The 16-point defeat was Collingwood’s fifth loss in six games, leaving Buckley to explain a season that lurches from bad to worse.
The Crows defeat capped the worst six-week stretch for the Magpies since 2005 - the last time they failed to reach the finals.
“The industry we’re in you’re going to get picked apart and questions are going to be asked and so they should be,” Buckley said.
“Questions on why you’re going well? Questions on why you’re going poorly? Questions on where do you go from here?”
Star midfielder Steele Sidebottom admitted the players had treated the Adelaide game “like a final”, with the Crows’ win ensuring they replaced Collingwood in the last finals spot.
Buckley acknowledged the heat was set to be turned up on the Magpies, but insisted his side was back to playing good footy despite the criticism.
“I can say to you that I don’t think it’s fair, I don’t think it’s balanced, but that’s irrelevant,” he said.
“All we can ever put our focus into is the things we can impact on and I thought, for the most part, the players did that today. If we bring that energy and effort I think the supporters of the club, the players, the coaches and staff and anybody involved with the club are going to be far more satisfied than if we give them the effort that we gave them against Essendon.
“For two games this year we’ve been really poor, but for the most part this group is prepared to put the work in and they’re prepared to improve and give their best and we’ll continue to go forward from that.
“We’ve played some good footy, we’ve played some poor footy. Today was closer to the good footy we’ve been able to play, but we didn’t get the result.”
Collingwood edged Adelaide in the contested ball count and won clearances and inside 50s, but was again undone by sloppy execution inside 50m that saw them waste a glut of opportunities.
“We focused on contests and pressure. Statistically if you win both of those you win nine out of 10 games and this was one that fell into that one out of 10,” Buckley said.
“More often than not when the ball went forward we were able to bring it to ground and we hunted well, but just couldn’t execute and couldn’t finish off well enough. To win the inside 50s and then not be able to take our chances is what hurt us.”
Buckley said Travis Cloke (16 disposals, seven marks and 3.1) was given a raw deal from the umpires.
“He didn’t get any help from the umps at all, but he’s a big unit and he’s got to keep going to attack the ball in the air and it will be more obvious when the defenders have got a handful of his jumper,” he said.
Dayne Beams was excellent in Collingwood’s loss. Picture: Michael Klein
Sidebottom said the loss had put the Pies in a straight-forward situation.
“Every game now we can’t afford to drop. To go down like that at the end, it’s very disappointing,” Sidebottom said.
“It’s been a big thing for us all year, our delivery inside 50m, and it wasn’t good enough tonight.”
Collingwood faces Port Adelaide, West Coast, Brisbane Lions, GWS and Hawthorn in the last five weeks of the season.
Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury has stressed the importance of attacking the team’s bye week with a positive mindset after Sunday’s 64-point loss to Essendon.
The result leaves the Magpies clinging onto the top eight on percentage with several tricky games remaining in the run to September.
But Pendlebury, and coach Nathan Buckley, noted the team’s approach to the bye will be fashioned on the way it responded to the 70-point loss to Fremantle in round one.
On that occasion, the Magpies used their week off to reload before flying to Sydney where they silenced the flag favourites with a 20-point win.
“The season’s not finished for us,” Pendlebury told CollingwoodTV after emerging from Buckley’s post-game meeting.
“A lot of people will write us off now but we’re eighth. If the finals start tomorrow, we’re in the finals.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do though.
“Two weeks (off) is a good thing. We can really attack these two weeks, train really well and come out all guns blazing against the Crows.”
Essendon gave Collingwood one of its most comprehensive beatings in many years, winning the tackle count with 67 to Collingwood’s 50 despite having 87 more disposals.
“We definitely didn’t sense that coming in,” Pendlebury lamented.
“The boys were ready. In the first quarter we missed some opportunities and they kicked straight all day. We got flogged around the ball and it starts and stops there.
“I think we’ve just got to get back to the basics. If we do the basics well, we play good football, and today there were just too many times where we left each other by ourselves.
“It starts around the footy. We’ve got to get better around the pill and we’ll address that.”
Adelaide is in the top eight after beating Collingwood by 16 points at the MCG on Sunday, a result that relegated the Magpies to ninth position on the ladder.
The Crows looked set to be overrun by the Magpies, who took a six-point lead early in the final term, before Adelaide booted three goals in five minutes to restore its advantage midway through the last quarter.
Two late goals to Crows spearhead Taylor Walker sealed the club's 14.14 (98) to 12.10 (82) victory, one that was hard earned but deserved given their dominance throughout the match.
Coach Brenton Sanderson acknowledged the Crows had taken the long route to the top eight after losing the first three games of the season.
"We've really been chasing the competition. I know it's round 18, the season's quickly coming to a close, (and) tonight we're in the eight," he said after the win.
"We've got to enjoy this win tonight, but then get home and prepare for West Coast. That's the reality of this competition, it's ruthless.
"We've been working our backsides off to get in the eight. Now that we're there, we need to make sure we stay in there."
While Adelaide jumped into the box seat for the finals, the Magpies' September hopes are fading by the week.
The loss was Collingwood's fifth of its past six games, and it is a far less imposing team than the one which was on the verge of top-four honours just six weeks ago.
Magpies coach Nathan Buckley pointed to the latter stages of the first quarter and the final 10 minutes of the game as the main parts of the game that let his side down.
"For the most part, our attitude and our effort was really strong," Buckley said.
"(It was) chalk and cheese to the last time we took the field (against Essendon in round 17)."
But the credit should go to Adelaide.
Just as Travis Cloke (three goals) and Dayne Beams (two goals, 29 disposals) looked set to lead Collingwood to a come-from-behind victory, a number of Crows stood up.
Walker (three goals) and James Podsiadly (one goal) formed a dangerous combination throughout the day, while Patrick Dangerfield (26 disposals, 14 contested) won important clearances at the right times.
Dangerfield will have scans on his knee this week after receiving a knock in the dying moments, but the club is confident he escaped damage.
Brodie Smith also showed why he is considered one of the leading young talents in the competition with 24 disposals at 100 per cent efficiency, including two goals. Brad Crouch (25 disposals), Ricky Henderson (22) and Matthew Jaensch (22) were others to play considerable roles in the victory.
Adelaide could have sewn up the result earlier, if not for some wastefulness.
The Crows opened a 17-point margin at the first change, but did not make the most of their chances, and Collingwood controlled most of the play in the second term.
When Beams' second goal – a snap from the forward pocket six minutes into the final term – slid through to give the Pies the lead, it appeared the Crows' inaccuracy would come back to haunt them.It didn't, which will be a relief for coach Brenton Sanderson as he tries to lead his club back to September action.
The win also opens up a solid run home for the Crows, who play just one current top-eight side (North Melbourne in round 19) in their final five contests.
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