Whether it’s a premiership hangover or not, Collingwood has a mighty headache for which there is no instant cure.
For the first time since his fledgling days as a Magpie, coach Craig McRae’s magic carpet ride has hit turbulence.
The Magpies looking dejected after losing their round one AFL match against the Sydney Swans at the MCG on Friday night.Credit: Getty Images
Last week’s loss to Greater Western Sydney could be dismissed as an aberration, but there is no grey in a second flop. It should be a cause for concern to anyone with allegiances to the black and white.
As it did in opening round, the margin – of 33 points – flattered the Pies, who for the second week in a row saw a deficit balloon beyond the half-century before junk time goals prevented a proper rout.
The Pies are the sailor trying to plug holes in a leaky boat. No sooner is one issue seemingly solved, water comes in somewhere else. They lifted the intensity which was distinctly lacking against the Giants, winning the contested side of the game, only to clip their own wings with calamitous turnovers.
Twelve of the Swans’ 15 goals (78 of 102 points) came on turnover. As a comparison, they conceded an average of 40 points last year. Several goals came gift-wrapped with a ribbon on top. When players the quality of Darcy Moore and Steele Sidebottom are blundering, what hope is there for the mere mortals?
Jack Crisp of the Magpies and Justin McInerney of the Swans compete for the ballCredit: AFL Photos
Moore’s howler, an ill-fated attempt to switch play reminiscent of that he made in the 2022 preliminary final, gifted the easiest of goals for Justin McInerney, sparking the Swans’ second run of five or more goals. Moore’s performance, though, was a marked improvement on opening round.
The sight of Jack Crisp, one of the Pies’ most audacious playmakers, run down like a zebra on safari by Will Hayward for another gimme goal was a sobering reminder of how the mighty had fallen.
Whether the Pies indeed have a premiership hangover will be discussed at length until they wake from their early season slumber. The morning after the night before is seldom pretty.
A hangover implies an over-celebrated premiership success at the expense of preparing for the season. McRae insists this is not the case, but the optics do not help. Two meek losses, the second coming on the night they unfurl the 2023 flag, at a time when a film on their success is hitting the cinemas feeds the perception.
Finlay Macrae of the Magpies and James Rowbottom of the Swans compete for the ball.Credit: AFL Photos
As a member of Brisbane’s three-peat in 2001-03, McRae is better placed than most to see the warning signs of a hangover. He is adamant his players are not displaying any.
“That’s a natural thing to say. That’s not how we think,” McRae said. “We have trust in the process. We try to get better every single day. That’s been our mantra for two years, that’s not going to change.
“Our system has been really strong for us in recent times. We’ve got to get back to being that team, having trust in that system. That’s the only way through. Process and system.”
By McRae’s admission, the system is “clunky”. The hunger and desperation they showed in McRae’s first two years was not evident. Instead, it was the Swans who, as the saying goes, wanted it more. Their 21 extra tackles despite having more of the ball is testament to this.
Magpies coach Craig McRae’s magic carpet ride has hit turbulence.Credit: Getty Images
Then there’s what does not show up on the stat sheet, plays like fringe Swan Robbie Fox’s in the second term when, outnumbered three to one, he willed himself to contest a pass that looked like destined to become an easy rebound in a dangerous area of the ground.
As McRae intimated, teams that stand still fall behind, but where will the improvement come from for Collingwood? This side had 19 of their grand final 23.
Of the absentees, Tom Mitchell, who is managing a “grumbling ankle”, should come back in the next week or two but important backman Nathan Murphy’s future is unclear. Jack Ginnivan is a Hawk, and Billy Frampton won’t move the needle far.
McRae all but conceded forward Ash Johnson, attempting to take Dan McStay’s spot, would be dropped after just three possessions and a behind to go with a goalless two touches last week.
Finlay Macrae showed promise as the sub, but it’s asking a lot of a 13-gamer to take a premiership team to another level. As strongly as McRae insists the hunger of his men has not waned, those without a premiership medal train with an extra edge.
“We’ve got to find players that are hungry and ready to take us to the next levels,” McRae said when asked about Macrae.
Lachie Schultz, a seasoned recruit who should reap quick dividends, is yet to hit his straps. Natural improvement can also come from under 25s like Norm Smith medallist Bobby Hill, Isaac Quaynor and Beau McCreery but as it stands only Nick Daicos and Darcy Camereon have enhanced their reputations in the first two games.
At least, the Pies have not been beaten by chumps. The Giants and Swans are shaping to be among the leading contenders in 2024 this year. What it does show is the chasing pack have not only made up the narrow gap on the Pies, who won three finals by a combined total of 12 points, they have already put a space on them. It’s just as well they have five months to catch up.
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