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Collingwood AFL captain Nick Maxwell says the club must work harder to give their forwards more chances. Maxwell identified a more intensive effort in the midfield is vital if the Magpies are to take proper advantage of their talented forwards.
That and a harder, more dedicated workrate were two factors he emphasised before players left on their annual high-altitude training camp in Arizona on Tuesday.
“I think us going into our forward line, I don’t think we looked after our forwards as well as we could, particularly in the second half of the year,” Maxwell said.
“I think that’s something that’s more specific and, although Nathan (Buckley) hasn’t spoken about that, it’s something I think we can really work on.
“We’ve got so many good quality forwards down there and, at times, we really wasted the ball going down to them.
“Personally, that’s one thing I’d like to see us get better at,” he said.
Maxwell also said more could be got out of the players in terms of fitness and skill.
“We want to ensure all the fitness is up and everyone is trying to gain that one or two per cent across the board.
“The young guys can improve 20 or 30 per cent across a three-month pre-season,” he said.
Meanwhile, Maxwell returned to pre-season several weeks earlier than scheduled in a bid to erase painful memories of a broken thumb which kept him out for much of the past season – and the grand final loss to Geelong.
“Physically, I feel as good as I’ve felt for a couple of years, so starting early has really given me a kickstart into the pre-season,” Maxwell said.
“I just wanted to come back early because of the burn of what happened last year, and because the year I had personally – I was injured for most of the year.
“I just wanted to get back into it as quick as I could.”
VFL coach Tarkyn Lockyer has stayed behind with players such as Nathan Brown, who is recovering from knee surgery, and Andrew Krakouer, who faces visa problems with the US following his criminal conviction.
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