On ANZAC Day, James Hird was smiling and Nathan Buckley was frowning. The former is the subject of a drug investigation but the latter has real problems.
Whether it’s injuries, weariness, a failure to evolve, or a combination of these, the Pies – a flag favourite, for many – seem to be in a bit of trouble.
In last year’s preliminary final Sydney broke their seven-year voodoo against the Pies. On Thursday Essendon ended their four-year one.
The omens aren’t good.
In such a wonderfully tight competition there are few easy games but for Collingwood it is made harder by the fact that many of theirs are blockbusters. In five rounds they’ve already played in four, and it’s showing.
Teams have always been eager to smash Collingwood but with the Pies residing at, or near, the top of the tree for a few seasons now the improving opposition are showing an extra keenness to chop them down.
The opening game against the Kangaroos wasn’t a blockbuster but the undermanned Pies were made to work for it.
Then came the big one against traditional rivals Carlton which was given extra emotional significance for being against their former mentor and the architect of their recent premiership, Mick Malthouse.
In another tough contest they eventually shrugged off the Blues.
Then came the battle with fellow premiership favourites, Hawthorn. After a poor start the Hawks blitzkrieged the Pies to win easily.
Recovering from that thrashing and doubting their ability to beat top class opposition they started poorly against a rejuvenated Richmond.
They won comfortably after a superb third quarter and a dominant display from Travis Cloke but poor decision-making and skills from the Tigers helped.
And then of course there was Thursday. The scores probably didn’t reflect the closeness of the contest but like most of the games already this year the Pies seem to be playing reactive football, relying on surges of brilliant football to stay in contests. And when in front, they have allowed opposition back in.
There is no let-up either. After next week they play consecutive games against Fremantle, Geelong and the reigning premiers; powerful teams who would fancy their chances against the sluggish Pies. The back-end of the season includes games against Essendon, Sydney and then Hawthorn.
Their injury list is a long one and includes some significant names, most notably Dayne Beams, Darren Jolly, and now poor Alan Toovey, however their new recruits have made them a better team on paper this year.
Quinten Lynch and Ben Hudson have given them added height, Sam Dwyer has been a surprise performer and Jamie Elliot has become a dangerous goalkicker.
Much has been made of the absence of veterans Luke Ball, Alan Didak and Andrew Krakouer but will their lack of game time and susceptibility to injury undermine their effectiveness?
It’s early, I know, but their season is looking very similar to last year’s. They still have a wonderful list containing relatively young premiership stars.
Even with injuries they are superior on paper to most sides but just don’t seem to be able to dominant them. The 14th placed West Coast have a better percentage.
With the club’s excellent support staff and facilities it’s unlikely the injuries could be due to mismanagement. It could be a case of bad luck, or quite possibly a result of over-training.
There does appear to be a distinct lack of joie de vivre among the playing group. Perhaps Nathan Buckley is too serious, or they could be fed up with being the hunted, and the hosts of blockbusters.
The club got rid of the Colliwobbles a long time ago but have they been replaced with the Colliwearies?
Whatever the reason, they’re not looking like a premiership favourite.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
That was one of the key differences between West Coast and Carlton in 2011 and why we could get a couple wins against the top of the pile when Carlton couldn't. We had a very defensive midfield mindset, Carlton's was attack-attack-attack. This crushed many lesser lights but couldn't find purchase against the Top 4 (nor most of the top 8 ). Pendlebury himself accused the Pies of cheating in defence - not in a legal sense, but an effort sense.
Richard
Guest
Very simple, they are not working hard enough in defence. All out attack is fine against the weaker clubs but will cost you against the top 4 type clubs.
chris
Guest
As I said in another forum 2monthes ago, Where are the young fit Rickman, half their best 22 are 29 or older, in this the modern game.. Ie A 10 man midfield they will struggle to make the 8 and next year will be worse, malthouse knows when To get out, he's done it before.... They cant even See a premiership window any more.... The next one Won't open for a while ... And besides buckley+Collingwood Traditionally doesn't equal premierships...
chris
Guest
As I said in another forum 2monthes ago, Where are the young fit Rickman, half their best 22 are 29 or older, in this the modern game.. Ie A 10 man midfield they will struggle to make the 8 and next year will be worse, malthouse knows when To get out, he's done it before.... They cant even See a premiership window any more.... The next one Won't open for a while ... And besides buckley+Collingwood Traditionally doesn't equal premierships...
Ads
Guest
Let's put this into perspective. They got blown away in the 2nd half against the Hawks who are their bogey team (won 9 of the past 12 games against the Pies) and got within 2 goals of the bombers in the 3rd quarter when 2 marginal free kicks were paid to essendon(one definitely incorrect free kick was paid against Reid) that changed the momentum back to essendon. Not saying that the Pies would have won the game but momentum is a big thing in footy. The score would have been closer at very least. 3-2 after 5 rounds is a good result given the players out you mentioned but also players coming back. Daisy Thomas and Fasolo are taking time to playing their best after interrupted pre-seasons. Don't forget they lost their captain Maxwell and a lot of leadership with Beams and Ball missing - who are their vice captains. Too early to right them off after 5 rounds. I'm confident that Bucks and the coaching staff have them on the right track if they can get some better news on the injury front. Toovey gone for the season is a big blow and he is number one for the '1 percenters' but look who is returning out of the senior players: Didak, Maxwell, Krakouer, Ball, Young, Beams, Jolly, Keefe and Johnson. Add into the mix: Witts yet to debut, number 1 pick Grundy and youngsters such as Paine, Martin and Oxley. Pies can easily make the top 4 - how long will Essendon and Port's run last?
Floreat Pica
Guest
'Blockbuster fatigue' is an interesting theory- something I considered on the long train home after Thursday. Four games in a row with a crowd of more than 75,000 if my memory is correct? At the Hawthorn game I hardly felt like I was coming to another match already after the big rivalry built up around the Carlton game. My Hawks supporting friends were pumped, I was feeling comparatively ho-hum. The next week too was built as a massive game against Richmond and again come ANZAC Day despite the crowd size and occasion, come the end of the first quarter it was just another week with another big crowd. I felt it in the stands- we wanted especially to win on ANZAC Day- but the Essendon crowd wanted especially to win on ANZAC Day and especially to beat Collingwood. It can obviously be a big advantage to be 'The Club' in Australia, but occasionally it's a massive hurdle. I see this as the bigger problem than injuries this season- how to overcome yet another 'big rivalry' match where most of the feeling is on the other side.
Paul
Guest
After many years at or near the top, the slide had to come sooner or later. That and the injury curse. Scorning the Magpies for their loss to the Bombers could be like scorning Tracey Wickham for being beaten by an East German.
Shmick
Roar Rookie
I think the instability of their list hurt them in 2012 and they are still experiencing a hangover from this. In previous years high-quality names like Didak, Krakoeur, Ball and Jolly would've spent significantly less time in the VFL upon return from injury. Perhaps Buckley's theory of having players at 100% is having an impact on team stability and overall experience. In 2013 they have placed a significant reliance on their less inexperienced players such as Blair, Josh Thomas, Dywer, Elliott, Sinclair, Fasolo, Clarke, Seedsmen & Frost. With a full squad to pick from, only Fasolo, Blair and perhaps Elliott would be considered in their best 22. I still feel that if they get most of their experienced players back on the paddock by mid-season (save for Toovey) they're still a serious threat for the flag.