Straight away when addressing the media after Collingwood’s shock loss to Port Adelaide over a week ago, Nathan Buckley said he had to ask if the club is making the right decisions.
Of course 2010 is long gone now as a memory and there is no longer the powerhouse team that was around in 2010-2011 – it’s a different team.
The main core of the side is there, though.
When you compare Collingwood to teams like Sydney, Geelong and even Port Adelaide this season they all have discipline measures in place that are effective and successful.
Buckley spoke about how this is his team and changes have already been made with Alan Didak, Andrew Krakouer and Darren Jolly being delisted.
Not that they were necessarily delisted for discipline reasons, but the fact it is time to change face and rebuild a side with the right attitude to go about it on and off the field.
Of course now it means that players won’t get special treatment and this has been seen early on in Buckley’s reign by suspending Dane Swan last year for breaking team rules.
This year Harry O’Brien found out it’s the team that comes first when he had his way of trying to protest after getting upset about a comment from Buckley.
It remains to be seen what happens to the likes of Heath Shaw and Dane Swan.
Almost every game he plays for Collingwood, Heath Shaw is arguing with a umpire after doing something silly like touching Angus Monfries in the throat.
Yes, he may have been upset but it doesn’t mean you can just shove him in the throat.
Showing a lack of respect for the umpires and making it harder for your team in the process doesn’t make the coach happy at all.
That ‘double goal’ was crucial in the context of the match and ill-disciplined acts like that in a final do not help an already tight situation.
Dane Swan is a different character and footballer altogether, but at the same time he has publicly said before he plans to retire after the end of the 2014 season.
It remains to be seen if he will retire and be true to his word but this is the elephant in the room that will cause most trouble in deciding what to do at Collingwood next season.
He has been shown in the past that he doesn’t get special treatment.
Sure, he is a good player but it’s the impact he can have off the field in situations with the younger players that would be of most concern, because he won’t be around in five years but they will.
There are calls for Scott Pendlebury to be captain and start a new era, which is sensible as his performances warrant such an honour.
There is enough of a team to remain competitive and compete for a top four spot but it does take time.
It won’t be easy that’s for sure but the need for change is badly there and a new belief system after some of the Mick Malthouse attributes of being able to run amok is still there.
With a coach coming in trying to change a side into his own team and bring in new beliefs it does take time to mould the list and set new team cultures.
Hopefully this is the start of it after a huge wakeup call of relying on past glories to carry the team over.
Brett
Roar Rookie
Fred Yes the game was hard to watch but I'm not saying shaw is responsible for the whole loss but what he did when they game was close in the second quarter didn't help at all, bucks does not want anyone to think that they are bigger and despite being popular in the group Alan didak is gone which again shows what he is trying to say that it's for the better of the team. Water gate It's not about everyone being perfect at the club as people do make mistakes but it is about buying in to what he wants to do as he is the coach now, he did give games to players who needed it and to see what depth he has for the future, every other team bar Sydney and Geelong would have a few years to perform at the top before it decreases slightly, at best regardless if Thomas will stay I see the pies finishing just inside the top eight. Of course if the players don't want to perform for him it does make it harder for him to stay, By the time collingwood play Melbourne Paul roos will have had time to know what his strongest line up is so the demons will likely challenge for more then a quarter like they did this year against colllingwood
watergate
Guest
Buckley is out to blame anyone that he can, in a pathetic attempt to conceal his own incompetence. Arrogant, self obsessed and completely intolerant of anyone that he believes does not meet his delusional self image of perfection, Buckley has got LOSER written all over him, and will without doubt destroy the Pies 5 year prospects before he is eventually dumped during season 2014. Buckley's blood lust will not end with the recent delisting's, and the impending loss of Dale Thomas, Heath Shaw and Harry O'Brien will further weaken a club, that is already reeling as a consequence of Buckley's complete refusal to accept any responsibility for the club's demise, preferring instead to pour scorn over the playing group at every opportunity. Buckley cannot fathom the fact that successful coaching requires an ability to relate to and motivate talented individuals, something that is well beyond this ego driven wanabee and cannot be replaced by hiring consultants, who simply mouth the worthless Buckley mantra. Paul Roos' decision to take on the Demon's coaching duties, will effectively raise the bar during season 2014, further exposing clueless Buckley who is outcoached on a regular basis. Come mid season 2014, the prospect of the Pies competing in the 2014 final series will be beyond their grasp and the knives will well and truly be out for Buckley.
fred
Guest
As a pie supporter,its so hard to see the boys fall to port like that.But you cant blam one man in the back line (Heath shaw)we are a team and side by side we stick together.You cant change the cuture of one of the oldest teams in the Afl bucks in one day.Please go slow about it bucks we need the players who are compassionate about collingwood and the game,it not just about money.(Dale Thomas)