Saturday was the annual Good Old Collingwood Letdown.
Just a week earlier, the Magpies had beaten then-undefeated Geelong by 29 points in a stirring victory that some saw as season-defining, as well as a platform on which to resurrect their finals hopes. But while that was the hype, most of us knew what was likelier to follow – exactly what did.
We’re used to it. We go to games with wariness. It’s not so much about the margins, but the effort. One week Collingwood are full of high energy and will exhibit crisp passing, fast movement of the ball, and frantic pressure. The following week, they’ll appear lethargic, miss easy targets, seem uncertain of their structures, and the pressure drops way off.
Why? Which is the real Collingwood?
That the good Collingwood is the model – the ‘brand’ – the team aspire to consistently become is an easy argument to make. But the issue becomes how long does it take to implement a gameplan?
You can exclude the first two years of coach Nathan Buckley’s tenure, as his assault on the finals in 2012–13 was with the list built for predecessor Mick Malthouse, and Buckley largely employed Malthouse’s gameplan.
It’s from 2014 – once a number of 2010 premiership stalwarts had retired (or been retired) or been traded out – that Buckley (and those around him) should be measured.
There does remain a qualifier that Collingwood’s list build and list management overall hasn’t helped whatever Buckley’s aspiring to accomplish – pick 6 Matthew Scharenberg has played only four games to date, although he was drafted back in 2013. Nathan Freeman, from the same draft, played zero.
Tim Broomhead, Jackson Ramsey, and Ben Kennedy haven’t played much either. Free agents such as Clinton Young, Jordan Russell, and Quinten Lynch, did little for Collingwood’s long-term planning. Successes – such as Brodie Grundy and Taylor Adams – have been few. Collingwood have failed to replace the outgoing players. That takes the ‘build’ out of ‘rebuild’ – or at least hurts the intention.
So while they have a relatively full list at their disposal now, it does remain in areas an inexperienced list. Their forward line is built on 21-year-old Darcy Moore with just 33 games under his belt.
Defence this season has largely been made up of Tyson Goldsack, Ben Reid, and Jeremy Howe (all experienced), complemented by 20-year-old Brayden Maynard (36 games), 22-year-old Jackson Ramsey (15 games), and 24-year-old Josh Smith (26 games). At some point, they will inject 21-year-old Matthew Scharenberg (four games).
However, while inexperience might contribute to some issues, it does not explain them all – particularly the inconsistency. Endeavour doesn’t require experience. You could’ve played two games, 20 games, or 200 games – endeavor will (or should) be the same for one and all. At Collingwood over the last three seasons (and counting) it hasn’t been. That’s something for which the coaching staff need to take responsibility.
It’s one thing to work toward some ideal – some gameplan which, given how they continue to strive for it, they must believe will advantage them over the opposition. Geelong did it under Mark Thompson, firing away with their globetrotting, handball-happy gameplan, and they did click eventually (although a big help there was the injection of Gary Ablett into the midfield). Once they did click, their football was breathtaking and they dominated the competition.
At times, you see Collingwood click and they do look good, but that’s the exception, not the rule, and after all this time the brainstrust should question whether they’ll ever make it work, and whether it’s still worth pursuing. Certainly, the Dogs under Luke Beveridge and Adelaide under Don Pike didn’t take this long to imprint their brand on their teams.
I can only imagine that, as a player, and as an individual, Nathan Buckley succeeded as he did by attacking challenges with unrelenting ferocity, single-minded determination, and an unyielding will. He pushed himself, reset the bar, pushed himself again, and so on and so on, to get the best out of himself.
And that works fine with an individual and an achievable physical goal. But this is not doing ten more push-ups. It’s not doing ten more reps. It’s something contingent upon the different personalities selected to accomplish it, and at the mercy of the opposition who will actively seek to unravel it. As hard as Collingwood try to make it work, if it hasn’t clicked after all this time, it’s unlikely to.
I was prepared to give Nathan Buckley every chance going into this season, given the misfortune he’s experienced with the list build and the revolving doors of football managers. Those problems aren’t excuses. They are real. Part of me – the fatalistically optimistic Collingwood supporter in me who believes in fairy tales (read: the idiot) – still hopes there’ll be some insane revival.
But, in the end, those who succeed in football as coaches are those who understand and play to their strengths, adapt, and evolve.
Those who don’t flounder in the disappointment.
bobburra
Guest
Being a Carlton supporter as I am I can (with tongue in cheek) agree with your comments regarding the moving on of Eddie and the coaching group as it all stands now. The longer that Collingwood remain in their current "mode" the longer other clubs will know they really have nothing to fear from the Collingwood Machine/ Army).I dare say ultimately it will up to the members to decide the overall future/ direction of the club, how long that takes, who knows?.
Bell
Guest
Yes - Voss / Hird / Buckley - great players who for various reasons don't seem to have made a successful transition to coaching --- it's somewhat surprising in this day and age that clubs fall for the belief that a great player can naturally transition to coaching --- it might've had some truth in it back in say the 1970s or 1980s - but coaching is such a different skill and competency set from playing nowadays.
Bretto
Guest
The feeling of utter despair is now the baseline. You feel so frustrated and angry that we simply can't move forward until Buckley has gone - so we are just wasting time and talent. As much as it hurts me to say this, each loss now has the silver lining that it makes it more certain that Buckley will go.
bobburra
Guest
So, is Buckley going to have a huge image of Lou in Sydney at the weekend to stir them on?. You are right though if a death brings about a mindset change then there is a far greater problem at "Magpieland".
Brinnx
Guest
Fair call Slane. might have over-reached a bit there. Time will tell if I'm Nostradamus or Bongo the Clown I suppose.
Gecko
Guest
Even worse. Bucks and Eddie have not only wasted our 2010 premiership talent but are sacrificing the future by drafting Dunn, Mayne and Wells.
Gecko
Guest
Chris I think the Bulldogs' premiership last year proved your theory out of date. But I agree we haven't done too well for key position players since the 1970s. Still hoping Reid will stay on the park and Moore will develop into a modern-style full forward.
andyl12
Guest
If Eddie was Jeff Kennett he would go. Jeff had the decency to put a 6-year limit on his Presidency even though he'd been a successful President and nobody would've challenged him if he'd stayed on for another 6 years. Decency at the top is often what makes everyone underneath successful. Whether Eddie realises that now or sits around through another failed coaching venture remains to be seen.
boburra
Guest
That's a tough call on Carlton if indeed you are calling Carlton as bereft of talent. As the saying goes "clean up your own backyard' before having a crack at other teams. Your call on Bolton has merit as far as not playing at the highest level is concerned, however history has shown that the best/champion players don't make good / successful coaches. A saying that appears to be bearing fruit in Buckley.
Slane
Guest
' a coach who appears to be just a little bit smarter than his peers' That's a little bit of a reach. He hasn't even won a final yet and his peers are some of the most succesful/innovative coaches of all times.
Horrie
Guest
Unhappily there are some folk in life who lack insight into the human condition and possess egos that Sir Edmond Hillary could not scale when young and fit. Happily there are folks like Beveridge, Richardson and Bolton who are insightful and empathic as well as possessing intelligence. They are no less determined, intelligent or driven but are more rounded humans who encourage the best from their teams. The present junta that controls Collingwood - particularly after failing to keep Neil Balme - lacks the breadth of wisdom necessary for success on the ground. While list management has hurt the club, the present list has a good sprinkling of high end talent. Sure they are not GWS and they purged some very good players (eg Brown, Williams, Shaw and Cloke) but they have a reasonable list. Under McGuire and Buckley they have wasted opportunity and steadily gone backwards. The future looks grim for them. The fish rots from the head. Collingwood members are stuck between a rock and a hard place. There would be great difficulties in tackling the President and persuading him to move on. He is extremely powerful and will continue to use his position in the media and corporate world to shore up his position. Until McGuire moves on Pie fans can expect more of the same.
pieman
Guest
What a ridiculous set of eddie made circumstances. Collingwood is now being hijacked by eddie the great and never say leave Nathan ... this is absolutely crazy stuff just so Eddie can save face. Time to go the both of you!!!!!!!!!!!
Brinnx
Guest
Mattyb, Tried to let this slide - but just can't. "Bereft of any talent" in regards to Carlton may just be the stupidest thing you have said on this site, amongst a host of other stupid comments this one stands out. You cannot in all seriousness believe that statement, no-one could be that blinded by hatred. I despise Essendon, hated them with a passion even before they screwed their own players and let winning come before the health and welfare of their own playing group yet I could still acknowledge the skills and abilities of the team. James Hird was one of the most courageous players to ever play the game, but if he, Leigh Matthews and Tony Lockett played for Carlton at the moment you would right them off as no talent hacks. Not that it matters when its all said and done, but just what will it take for you to acknowledge the Blues are on the right track, have some young players with real talent and a coach who appears to be just a little bit smarter than his peers. Ask the fans of Collingwood which list they would rather have at the moment, theirs or Carltons - I'm pretty sure what the answer would be.
Brinnx
Guest
I feel sorry for Buckley, is a likable bloke in the media and tries to be as honest as he can , but unfortunately he's just the latest great player who could not transfer that talent into coaching. 20/20 hindsight, but he should have gone to another club and done a 4-5 years apprenticeship under another coach before he came home to the pies. His ego and might not have allowed that, but it would have been the best thing for him. Eddie would have had separation anxiety, but kept Malthouse for a couple of more years with a good young side he had built, and spared Carlton some horrendous years of Micks stuff it I don't really care anymore caper. Shame that the best players of their generation - Voss Buckley and Hird all, for one reason or another, turned out to be failures in the coaching ranks. Thank god Kouta never had any coaching ambitions, I like to remember him as an awesome player, not as some has been coach trying to cling to the glory years - no matter what it takes.
slugger
Guest
i think that the feeling of Collingwood supporters is universal, Buckley cant coach and has to go. I hope the board takes notice and starts the process. Whilst they are at it they can get rid off Pert and Eddie as well.
Kane
Guest
He's a bloody good coach this Buckley. He's put vision of the great Lou Richards to the players to try to give them inspiration to perform this weekend. Does this mean if they lose then the players don't respect Louie the Lip? If he needs the death of a VFL/Media/Collingwood great to inspire his players then i think his problems run a bit deeper than we all thought.
Chris
Guest
There is one issue that all of you fellow maggies have overlooked. Without a spine or goal to goal line you never win anything either in the AFL or the round ball code. Full Back-Centre Half Back- Centre- Centre Half Forward and Full Forward. Which of those positions have we covered with a genuine star.? There aren´t any Billy Pickens or Ted Potters or Barry Prices or Thorold Merretts or Brian Taylors or Peter McKennas in this mob. Have you noticed something glaringly obvious that we haven´t pícked up in the last sixty years???? No star full back or centre half forward. That's where premierships have been won and lost with us! Please address the goal to goal line and forget the midfield for at least this draft!!! Last, but by no means least. our dearly beloved Lou would have sorted the heirarchy at Collingwood out but he knew full well that he would have been talking to a brick wall. So, rightfully he chose the media. Things haven´t changed and things won´t change with McGuire´s retro comments which I find distateful. The reference to the Colllingwood Domination Banners that were around in the sixties does me no good because I remember 64 66 and 70 with pain. I remember 77 79 80 & 81 with even greater pain. So, let's bury those bleak years and look progressively at what needs to be done. Forget the flanker obsessions or Collingwood six footers and get real for a change! That's my take.....
Gecko
Guest
Les as a Pies supporter, I was prepared to give Nathan Buckley every chance going into last season but gave up on him half way through last season. I think you've been more optimistic and forgiving than most of us. The low turnover in the assistant coaches makes it seem like Bucks was convinced he had the right formula, and the recruiting of Wells, Dunn and Mayne at the end of last year makes it seem like the Pies' management is quite happy to sacrifice the longer term future of the club in order to improve a few ladder spaces in the short term. The only shining light I can see is our midfield.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Short breaks is a worthless excuse. As Josh Elliott said, if ANZAC Day is becoming too tough for Collingwood there are 16 other clubs who'd gladly take it off their hands. This notion you have to have played at the highest level is a furphy too. If you have good people around you it doesn't matter. Bolton is already showing he's a highly skilled tactician and an excellent director. Buckley though, he increasingly looks an inflexible figure who struggles to adjust his preconceived notions of brilliance to rapidly changing real-time circumstances. As I said in another thread, his insistence on not tagging players is becoming symptomatic of someone who thinks he knows the game better than anyone else. It's not a great look
superjay
Guest
Hey mate.....Kennedy plays for Melbourne. Change has to come asap, there is only so long you can go backwards for. If Bucks wasn't a favorite son, he'd probably be out the door by now. Unfortunately favorite sons haven't made good coaches, the last two premierships were won under Malthouse and Matthews none who played for Collingwood, the only other coaches in that time were Tony Shaw (favorite son) and Buckley (favorite son)....Shaw failed, and Buckley looks like he's going to do the same. Lets not forget he chose to dismantle a very good team.......everyone was thinking Dynasty after 2010. There really is no excuse..........The Magpies’ list had an average age of just 24.16 years, the youngest side to win a flag since Hawthorn in 1978.......there was no reason to dismantle that team, but he had too because a lot of players didn't like him and didn't want him as coach......has something to say about the president too, didn't want to see bucks at another club so made a dumb decision to make him coach.