‘Deplorable’: Dire image sums up Collingwood Magpies crisis

Collingwood has sunk to their worst start to a season since 2005, and Saturday’s crowd at the MCG perfectly summarised their situation.

The MCG on Saturday afternoon.

The Collingwood Magpies have suffered their first ever loss to the Gold Coast Suns at the MCG — but thankfully, not many fans witnessed the lacklustre spectacle.

Only 24,397 spectators attended Saturday’s round seven clash, the second-lowest crowd for a Collingwood fixture at the iconic MCG since 1988.

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It was a stark contrast to last weekend’s mammoth 78,113 crowd during Collingwood’s loss to Essendon — albeit on Anzac Day.

Confirmed as 24,397. https://t.co/GDrJ7UWCmg

— Shayne Hope 📰 (@shayne_hope) May 1, 2021

Collingwood couldn’t muster a goal in the second term, ultimately suffering a 12.7 (79) to 7.13 (55) defeat.

The Suns out-marked (146-98 marks) and outworked (403-371 disposals) a slow and sloppy Magpies outfit, who have fallen to their worst start to a season since 2005.

Collingwood has clinched one victory in seven matches this season, currently sitting in 17th spot on the AFL ladder.

“The one that’s going to hurt the most is they’ve been outworked by a team that looks like they care more about their jumper than they care about theirs,” Melbourne great Gary Lyon told Fox Footy.

“Maybe we’ve just come to the realisation that this Collingwood side aren’t that good.

“We’re seeing 22 players from the Gold Coast Suns who are all rowing their side of the boat. I don’t think we’re seeing that from Collingwood.”

Brisbane Lions legend Jonathan Brown elaborated: “The Collingwood Football Club need to stand up.

“The Gold Coast Suns average 60 games compared to Collingwood who have about 100 … there’s a heap of young fellas out there for the Suns, they have no right to bully Collingwood.”

There's 2 teams out there but only one of them is playing footy. #AFLPiesSuns 🙄

— Assad Tannous (@AsennaWealth) May 1, 2021

This @CollingwoodFC performance is deplorable. Finally time for them to let #buckley go - it’s not working #collingwood#AFLPiesSuns

— Paul Johnson (@pjohnson_sports) May 1, 2021

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Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley told reporters after the 24-point defeat: “We thought we could be better than we are at the moment.

“I think we’ve been favourites for our last four games — I don’t know on what basis.

“We couldn’t defend them (the Suns) as well as we would’ve liked — and that’s largely where our greatest improvement needs to come from. We’ve built our DNA on defending really well and clearly our offence has been an area of improvement, but maybe focusing on that we’ve lost the DNA of defending the ground really well.

“They were just able to move the ball through us a lot easier than we would’ve liked.

“We’ll continue to try and find the right balance. Too many young guys who haven’t had the experience under their belt to play at the level is not going to be a net positive for us.

“We’re throwing our young blokes to the wolves and not supporting them enough. We need to give them a bit more to build off.”

Still searching for their first win since March, Collingwood will next face wooden spoon favourites North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.

“There was some talk of finals last week throughout the discussion from different quarters. That‘s off the agenda here,” Lyon told Fox Footy.

“This is a footy club that‘s got some big questions to ask themselves; they won’t shy away from them. The coach will lead the way.”

— with NCA NewsWire

Originally published as ‘Deplorable’: Dire image sums up Collingwood Magpies crisis