AFL news: Geelong puts dent in Collingwood’s premiership defence as Pies ‘running out of time’
Geelong has dealt another huge blow to Collingwood’s premiership defence, with coach Craig McRae saying his club is in danger of failing to make finals, let alone contend.
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Collingwood coach Craig McRae admitted his team is “running out of time” if they want to make the finals this year, let alone defend their premiership.
To do so, McRae said they needed to get rid of the “dark cloud” that has been hovering over them.
For the second time this season, the Magpies slumped to a third-straight loss on Friday night as the resurgent Cats kicked clear late to cruise to a 20-point win at the MCG.
The result severely dented Collingwood’s hopes of avoiding becoming the latest reigning champion to fail to make the top eight, following on most recently from Geelong (2023) and Richmond (2021).
The Magpies could finish Round 18 as low as 13th spot, and with six games left in the campaign, they will now probably need four more wins to qualify.
“Reality is there’s six games to go. Time’s running out ... time’s running out. Yep. Time’s running out,” he said.
“It’s just the facts. We’ve got a number (of wins) in our head that we thought would get the job done to make the finals.
“This year has been probably like no other.”
McRae felt that things like Collingwood’s relentless injury list, which had two new key additions this week in Jeremy Howe (hamstring) and Brody Mihocek (pectoral), were weighing his team down.
“I do feel like there’s a little bit of a dark cloud at times over us,” he said.
“We can’t live in that space ... you know, like, Josh Carmichael retiring, you know? Those things. We’ve got to be able to celebrate and support, but also keep moving.
“We’re not here to make excuses ... I just want to rid of excuse. I just don’t want to live in that space.”
The Magpies have an extremely difficult run home that features games against Hawthorn, Carlton, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne but, ever the optimist, McRae wasn’t ruling out his team from featuring in the September action.
“Why can’t we perform really well in a all the games that are coming up? There’s no reason to think otherwise,” he said.
The Magpies were in the game for large parts against Geelong, but McRae was still scathing of many aspects of their performance.
“We had minus 20 inside 50s. I’m not sure too many teams are going to bode well if that’s one of your key indicators,” McRae said.
“Losing a lot of territory at the minute. Centre bounces were a big cost - 16-6 or something like that - and scores, too. Centre bounce scores.
“This is the game, isn’t it? You’ve got to be good at everything at times, but ... you’ve got to be not really bad at phases of the game.”
Collingwood’s injury woes worsened with goalsneak Lachie Schultz failing a concussion test, but in some much-needed positive news, Daniel McStay will play his first competitive match in the VFL on Saturday since rupturing his ACL in the summer and could provide an option up forward next week if he gets through unscathed.
PIES, AFL RULES A MESS AS CATS EXPOSE PREMIER’S WEAKNESS
You only had to glance at Jeremy Cameron on Friday night for the latest reminder at what has really killed off Collingwood’s premiership defence.
Standing Cameron was Isaac Quaynor, who was giving 16cm and at least 10kg.
Quaynor was brave — Cameron did not touch the footy in the first quarter — but ultimately he is not a lockdown defender.
Nathan Murphy was just that.
But with Murphy medically retired, the Magpies have been forced to play Quaynor and captain Darcy Moore against bigger bodies and they have lost their attacking flair.
Quaynor scribbles three goals down on a whiteboard in his bedroom before each season and it’s no secret he would love to be an All-Australian defender.
But playing out of the defensive goalsquare on ‘Jezza’ is hardly the role that is going to rope in a blazer?
Quaynor arguably beat Cameron (3.3), particularly in their isolated duels, but he was so much more than a negator last year.
All in a day's work for Jamie Elliott 🤩@VirginAustralia | #AFLPiesCatspic.twitter.com/eLcXcP6X4d
— AFL (@AFL) July 12, 2024
The Pies have conceded an average of 92 points since round 12 — ranked 14th in the AFL.
The relief for the Magpies is they secured last year’s premiership despite losing Murphy so early in the grand final.
But finding a replacement for him in the off-season must be a priority. Surely that is what Quaynor and Moore would be hoping for.
The Magpies rediscovered some of their DNA against Geelong on Friday night.
Their pressure was up, they looked deadly going inside 50m — especially in the first half — and Jamie Elliott’s return provided an extra punch of firepower.
Jezza is that good at footy far out 😳#AFLPiesCatspic.twitter.com/RnyLK8x79L
— AFL (@AFL) July 12, 2024
But they simply don’t have the players available to compete against this year’s fancies and Geelong’s unusually high uncontested marking game eventually drained that pressure factor.
The Pies have won two games since round 11 and are outside the top eight.
They have lost three games in a row for the second time this season.
Fans would be wondering about the price they paid for Lachie Schultz.
The small forward was a star at Fremantle and internally the Magpies do appreciate a lot of his efforts off the ball.
But the supporters haven’t seen enough bang for buck and if they don’t play finals then a top-10 pick in this year’s draft will have been sacrificed for the goalkicker.
It was another kamikaze game, especially in the first quarter. Ned Long missed a tackle on Max Holmes in the centre square and bam — Geelong’s Shannon Neale kicked the Cats’ third goal in three minutes.
Zach Tuohy got a bad bounce and could not stop Will Hoskin-Elliott bursting past him in the middle … bam, Joe Richards nailed a goal from 45m.
Brayden Maynard thumped the ball into Quaynor’s head? No worries, it ricocheted to Harvey Harrison on the wing and finished with a set-shot for Josh Daicos.
Joe Richards you beauty!#AFLPiesCatspic.twitter.com/Z4efNsQMVS
— AFL (@AFL) July 12, 2024
The you-miss-we-hit gameplan is bold, and has worked for the best part of three years, but perhaps with too much talent missing the house becomes odds-on to win.
It was not a night to buy real estate off a field umpire, with a crackdown on the ball travelling 15m for a mark surprising everyone at the MCG.
Is rule of the week back and the other 16 clubs should be on notice? Or was that a one-off? The advantage rule also remains a mess.
Max Holmes blasted a kick out of defence, but immediately put his hands up to say he did not want advantage paid. It did not matter.
Mark Blicavs threw the ball back to his teammate … and was pinged for a throw because had been paid.
The umpire paid advantage, Blicavs didn't know/tried to give it back to Holmes ... and got pinged for a throw 🫣 #AFLPiesCatspic.twitter.com/ZW2kxcgRi0
— 7AFL (@7AFL) July 12, 2024
That wasn’t necessarily the wrong decision, but there is mass confusion between players and umpires on when it will be allowed.
Nick Daicos had another 30 disposals, but his impact was dimmed in the second half by Tom Atkins.
It appeared Daicos had injured his hamstring in the third quarter – but it was only a cork from Brad Close’s knee.
The Collingwood prince is seemingly in a battle with the three kings of the 2013 draft – Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli, Carlton captain Patrick Cripps and Essendon captain Zach Merrett – for this year’s Brownlow Medal.
Originally published as AFL news: Geelong puts dent in Collingwood’s premiership defence as Pies ‘running out of time’
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