Pure Footy: David King and Daniel Hoyne look at the latest trends in the AFL

Collingwood’s rise in 2022 has been built on what it does without the ball - but there is glaring weakness. Watch this week’s episode Pure Footy to find out how it could be exposed.

The potential absence of Darcy Moore would expose a red-hot Collingwood, according to former North Melbourne champion David King.

In this week’s episode of Pure Footy, King and Champion Data analyst Daniel Hoyne highlight the weakness in the Magpies’ game plan, which could be exploited by a side come September or if the star defender were to miss.

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Scans on Monday cleared Moore of structural damaged to his knee, but he will still need to prove his fitness ahead of the Saturday afternoon clash with the Roos.

Collingwood’s rise under coach Craig McRae is built on what the team is doing without the footy, with the Magpies ranked No. 1 in the league for opposition scores per inside 50 and fifth in the pressure rating over the past six weeks.

But there is one red flag with McRae’s side ranked 12th for allowing the opposition to move the ball from one end of the ground to the other in the same period.

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Darcy Moore is the man the holds the Collingwood defence together. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

“You can defend like that because you have Darcy Moore,” King said.

“But when you lose that magnet, you can’t be 12th, you can’t let the opposition put you under enormous pressure.”

King also believes the side’s whole profile could be “false”, arguing Collingwood’s No. 2 ranking for midfield intercepts is more about how the Magpies themselves use the ball through the middle of the ground.

“Win possession, lose possession, win possession, lose possession and those numbers get inflated,” King said.

“It’s not like they are defending like a Jake Lever or a Melbourne does, and they win it back cold between the arcs.

“I think their profile is a little bit of a false profile.

“If you are letting the opposition move the ball like that, you’re not going to be there preliminary final weekend.”

Hoyne agreed, confirming Melbourne’s numbers trended in a similar direction before the reigning premiers lost three games on-the-trot.

Originally published as Pure Footy: David King and Daniel Hoyne look at the latest trends in the AFL