Nathan Buckley concedes Collingwood is making little progress after loss to Carlton

COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley says his Magpies are making little progress this season after another abysmal loss to last year’s wooden-spooners Carlton.

Nathan Buckley searches for inspiration. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley says his Magpies are making little progress this season after another abysmal loss to last year’s wooden-spoon side Carlton.

Buckley said the players and coaches have had tough conversations in recent weeks but have failed to execute the defensive system – which he believed was similar in design to the top teams – that the coaching staff had laid out.

And the injury-hit Pies’ medical problems have only worsened with Ben Reid (shoulder), Tim Broomhead (ankle) and VFL forward Travis Cloke (back) in doubt for Saturday night’s clash against Brisbane Lions at the Gabba.

Buckley said the club needed its experienced players, such as vice-captain Nathan Brown and Cloke, to improve their output and admitted new midfield recruit James Aish was struggling to make the grade after just two first-half possessions in the 15-point loss to the Blues.

Buckley said it was fair to question whether the Pies were making ground after slumping below Carlton on the ladder, with only two wins from their first seven games.

“At times it feels like you are not (making progress),” Buckley said.

“At times it feels like you are sort of on the treadmill and treading water a little bit.

“We were pretty banged-up and we had some boys that were pretty sore and that impacts your ability to contribute, and in some ways we would like to be selecting a more experienced 22.

Nathan Buckley walks away from his players after a quarter break.

“But once again our inability to hold the ball in our forward line, when we work so hard to get it in there and just the ease with which it came out (was disappointing).”

Collingwood recruited three high-profile players in last year’s trade period in attempt to make finals for the first time in three seasons, but the September aspirations already seem dashed.

They have turned over 36 players this year, four more than the next most, Richmond.

Carlton posted their highest score of the season – 99 points – against the Pies, continuing their defensive headaches.

Buckley said coaching staff had asked whether the Pies had faith in the defensive game plan.

“We have looked at the mechanics over the last month and we have trained it really heavily on the track,” Buckley said.

“It becomes the willingness to play your role every single period of the game, and if you have one or two blokes that don’t do it at one time, you are running 150m back to support your defence and it hurts.

“We have had open discussions about it at coaching level and with the players. Do they believe in how we are trying to go about it?

“Our defensive mechanisms are not a lot different what the better defensive teams in the competition are doing, but we are unable to make the plays at crucial times.

“Right now, it simply comes back down the players’ ability to execute it and we have got a three-game player in Josh Smith who is on the spot every time, without question.

At times it feels like you are sort of on the treadmill and treading water a little bit.

Nathan Buckley

“(His) work rate, understanding of the role and execution, flat out (is great) and (he is) a three-game player.

“So if you are inexperienced, it doesn’t mean that you can’t get it done.”

Buckley said the Pies would not give up hope of resurrecting their season.

“We want to be playing better, but what do we do?” he said.

“Do we just cry over spilt milk and throw our hands in the air and say ‘we can’t improve it’ or ‘we can’t be better’ or, even worse, do we accept being mediocre? No we don’t.

“There’s a lot of fairly solid conversations that take place in the background and there is still a high expectation about our ability to execute what we do and to bring the work rate to the table as well.

“No one is happy about where we are sitting.”

Aish was one of the midfielders who was struggling for form, as the Pies were again easily beaten for clearances and contested possession by a more experienced Carlton engine room.

Eddie McGuire wasn’t impressed with Collingwood’s loss to Carlton. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Buckley said the third-year midfielder needed to lift after crossing from Brisbane Lions last year.

“He needs to realise that footy is a tough game. For all of the passion he has for the sport, to reach AFL level and to be successful at AFL level he is going to have to find a little bit more.

“He didn’t play last week, but two weeks before he had three or four handballs I think in the first half, (and) two touches to half time today.

“We were trying to manipulate the side and move it around to try and find where he could be of significance for us.

“And with Broomhead hobbled and Reidy pretty sore we were shuffling the deck chairs a little bit and you don’t like to be in that position as a coaching staff but we were there in the second half.”

Cloke sat out Saturday’s VFL game with a back issue and would need time to regain some good form, Buckley said.

“He has got some neural stuff (pain) down his legs from a back complaint, so he won’t play today but once again he is going to need some time to try and prove that he is going to help us when he comes up to senior footy,” he said.

“What it suggests is that the idea that Travis Cloke coming back in or Nathan Brown, or an experienced player coming back in to the side that we are a better 22 for it - is flawed.

“Because we would select them if they were, if that was the case.”