Collingwood legend Tony Shaw answers key questions on how Pies can regain premiership form

As Collingwood ramps up its premiership bid, one legend remains concerned about the Magpies’ defence — in particular skipper Darcy Moore. Can he get back to his best in finals?

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 05: Nick Daicos of the Magpies (C) walks off the field with Jeremy Howe (L) and Isaac Quaynor of the Magpies (2R) as Magpies head coach Craig McRae (L2) looks on during the round 21 AFL match between Hawthorn Hawks and Collingwood Magpies at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on August 05, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Collingwood’s premiership captain Tony Shaw says the Pies must revert to the back six that earned them premiership favouritism in September as Jeremy Howe prepares to start in defence against Essendon.

Shaw believes Brownlow Medal favourite Nick Daicos must also be deployed in defence again when he returns from a knee issue, although he has been ruled out of the qualifying final.

It is understood the Pies considered using Daicos as a sub in that first final, but he was officially ruled out on Friday.

Tony Shaw believes Nick Daicos needs a return to defence when he returns from a knee injury. Picture: Michael Klein.

Collingwood has undergone a dramatic late-season slump in the past five weeks, going from the most miserly defence in football to its worst.

Champion Data’s statistic show the Pies are 14th in inside-50 differential, 16th in opposition points from turnovers and 14th in contested possession differential.

Howe has played forward in the past fortnight — and pinch-hit as a forward with three-last quarter goals against Carlton in round 20.

Coach Craig McRae flagged him starting back against an injury-hit Essendon to shore up the Pies defence.

And Shaw, who won the Norm Smith Medal as the premiership captain in 1990, believes it is only the start of getting the band back together.

Moore (hamstring) will return in the qualifying final and Nathan Murphy will miss against Essendon with a hip flexor issue but Shaw says they must solidify their defence come September.

“I would like to get back to our back six when we had that run early in the season,” he said.

“We are getting beaten in the contest and Nick has played midfield but I would put Nick back with that back six of (Isaac Quaynor), John Noble, Brayden Maynard, Howe, Moore and Murphy.

“It is easier to tag Nick in the midfield than coming off half back. If a team wants to tag him, his opponent has to kick a goal there, which Finn Maginness doesn’t do. In the midfield he might get 35 but in defence even if he gets 25 possessions he generates so much run from there.”

So what does Collingwood need to fix to revitalise its premiership dream?

We take a look at the key questions.

Darcy Moore has been giving his opponent too much leeway costing the Pies goals according to Tony Shaw. Picture: Michael Klein

ARE COLLINGWOOD’S BACK SIX PRIORITISING DEFENCE OVER ATTACK?

Shaw believes the Pies’ defenders need to get back to defending.

Early in the year Darcy Moore was intercepting at will but from rounds 19-23 but Moore and Brayden Maynard have conceded 12 goals.

Moore has only played three full games in that time as well as 29 minutes before damaging his hamstring against Geelong.

He conceded four goals against Port Adelaide, four to Charlie Curnow and four goals to various opponents against Hawthorn.

Maynard conceded four goals to Jeremy Cameron in another sign big key forwards are monstering the Pies.

“Moore likes to zone off and he needs to start playing shoulder-on-shoulder now. He is giving his opponent too much leeway,” Shaw said.

“We have been eaten alive with our issues. The zoning off might help with the offensive stuff but he has to stop his opponent kicking goals.”

Jeremy Howe has been pinch hitting in attack but needs to get back to shore up the Pies defence heading into finals. Picture: Michael Klein.

HOW DO THE PIES GET BACK THEIR FULL GROUND DEFENCE?

As Shaw says: “I just don’t think Collingwood has been as manic defensively as they were. It’s a long year and they have qualified early and there have been injuries which have upset the structure of the team. So it’s time to straighten up their style and thinking, get back to playing their best personnel and play them in the right spot.”

Collingwood is conceding a score from 46 per cent of inside 50 entries since round 19.

So the ball is entering their forward 50 at warp speed, which means the midfield isn’t pressuring to turn the ball over or at least force dirty ball – high pressured kicks.

“We are well aware of what we need to fix. We need to defend better. Those things are fixable,” coach Craig McRae said.

“They are not-personnel based. I can show you the little details we can get right and tidy up. You look slow when you are chasing tail. We are not defending the ground well enough and there are parts of your game that might be exposed. We are not perfect. When we get our system right those things won’t show up enough if that is an issue.”

First step for Collingwood is getting their defensive band back together including sending Nick Daicos back to join Isaac Quaynor (3) and John Noble (9). Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

CAN COLLINGWOOD WIN A FLAG GENERATING SO FEW INSIDE 50s?

Collingwood is 17th for inside 50s since round 19 but is so efficient they are still sixth in scoring (88.6 points).

But they have generated 44 inside 50s against Port Adelaide, 53 against Carlton, 43 against Hawthorn, 45 against Geelong and 47 against Brisbane.

They are also third in the AFL since round 19 in accuracy.

In the chaos of September – when pressure soars and games can descend into low-scoring contest battles – are those numbers sustainable?

Recent history would say no.

But Collingwood has enough talent – and enough time – to address those issues and get its premiership race back on track, starting against Essendon.