Collingwood premiership captain Tony Shaw says the Magpies may need to make 10 list changes
COLLINGWOOD should brace for another upheaval of its floundering playing list, according to club legend Tony Shaw.
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COLLINGWOOD should brace for another upheaval of its floundering playing list, according to club legend Tony Shaw.
The premiership captain and former coach called for 10 changes “and three question marks” after Friday night’s shock loss to Richmond at the MCG.
Captain Scott Pendlebury (ankle) is in doubt for the rest of the season while coach Nathan Buckley rated the final three quarters against the Tigers his side’s worst for the year.
Shaw conceded “they probably can’t have that many” changes, but took a broom to the squad Buckley has been moulding since the 2011 Grand Final.
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“(Jarryd) Blair would go, I think Nathan Brown’s nearly come to the end (and) you don’t know what’s going on with Travis Cloke,” Shaw said on 3AW.
“Jack Frost can’t get a game, Corey Gault’s been at the club a long time, Tyson Goldsack will retire.
“Brent Macaffer will go. Alan Toovey can’t get a game.
“I’ve been so disappointed with Marley Williams. He doesn’t look fit enough to play at the level, he makes a lot of mistakes.
“Jarrod Witts will probably find a new home.”
Injured Brownlow medallist Dane Swan is close to making a decision on whether he retires or plays on in 2017.
AFL great Dermott Brereton on Saturday suggested Swan could finish at the Tigers, but that seems implausible.
Brown, Toovey, Blair, Macaffer and Swan are all out of contract and free agents while youngsters Matthew Goodyear and Tim Golds are also yet to sign on.
Pressure could mount on the 174cm Blair given pocket rocket father-sons Josh Daicos and Callum Brown are set to be drafted and Josh Thomas will return from a drugs ban.
Witts, 23, has already received trade interest after falling well behind Brodie Grundy in the ruck pecking order.
The Pies have fallen down the ladder every season under Buckley and they will not enter this year’s draft until No.25 under the current ladder.
But an injury ladder in last week’s Herald Sun showed Collingwood’s 2016 campaign has been unfairly cruelled.
The Pies sat behind only Fremantle having forfeited more than 150 games and 300 points on the scoreboard.
They have had to nurse 28 players back to health this year.
The Pies laid 118 tackles in last week’s win against West Coast but that number dropped to 71 against the Tigers and forward Travis Varcoe conceded they were outworked.
A forensic analysis by Champion Data yesterday uncovered several defensive holes at the Magpies.
While their often criticised ball use hovers around the AFL average, in losses they cough up an average of 66 points from turnovers.
That drops to 39 points in wins.
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Richmond’s 132 uncontested marks on Friday night was the third most this season and Collingwood’s ability to defend opposition ball movement falls 87 per cent below the league average in defeats.
A staggering eight of Richmond’s 14 goals came from chains starting in the back half.
“Richmond (was) able to move the ball far too easily,” Buckley said.
“We (played) the worst three quarters that we’ve played all year and we were still two points up with eight minutes to play.
“It was a disappointing night all round, and there were probably a couple of individuals that played really well.”
Darcy Moore (hamstring) remains under a cloud for Friday night’s clash against the Western Bulldogs.
WILL THEY STAY OR WILL THEY GO?
Tony Shaw says these Magpies face uncertain futures.
Dane Swan (out of contract 2016)
Nathan Brown (2016)
Jarrod Witts (2016)
Jack Frost (2016)
Jarryd Blair (2016)
Alan Toovey (2016)
Brent Macaffer (2016)
Corey Gault (2016)
Marley Williams (2017)
Travis Cloke (2017)
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