Former Collingwood captain Ray Shaw blasts Pies’ recruiting and says club needs to start fresh

ALL eyes are on Nathan Buckley and while former skipper Ray Shaw admits the coach’s future looks bleak, he’s shone a light on the Pies’ recent recruiting.

Collingwood assistant coaches Scott Burns and Robert Harvey chat with senior coach Nathan Buckley at training this week. Picture: AAP

FORMER Collingwood captain Ray Shaw believes Collingwood needs to “start afresh” and “stop mucking around with its side”.

Shaw, 63, who played 146 games for the Pies (200 goals) between 1974-81 and won the Copeland Trophy in 1978, said his old club was paying the price for years of mediocre recruiting.

ROBBO: SENSE TIME UP FOR BUCKS

“They haven’t been able to pick up the best young kids and instead have picked up players who just aren’t good enough,” said Shaw.

Chris Mayne’s long-term deal with Collingwood raised eyebrows. Picture: AAP

Jesse White hasn’t been the answer in attack. Picture: Mark Stewart

“Jesse White has had a chance, (James) Aish has had a chance, they went and got Chris Mayne which I just can’t believe and now (Daniel) Wells has played six games or something.

“I think the club needs to start afresh and I reckon a lot of Collingwood people would go along with that. Go to the draft and they do have a few here who have currency who you could trade.

“They have too many middle-sized players so bite the bullet, create something. I saw their seconds play a month ago at Casey and they were all the same, nobody jumping out at you. “Look at Carlton and Melbourne and St Kilda, there is light at the end of the tunnel.”

As for the future of Nathan Buckley, Shaw believes his future is bleak.

“I’d be very surprised if he does survive. It’s been downward sailing since he started six years ago, but you have to have the cattle and they’ve mucked around with the side for so long.

“I’m a great believer that you have to go down to come up. If you stay in the middle like a Richmond, North Melbourne and Collingwood, you don’t see them progressing much.

“You need to keep the right players so you end up with a mix of experience and youth in each line. GWS has Mumford and Ward in the middle, Steve Johnson up forward and Heath (Shaw’s son) and Phil Davis down back.

“Ask those young Hawthorn blokes how much they have learnt up back from Hodge. Hawthorn is another that is on the right track.”

Collingwood is 5-10 after 16 rounds. Picture: Mark Stewart

Another Collingwood Grand Final captain in Des Tuddenham agreed the list was lacking.

“When was the last time you saw someone bursting out of the middle and take the game apart?” he said.

“They haven’t recruited well and they haven’t put a pencil through enough as quickly as the should. If you have players hanging around you will keep picking them.

“Some have been there three years too long. Whoever coaches them should implement a good clean-out because the time is right for a new look.”