Former Collingwood coaching director Rodney Eade singles out the club’s kicking culprits

HE spent three years at Collingwood watching turnover after turnover. Now out of the AFL system, former Pies coaching director Rodney Eade has a message for the club’s underperforming stars.

Rodney Eade worked closely with Nathan Buckley at Collingwood.

LAST year ball use was one of the major flaws in Collingwood’s game and it appears it could again be the Magpies’ achilles heal if Thursday night’s performance against GWS is any indication.

Coach Nathan Buckley lamented his side’s poor ball use in the 60-point pre-season loss to the Giants in Canberra and former Collingwood coaching director Rodney Eade singled out the main culprits.

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Eade, who worked alongside Buckley at the Holden Centre for three years from 2012-14, was critical of experienced Collingwood players, including vice-captain Taylor Adams.

The former Bulldogs, Swans and Suns coach shared his opinions via his new Twitter account, and didn’t hold back.

Taylor Adams is hard and tough but turns the ball over. Picture: Getty

“Taylor Adams a good player but tries to split the eye of a needle with his kicks. Attempts the difficult one all the time,” he wrote.

“Adams is tough, wins his own ball and wins a lot of ball. Obv (sic) is let down by poor disposal/decision making. This will hold him back from going to next level as a player.

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“Varcoe also turns it over too often for player with ability

“(Steele) Sidebottom actually better kick on his left-non preferred.”

Varcoe turned the ball over and missed targets on several occasions on Thursday night but last year was one of Collingwood’s best ball users, recording a disposal efficiency rating of 83.5 per cent — ranked third at the club.

Taylor Adams a good player but tries to split the eye of a needle with his kicks. Attempts the difficult one all the time

— Rodney Eade (@facingchange26) March 1, 2018

The former Cat only manged eight games last year due to hamstring and elbow injuries.

Adams’ rating last year was 70.7 per cent.

The Magpies were outplayed in the second half as the Giants were able to open the game up and booted six goals from 11 scoring shots in a dominant third term.

Collingwood players turned the ball over by both hand and foot, heaping more pressure on its under-siege defence.

Travis Varcoe turned the ball over several times against GWS. Picture: Michael Klein

Eade suggested Buckley alter his game plan to suit his players’ limitations with ball in hand.

“Certainly recruiting good kicks eg D. Wells is best way (to improve),” he wrote in response to a fan question.

“If poor kicking team you need game plan that can accommodate that. Richmond turned it around after being poor kicking team. Change GP (game plan).”

Marginal improvement in players by training , devt etc. Certainly recruiting good kicks eg D Wells is best way. If poor kicking team you need game plan that can accommodate that. Rich turned it around after being poor kicking team. Change GP

— Rodney Eade (@facingchange26) March 1, 2018