Nathan Buckley refuses to use injuries as an excuse for poor performance, says players must work harder

EMBATTLED Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley was under the pump last night on AFL 360 as co-host Gerard Whateley turned up the heat. WATCH THE VIDEO

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA — MAY 07: Nathan Buckley, coach of the Magpies speaks to his team during a quarter time break during the round seven AFL match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Carlton Blues at Melbourne Cricket Ground on May 7, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

NATHAN Buckley says Collingwood must “harden up” as the embattled coach refuses to use injuries as an excuse for his team’s poor start to the season.

Languishing in 14th position on the ladder with just two wins from seven matches, the loss to last year’s wooden spooners Carlton on Saturday sent the Pies’ season into a deeper hole.

Buckley, who has been under pressure since the Pies were thumped by Sydney in Round 1, says the club simply must work harder to get its season back on track.

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After a review of the game with players and coaches on Monday, Buckley said his players aren’t playing the “gritty” style expected and has been a hallmark of his team in recent seasons.

“For the first time in my time at the club we were picking and choosing a bit on the field and you can’t win games of footy when you’re like that,” Buckley said on AFL360.

“We need to harden up as a playing group, we need to harden up as a coaching group and we need to harden up as a club if we’re going to get anything out of this year.

“We still see ourselves as a hard-nosed side but our recent performances haven’t shown that.

“Whether you’ve played one game, whether you’ve played 100 or 200, the expectation is if you pull on the Collingwood guernsey you play a gritty style. You’re prepared to work hard, you’re involved in the grunt, you work hard to spread and outnumber against the opposition.

“We just haven’t had enough do that often enough and we get the results we get as a result.

Nathan Buckley deep in thought during a break in the game against the Blues on Saturday. Picture: Getty

The Pies have a growing injury list and are missing seven players who finished in the top 10 of the club’s best and fairest last year, including Dane Swan (leg/foot), Taylor Adams (knee), Tom Langdon (ankle), Marley Williams (foot) and Travis Varcoe (hamstring).

It has also used 36 players in the first seven rounds — the most of any club and three more than Gold Coast’s 33, while just nine listed players played in the VFL on Saturday evening.

Buckley refused to use that as an excuse for poor performance, however, declaring the club expects to win no matter the personnel.

“We had conversations internally today and that (injuries) is not an excuse, it’s not something we’re going to lean on,” he said.

“We will judge ourselves on what we believe our best is with that group of players and when we hit it you’ll know about it, when we don’t you’ll know about it. Because we think we can win with the group we take the field with regardless of age or experience.”

Collingwood players must work harder, Nathan Buckey says. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

The Pies travel to Brisbane this weekend to take on the Lions before coming back to Melbourne where top four contenders Geelong (Round 9) and Western Bulldogs (Round 10) await.

Buckley says he hasn’t lost confidence in himself nor his players, declaring the way forward is simple.

“We’re looking for answers constantly but the answer is always pretty simple — work harder, put your head down,” he said.

“We’re going through a phase where we’re building resilience, we’re growing as individuals and as a club.

“It’s our job to come out the other side stronger, harder and more successful from it.”

Originally published as Nathan Buckley refuses to use injuries as an excuse for poor performance, says players must work harder