Collingwood reveals soft underbelly in defeat to West Coast Eagles

Pies coach Nathan Buckley says his team showed a rare “soft underbelly” in a 66-point thrashing from West Coast.

Collingwood’s Darcy Moore flies high but drops the mark against West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium. Picture: Getty Images

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley says his team showed a rare “soft underbelly” in their 66-point thrashing against West Coast, insisting the team will own its horror performance at Optus Stadium.

The Magpies conceded 13 straight goals in the second half, playing what Buckley described as a Washington Generals role to the “West Coast Globetrotters”, who made a mockery of Collingwood’s vaunted defence.

Buckley said the performance was an outlier for his team, but players, coaches and staff would be accountable as the premiership contenders look to rebound against Fremantle next Sunday in their final match in the Perth hub.

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“It looked like we were out there to be the opposition to a side that had all the tricks, being clean inside, hard inside, effective with their offence, really good with their (defence),” Buckley said.

“I commented in the box, we played our Washington Generals role really well today to the West Coast Globetrotters.

“They looked like they grew in confidence and in dare. Everything that they were, we weren’t.

“We probably showed a soft underbelly today that isn’t us.”

The Magpies will now sweat on the availability of captain Scott Pendlebury, who was withdrawn with a stiff back and a tight quad muscle before the match and will likely undergo scans. West Coast became aware of the late change, which saw emergency Atu Bosenavulagi recalled, one minute before the opening bounce.

The loss of Pendlebury compounded growing injury concerns at Collingwood, who are also without important defender Jeremy Howe and star forward Jordan De Goey.

Buckley said vice-captain Steele Sidebottom, who played in a scratch match against the Eagles on Sunday afternoon, would return against the Dockers after serving a four-match ban for breaching the AFL’s COVID-19 guidelines.

The coach was confident midfielder Callum Brown (left ankle), who impressed early, and defender Brayden Maynard (foot) would be available against the Dockers.

Eagles coach Adam Simpson praised the effort of veteran forward Josh Kennedy following his seven-goal haul.

“He is not in the side to kick seven goals,” said Simpson. “We will take it. He is at the back end of his career and he is going to have days where he has a really good look like he did today.

NCA Newswire