‘That is lazy’: Collingwood stars slammed for ‘bizarre’ act in horror thumping

Collingwood’s stars have been slammed for a “bizarre” act during their loss to the Swans in a horror start to their premiership defence.

Brayden Maynard and Jordan De Goey share a high-five.

They could do no wrong in 2023 but Collingwood have fallen back to earth, losing their first two games of the AFL season.

The reigning premiers were the best team all year last year as the masters of the close finish, but they were thoroughly outclassed by the Sydney Swans, losing 15.12 (102) to 10.9 (69) on Friday night.

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It comes a week after GWS beat Collingwood in Opening Round to exact some revenge on their one-point loss to the Magpies in the preliminary final.

The Swans dominated the midfield contest at the MCG on Friday and Collingwood were never really in the game despite rallying briefly in the second quarter.

There were several moments from the defeat Collingwood would rather forget and they came under the microscope post-game.

Four-time premiership Hawk Jordan Lewis said Collingwood players weren’t trying hard enough to get back in defence when the Swans were transitioning the ball forward.

“There were countless times where you watched the play unfold and there were players not communicating, players jogging, players that weren’t willing to buy in defensively,” a scathing Lewis said on Fox Footy.

“This is where you’d want Collingwood to be better. It is far too easy to come through the middle of the ground.

“There’s no communication, they are ball watching. There’s even players giving high-fives.”

Brayden Maynard and Jordan De Goey share a high-five. Photo: Fox Footy.

Lewis showed vision of Collingwood’s Brayden Maynard and Jordan De Goey sharing a casual high-five as they jogged back while the Swans teed up Sam Wicks for an easy goal to put the result beyond doubt in the fourth quarter.

“That is bizarre,” Garry Lyon said of the high-five.

Lewis added: “It is hard to believe.

“That is lazy, that is not being involved in the game, that is not helping your defence.

“They were waiting for the end of the game. You don’t say this often about Collingwood but they turned up their toes tonight.

“When you see that in a review on a Monday, that is hard to cop as a player.”

Collingwood’s defensive intensity just wasn’t there. Photo: Fox Footy.

Daicos moment ‘not a free kick’

Nick Daicos was Collingwood’s best player on the field with 37 disposals and a goal, but he got away with a questionable free kick early in the third quarter.

After kicking the inside 50, the ball found its way back to Daicos, who dropped a mark before he was tackled by Sydney’s Ollie Florent.

As Daicos gathered the ball on the turf he appeared to play for a high tackle free kick, exaggerating high contact that simply wasn’t there.

Matthew Richardson said on Channel 7: “That’s not a free kick. I don’t think that’s a free kick. Florent can be disappointed there. I can see how they made the error but it shouldn’t have been one.

James Brayshaw added: “There are four of them out there to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

One fan commented on X: “This is adorable. Nick Daicos honours his good mate Jack Ginnivan.”

Another said: “Daicos drops a chest mark then flops and gets rewarded with a free kick LMFAAOOO.”

Collingwood will hope they have the class to turn their early season slump around, but Geelong were the reigning premiers last year and missed finals after losing their first two games.

Originally published as ‘That is lazy’: Collingwood stars slammed for ‘bizarre’ act in horror thumping