Mick McGuane’s mid-season report card: Pies stepping up despite injuries to stars

Despite a shaky start, Collingwood is still well and truly in the hunt for back-to-back premierships. MICK MCGUANE looks at the Magpies’ season so far in his mid-season report card.

Had Collingwood lost to North Melbourne, the Magpies would be in danger of falling outside the top eight this weekend.

But an incredible 54-point comeback victory has them currently sitting in third spot, with a cavalry of stars to return after the bye.

MICK MCGUANE looks at Collingwood’s season so far and forecasts what the future could hold in his mid-season report card.

MCGUANE’S MID-SEASON RATING:B+

The reigning premiers were slow starters, gathered some momentum and then have plateaued over the past five weeks.

Injuries to some experienced players has led to inconsistency of performance over that period, but overall Collingwood has weathered the storm well.

The Magpies have recorded three wins, one draw and one loss from their past five games.

Collingwood have found away to bank wins despite their injuries. Picture: Getty Images

That is despite Scott Pendlebury, Brody Mihocek and Mason Cox each missing three of those matches, Jordan De Goey missing four and Jamie Elliott being sidelined for all five.

The injuries have enabled the Magpies to introduce some younger and less experienced players into the team over the past couple of months.

I’m talking about Lachie Sullivan, Finlay Macrae, Harvey Harrison, Wil Parker, Ash Johnson, Ed Allen and Reef McInnes.

They have all shown positive signs, but many also looked to have hit a mid-season wall.

The bye might therefore have come at the perfect time for the Pies, helping to freshen up those younger players and get some more senior troops back on the field for their next match against the Gold Coast Suns.

Pendlebury’s organisation through the midfield has been sorely missed, Mihocek has long been the focal point in the forward line and we know how much influence De Goey can have centre-forward.

However, there have been some other senior players step up to help fill the voids.

Ruckman Darcy Cameron has elevated his game and is arguably the most improved ruckman in the competition this year.

He has played every game and has taken on great responsibility — particularly in the absence of Cox.

His hitout work has been impressive, as has his follow-up at ground level and his ability to win crucial contested possessions and take contested marks around the ground.

Midfielder Jack Crisp has not only been averaging 20.8 disposals and 4.3 clearances a game but is also leading the way for Collingwood when it comes to tackles, having already laid 89 this season.

Darcy Moore has played 95 per cent game time across the season and continues to kill the footy for fun, averaging an elite 8.3 spoils a game to stop opposition forays forward in their tracks.

Small forwards Bobby Hill and Lachie Schultz also deserve a shout-out.

Between them, the pair have combined for a more than respectable 38 goals to this point of the season.

BOBBY SOARS ✈️

This man is a human highlight reel. pic.twitter.com/u1wwDLK1KJ

— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) June 16, 2024

Along with Patrick Lipinski, Reef McInnes and even Will Hoskin-Elliott, they have helped keep the scoreboard ticking over in the absence of some key personnel in attack.

Last week’s match against the bottom-of-the-table North Melbourne showed that footy is played above the shoulders and you only have to be a bit off to be put to the sword by any opposition.

However, Collingwood would have taken great confidence away from that match after overcoming a 54-point deficit — despite playing so poorly in the first half.

They generally handle opposition pressure well but had no answers to the Kangaroos’ heat.

PRESSURE PIES

Pressure underpins performance for Collingwood and there was no better example of that than the match against North Melbourne before the bye.

The Kangaroos’ pressure was off the charts in the first half, but the Magpies managed to address that at the main break and ramped up their own pressure thereafter as they flipped the game on its head.

Overall this season, Collingwood ranks third in the competition for pressure rating.

It also averages the most tackles of any team.

That pressure forces the opposition into errors and turnovers, keeping the game in motion and allowing the likes of defenders Moore, Brayden Maynard, Isaac Quaynor and Jeremy Howe to get set and a chance to win the ball back.

Pressure up the ground aids the intercept ability of the Pies’ defenders. Picture: Getty Images

The Magpies have been exposed with scores against this season and are not defending turnovers anywhere near as well as they should.

However, the pressure being applied across the ground is helping ensure that they are not hurt too heavily when their opposition works the ball forward.

Over the past five weeks, the Magpies have averaged 53.8 inside-50s against but have conceded scores from just 40 per cent of those entries — ranked No. 1 in the competition.

SECOND SEED

I’ve got Collingwood as my second seed behind Sydney.

At their best, the Magpies are capable beating anybody with way they play and the pressure you can trust them to bring each week.

They’ve also got a great spread of goalkickers, which many other teams don’t.

It’s a credit to the coaches and playing group that they have recovered from a slow start to the season to put themselves in a healthy position at the bye.

Now they should get back a trio of stars in Pendlebury, De Goey and Mihocek, with some further troops not far away.

Watch out.

Originally published as Mick McGuane’s mid-season report card: Pies stepping up despite injuries to stars