POKsPies252
Club Legend
- Apr 25, 2013
- 1,111
- 862
- AFL Club
- Collingwood
Blaming Bucks not Clear-cut
There’s no doubt that the fortunes of a playing group are the ultimate responsibility of the senior coach and those in charge. Following Collingwood’s disappointing loss on ANZAC Day against the bombers, the pressure has grown immensely to a stage where Pies fans are rightly asking for change. The most popular judgment is that the club should acknowledge that this succession plan has been a failure and that Buckley’s role as senior coach is terminated. It is the most popular because it is also the easiest stance for supporters to take.
Collingwood are 1-4 from their opening five games, an horrendous start in any language. Let’s be realistic here though, all four losses have come between 14-20 points rather than any major blowouts. In these games the opportunity has been there to win the game, we’re momentum was in their favour yet they failed to capitalize. If games were played in first halves, Collingwood are +7 this season, showing although not dominant, they have been well and truly in every game come the main break. One thing that is hard to fathom are the calls that the players show no heart or passion and that this is a direct result of Buckley being unable to motivate his players. Defence is the main principal in analysing the so-called passion and heart of the players. Collingwood rank 3rd in tackles in the league whilst conceding 12.8 goals a game, a goal below the league average of 13.8 goals per game.
Collingwood’s offensive issues are glaringly obvious. They sit just ahead of Carlton at 17th in goals kicked, averaging just 10.4 per game. Despite this stat, let’s not pretend that the opportunities haven’t been there. Despite the forward line issues, the Pies midfield is up there with the best in the competition. As a team the Pies are 2nd in contested possessions, 4th in total possessions, 5th in clearances and 5th in inside 50s. These statistics simply shouldn’t equate to a team ranked 17th in scoring. The issue comes from the ball use both around the ground and in front of goal. They rank 14th in disposal efficiency and 4th in behinds at 14.2 per game compared to their goal average of 10.8. Who is to blame for this? Collingwood’s game plan offensively is scratchy at best and at times is actually hard to identify with. Their entries inside 50 are often haphazard and give little help to a young and inexperienced forward line. So yes, the game plan or lack thereof is fault of the coaching staff and needs to addressed. However there’s only so much you can do with the limited personnel. The Pies are desperately requiring one if not two key forwards to supplement Darcy Moore who is unsurprisingly struggling with the pressure of being the main man.
Unfortunately a concrete solution will not arise until at least next year and even then it is hard to see them acquiring a top 10 key forward they require. In the meantime the coaching staff have to be creative in finding a way to become more potent. For the first time all season it seemed yesterday as if they were aware of this and at least tried something different. Captain Scott Pendlebury started as the deepest forward at the first bounce and he and Daniel Wells often found themselves starting deep at centre bounces in an attempt to add star power and much needed class up forward. This proved ineffective despite the fact Wells kicked two goals in his debut game at his new club. In a show of desperation Ben Reid was swung forward late but with little impact.
It is easy to put blame upon Nathan Buckley and the coaching staff and of course they must take some of the responsibility especially for a dodgy, unidentifiable game plan. But the list management team should also take responsibility for the fact they have not recruited adequately to take the pressure off Moore. A 2-3 goal a game key forward alongside him would help Moore and Collingwood immensely. Buckley can also not be blamed for the inaccurate goalkicking and the lack of ‘clutch factor’ when kicking for goal especially in pressure situations. The flow on effect from continuous missed shots cannot be underestimated as with every miss comes a continued wane in confidence among the playing group. A capable key forward and improved goalkicking and you are looking at a team that is at minimum 3-2 and the media and supporter hysteria surrounding Buckley simply wouldn’t exist.