Collingwood’s premiership aspirations for the 2026 AFL season appear to be waning, with senior coach Craig McRae admitting his side might simply not possess the necessary firepower to compete at the highest level. The candid admission came in the wake of a nail-biting four-point loss to the Western Bulldogs, a result that highlighted persistent issues for the Magpies.
Clearances and Control: A Recurring Headache
McRae, a respected figure in the AFL landscape, was once again forced to address his team’s struggles in winning clearances, particularly against elite opposition. While acknowledging the promising glimpses shown by developing talent Ed Allan in negating opposition threats late in the game, the core problem remains.
“Yeah, we’re middle of the road. That’s a reality,” McRae stated candidly during the post-match press conference. “Clearances were significant in the first half. Centre bounce gave a lot of territory against us, and then we got that right in the last quarter, which I think changed the game for us… (We) couldn’t manage ‘Bont’ [Marcus Bontempelli] in major parts.”
The coach elaborated on the tactical adjustments made, highlighting the challenge of matching up against influential opposition players. “Ed Allan went to Richards [Jack Richards] in the third and started to do a pretty good job on him, and then ‘Bont’ was out of control, so we flipped that, and next thing Richards gets out of control,” McRae explained.
Fundamentals Under Scrutiny
Beyond specific matchups, McRae also pointed to a lapse in fundamental skills, particularly in the early stages of the match. “I thought our fundamentals were really off early. We were handballing at people’s feet and a bit scratchy around that. It’s hard to put a finger on that. ‘Pendles’ [Scott Pendlebury] has played more games than anyone in the history of the game, and he also handballed at someone’s feet, and you think, ‘maybe it just happens sometimes’.”
A Late Surge, But Too Little, Too Late?
In true McRae fashion, Collingwood displayed a characteristic late surge, throwing everything at their favoured opponents in the final term. A renewed sense of urgency and a willingness to take risks, even when the opportunity wasn’t clearly presenting itself, saw the Magpies launch a spirited fightback. This begs the question of why such a dynamic approach wasn’t adopted earlier in the contest.
“I said… in front of the boys, ‘I hope you don’t think we’re trying to restrict you from playing this way, we want to play like that, let’s go’,” McRae revealed when asked about the team’s hesitancy. “Obviously within reason, you’re playing some teams that want to have a bit of a shootout game. There’s times where you say, ‘let’s see if we can make a contest’ and see if they want to play that, because we can play different modes and different gears. But again, maybe we might need to release the shackles a bit at times to allow them to play with a bit more freedom.”
Individual Performances and Future Challenges
Amidst the broader team struggles, there were individual bright spots. Maligned Magpie Jordan de Goey delivered a strong performance, being instrumental in much of his side’s offensive play. On the opposing side, young Bulldog Michael Sellwood produced a “Leo Barry” moment, executing an impressive and contested intercept mark in his defensive 50 at a critical juncture of the game.
Looking ahead, the Bulldogs are set to face Hawthorn on Friday night. For Collingwood, the focus shifts to a challenging fixture against Melbourne next Monday, a game that forms part of the highly anticipated “Big Freeze” event. For McRae and his charges, the task of righting the ship and rediscovering their premiership form is a pressing concern. The upcoming clash with the Demons will undoubtedly be a stern test of their ability to rebound and demonstrate the resilience that has defined their recent seasons. The coach’s assessment suggests a period of introspection and potential strategic adjustments may be on the horizon as they navigate the remainder of the 2026 campaign.
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