Collingwood Football Club is facing mounting concerns over its forward line, with early-season struggles raising questions about potential “trade regret.” The Magpies have managed just 11 goals in each of their first two games, leading to criticism of their attacking unit as “toothless.”
This development follows the club’s decision to part ways with veteran forwards Brody Mihocek and Mason Cox last offseason. The move has left the team without a strong key forward presence, a gap that trade recruit Jack Buller has yet to fill, having gone goalless in his initial appearances.
According to Jay Clark of the Herald Sun and Fox Footy, Collingwood might be experiencing “trade regret” as they struggle to find a scoring rhythm. “It is clear to everyone that they are lacking a key forward presence to help steer that scoring rush,” Clark commented on Fox Footy’s First Crack. “At the moment, they look a bit toothless in attack.”
Coach McRae Acknowledges Forward Line Issues
In a candid post-match press conference, Pies coach Craig McRae admitted the shortcomings of the team’s forward line. “That’s the reality, we’re not getting enough out of our keys, that’s real,” McRae stated. “I’m not going to shy away from that; we’ve got work to do on that.”
Despite recording more inside-50 entries than Adelaide at the MCG, Collingwood’s inefficiency in front of goal was evident. The team repeatedly struggled with their final kick inside 50, a critical component of successful scoring plays.
Reflecting on Past Decisions
Clark further questioned the decision to let go of Mihocek and Cox, who were pivotal in the preliminary final against Brisbane. “In the preliminary final against Brisbane, who did they start at full forward and centre-half forward? It was Cox and Mihocek,” he noted.
The decision to move on from these players is particularly perplexing given Collingwood’s current position in the premiership window. “They’re win-now, Collingwood, they’re in the premiership window … they’ve got an ageing profile,” Clark added.
The Role of Mason Cox
Beyond his forward capabilities, Mason Cox could have provided additional support in the centre square, another area where Collingwood is struggling. “He wouldn’t have cost the Pies that much – he would have been cheap as chips – and he can also help out in the centre square,” said Clark.
Collingwood lost the centre clearance count 8-15 against St Kilda in Opening Round and 9-16 against Adelaide on Saturday night. “They’ve been effectively belted twice now … that’s 31-17 over the first two games,” Clark highlighted.
Cox’s potential contribution as a centre-square ruckman is underscored by the team’s current struggles. “Cox can play a role in there; Darcy Cameron’s never been a great centre-square ruckman – that’s what Cox could have done,” Clark emphasized.
Looking Ahead: Rebuild or Reset?
While some argue for the necessity of moving on from older players like Cox, others, such as two-time flag-winner David King, suggest that Collingwood is in a phase of rebuilding. “The Buller (move) I can understand – they had to go younger. Cox is ageing – he might play a role for Fremantle, bits and pieces, but I think at his age, they had to look past that,” King said.
King further questioned whether minor changes could propel the team into premiership contention. “Does anyone think they’re a premiership contender this year? … I don’t think one or two additions are going to make them a premiership contender next year, the year after,” he stated.
As Collingwood navigates these challenges, the focus will likely remain on developing younger talent while addressing key positional gaps. Whether this strategy will bear fruit remains to be seen, but the early-season struggles have certainly sparked a conversation about the club’s future direction.
