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"They've got some tough decisions to make." | First Thoughts - Collingwood (01.06.26)
31 May 2026
Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
Chapter 1: What were the key moments from Collingwood's recent match against the Bulldogs?
All right, what now for Collingwood as they went down in a close one. You were there, Kingy, interested in your thoughts on Saturday night against the Dogs. Firstly, let's have a listen to the coach who says they're just average.
Yeah, we're middle of the road. That's a reality. Process driven tonight. They think most of the processes were good.
Chapter 2: What does the Collingwood coach mean by being 'average'?
We're a work in progress. We think there's some real growth in front of us. We always say that. What we're playing now, we think we're going to be better. About six weeks ago, you would have thought,
We're heading towards the bottom of the ladder and we played the top four teams that are sitting on the ladder now and we took them all to the line barring the Cats who taught us a lesson but our best is good enough and we're just going to make sure we're playing a bit more of our best more consistently.
So it's a credit to them for being as competitive as what they are with what they've got. That's my view on that. You know that's my view. I think their list is very ordinary. So shout out to the coaching and to the players for getting these results with what they've got. They play Melbourne this week on Monday, then some winnable games against Port Adelaide and Richmond.
Chapter 3: How does the team's performance reflect their potential for growth?
Where do you see them and what did you think on Saturday night, Kingy?
Well, they've just got some tough decisions to make, haven't they? I mean, what is the goal right now? If the goal is to not necessarily stay competitive but to set for another premiership, they're in all sorts. But in terms of staying competitive… They can roll on with the bulk of what they've got and have these sorts of performances that are, you know, in the end, 50-50 game in the balance.
Does Nick get it done for you? Doesn't he? They can have that sort of performance for the next three years. But they don't have enough coming through in terms of the younger brigade. We've spoken about that for a while. That's nothing new. They probably know that. So what do they do? Do they go and get Lockie Neal and say, well, at least we give Nick a running mate?
At least we can then, if we do hang on to Penderbury, we can move him outside of the square and maybe he can go to halfback for 40 more games or 30 more games whilst we continue to develop the next wave, if there is a next wave.
You feel like that's what they're going to do, don't you? That's what I feel like they're going to do. There's no other option, is there? There's not really anyone else that you're going to get for nothing. So even players like Zach Bailey, Brisbane can match that deal. So you're not going to get butters because you have to give up three first round picks, which you don't have.
So the only thing you are going to get is those aging players who are free agents or are going to cost you not much at all and then keep you around the mark. Now that's, not what they need to do. And Craig Kelly has said they're going to go to the draft, which is a complete flip of what they've said in the past.
But I just keep looking for the players that get opportunities that are under the age of 25, and there's nothing at all to be excited about.
I like the game of Anderson. I thought he does some things. I'm not saying he's Hall of Fame. He's not going to be in your half or not. But I think that he's the sort of player that you can get a lot out of that sort of guy. He reminds me a little bit of McCreary when he'd come on the scene.
Speaking of McCreary, if he can get the money, take it and run. If you can get yourself $7 million from take it and run. He's a 12 possession player every week and yeah, he flashes through your screen every now and then. You go, well, how good is it? And then you don't see him for a quarter and a half.
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Chapter 4: What tough decisions does Collingwood need to make moving forward?
If Moore's not playing, Dacos is your captain. Surely, if Dacos isn't the captain already, which he pretty much is, why is Braden Maynard the captain of that side when Moore's not? Dacos is your captain, clearly, in everything that he does. So let's not be a bit cute.
Chapter 5: How can Collingwood balance competitiveness with future premiership goals?
I just think Nick's got to lead this group into the next five, six, seven years. He's your guy. He's your captain. He plays like it. He acts like it, clearly. He is your captain.
At the end of the game, right, it's a 12-gamer for the Dogs that stands up. So I'm looking at that thinking, okay, well, this is not Nick Dacos. This is a 12-gamer for the Dogs. So where was the 12-gamer for the Pies? If I'm Craig McCann, and I know Craig well, and I'm sure he would do this, what did you do, specifically you, what was your purpose?
What did you do in terms of your actions to help us win the game late? What did you do? And that's across the board. When a 12-gamer does it for the Dogs.
Yeah, Croft had some moments as well, and he wouldn't have played a handful of games as well. So you can see the future coming through there at the Dogs, not there for the Pies. Pies fans, you're always keen to have your say. You can do that right now if you would like to.