North Melbourne Champion David King believes Collingwood is stuck in “no man’s land”. Aging veterans and a shortage of rising stars are growing concerns as another Premiership campaign ends prematurely.
After the elimination win against West Coast, one of the biggest in the club’s recent history, Collingwood was demolished by Geelong with 68 points.
I am talking about Fox Footy’s First crack King said that despite the myriad of challenges they faced in 2020, another chance for a flag has been missed as some of the team’s best players near the end.
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Magpies press conference
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“If you are in that potential ladder position to win the flag, you need to maximize every opportunity,” said the two-time North Melbourne premier player.
“This group won’t be the same next year, I don’t know what’s going to happen to (Jordan) De Goey or (Jaidyn) Stephenson. I know the conversation they’re going to get (Steele) Sidebottom and (Jeremy) Howe back, but (Scott) Pendlebury will be 33, (Chris) Mayne and (Levi) Greenwood 32, (Jordan) Roughead 30, (Mason) Cox 30 , Howe 30, Sidebottom 30. “
“This is another season. However you choose to slice and dice it, they just tick for another year and offer a compromised design opportunity with later choices. “
King said that Collingwood’s age and Premiership profile could not only affect the remaining chances of successful flag tilting, but could also detract from its appeal as the Conquerors Geelong emerged as a far more attractive option, according to analyst at Fox Footy.
Since their devastating major final defeat in 2018, the Pies have fallen in a preliminary final and in a semi-final in subsequent years.
Though Hawthorn Premiership star Jordan Lewis believes the pies are “still going up” for the next season and the flag window is open, he said the club should be aiming for a Class A striker of Jeremy Cameron to try to revive their scoring chances.
King feared the pies would get dangerously close to a position no one would want to be in footy for long.
“You’re stuck in no man’s land somewhere between the 5th and 12th and it’s an awful position on the ladder,” he said.
“You need a spark, a great free agent, or a young gamer who is making a quantum leap, and I don’t know who that is. We saw (Josh) Daicos do it this year, but who’s next?
“I would stretch to say it’s definitely that guy.”
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