Are we appreciating just how well Collingwood are tracking nine rounds into the 2023 season?
That was the question posed by David King to Kane Cornes on SEN Breakfast with the Magpies 8-1 on the season, 20-2 in their last 22 home and away games and 21-4 in their last 25 games overall.
With their record stacking up and their fixture yet to really open up in 2023, Cornes and King discussed where the Magpies are at.
While Cornes admitted he’s doubted Collingwood across the last year, he says they’re looking like a premiership side in 2023 as they remind him of the all-conquering 2022 Geelong side.
King: “The discussion regarding Collingwood is they’ve only lost four games since, I think it’s Round 9 of 2022, that’s an unbelievable strike rate, isn’t it?
“One was the was the final in Sydney which was point.
“Brisbane got them when they just looked off a few weeks ago.
“Sydney got them late last year and Geelong got them obviously the (qualifying) final by six points when they were coming out.
“So, they’ve lost by one point and six points in two of those.
Cornes: “Are you shutting the gate (on them winning the premiership)? You were on them early.”
King: “I’m not shutting the gate, nothing is over.
“But what do we have (to doubt them)?”
Cornes: “We have nothing.”
King: “But I’m just saying that are we appreciating how good they’re going under Craig McRae?
Cornes: “I haven’t (appreciated it) I’ve always had this lingering doubt for whatever reason.
“I’m trying to come up with a reason as to why that there should be some doubt over them.
“I’ve mentioned their key forwards and they’ve sort of spat that back in my face and everyone’s bobbing up and maybe they will win it, without two or one genuine key forward.
“I’m trying to find ways. Are they too aggressive with the way that they defend? Once you get through them, can you score too easily as we saw with that Brisbane game?
“But they keep answering any queries that they’ve got, and they haven’t even played anyone easy yet really.
“If you look at their draw, they haven’t played North yet, they haven’t played West Coast (and Hawthorn) yet.
“They haven’t even played Gold Coast yet. I mean, it’s really going to open up for them for them to finish top two.
“The importance particularly for those in interstate sides like Brisbane to be in the top two before the end of the year will be significant.
“Collingwood have a feel about them as a premiership side, the way that they act, the way that they get their mums in to speak, the way that they it’s just like they’re just doing everything right.
“They do remind me a little bit of Geelong last year and they just seem to be making all the right moves and the buy in from the group is as good as you’ve seen.
“But there’s a long, long way to go.
“They’ve been challenged by injury and that may be a factor.”
King: “But we’re just recognising what’s happening at the minute.”
Cornes: “I like Melbourne though, I do like Melbourne.”
Collingwood will hope to go 9-1 on the season when they face archrivals Carlton at the MCG on Sunday.