Chasing back-to-back premierships, Collingwood will not be shedding tears over their opening-round 32-point loss to GWS.
Overwhelmed by a full-throttle orange tsunami, the Magpies have been denied the right begin to their premiership defence by a decisive 32-point win – 18.6 (114) to 11.16 (82) – for the Giants at Engie Stadium on Saturday night time.
The Magpies defence unravelled below the Giants’ firepower with Irish ahead Callum Brown boasting a career-best haul of 5 objectives adopted by Jesse Hogan (4.0) and Brent Daniels (4.0).
Collingwood kicked 4 of the final 5 objectives however couldn’t pull off a signature comeback win.
“We learned some really good lessons early,” McRae mentioned after the match.
“Coming into the game, we thought we’d improve physically and then you get there and you get reality – everyone else is improving.
“We need to have deep wins and nourish these wins. We could have shallow losses however we’ll study the teachings actually shortly.
“We come back in six days time and we play the Swans at the MCG.
“We get again to work and we have six days to do this.”
Without Jeremy Howe and Nathan Murphy, the Collingwood defence struggled in the air against the GWS talls.
Brown was able to slot two goals unmarked while Hogan flaunted his aerial prowess against the likes of Collingwood’s Darcy Moore, Isaac Quaynor and Brayden Maynard.
“That’s the best way we need to play. We need to be aggressive in defence,” McRae mentioned.
“Funnily sufficient, once we weren’t, that is once we bought harm.
“The Giants’ talls influence the game aerially and we just didn’t impact that part of the game.”
Brody Mihocek kicked three objectives and Bobby Hill snatched two in opposition to his outdated aspect whereas brothers Nick (34 disposals, 10 clearances, one aim) and Josh Daicos (28 touches) have been sometimes busy.
Collingwood ought to have acquired extra reward for effort on the scoreboard after ending the sport with 60 inside-50s to GWS’ 53 but it surely was their inaccuracy that price them.
Recruited so as to add depth within the ahead line, former Fremantle ahead Lachie Schultz made his debut however fell wanting kicking his first aim for the membership with three behinds.
“The stats would say we had opportunities to score well but we just didn’t connect on the top 50,” McRae mentioned.
“There’s a little rushing to get the ball inside 50 and then not be set for us and then you turn the ball over.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
