COLLINGWOOD\u2019S scoring power in Saturday\u2019s AFL Grand Final is set to prove a major concern.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s the message from David King, who\u2019s warned the Magpies won\u2019t be able to rebound off defensive 50 against Brisbane in the season decider as they did against GWS in the prelim.<\/p>\n
Collingwood has kicked just 17 goals in the last fortnight, while Brisbane has kicked 30.<\/p>\n
But taking a deeper look at the issues beneath, King is concerned with a key area relating to Collingwood\u2019s scoring options.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you look at scoring profiles, I tend to go a bit deeper than the flat number. How are they scoring and how aren\u2019t they scoring,\u201d King began on SEN\u2019s Whateley.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the moment, they\u2019ve really only got one asset and that\u2019s scoring off half-back. On the weekend, that netted 6.2, so 38 points of their 58 come from that springboard off half-back.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s as much as GWS\u2019 ball use forward of centre as it is about Collingwood. They had 41 intercepts at half-back, that area from the centre circle to the top of 50, that little 30 or 40-metre wedge. 41 intercepts is a ridiculous number, +15 contested possessions on GWS in that zone.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m telling you now Brisbane won\u2019t give them that. Collingwood might get them in other ways but they will not give the ball back because Jake Riccardi, Callum Brown, Jesse Hogan\u2026 the stocks at Brisbane are better\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Craig McRae\u2019s side also struggles to score from the front half, a model which may count against them.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo if they can take that off Collingwood, where do they score? They haven\u2019t got a forward-half game at the moment. 2.3 against Melbourne and 2.4 against GWS and everyone tells me to win premierships you need a great forward-half game,\u201d King said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey don\u2019t have it. They\u2019ve found ways to win and we tip our lid to them\u2026 but you are not doing that against the Brisbane Lions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Those issues will be compounded by the absence of Dan McStay, who won\u2019t line up against his former club due to a knee injury suffered in the preliminary final.<\/p>\n
McStay has kicked 20 goals from 14 games in 2023, averaging the third most goals per game behind Brody Mihocek and Jamie Elliott at Collingwood.<\/p>\n
McRae, speaking post-game, suggested the Magpies will miss McStay\u2019s contested marking presence.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can see why we get him, why he\u2019s important to us. We need someone to mark the ball forward of centre and if he doesn\u2019t get up, he\u2019ll be missed,\u201d the Collingwood coach said.<\/p>\n