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Collingwood in finals: Dangerous or limping to the line?
Andrew Slevison • August 25th, 2025 3:52 pm
Collingwood is considered a “dangerous” proposition ahead of the impending finals series.
Over the last few weeks the Magpies released the once-powerful grasp they had on the 2025 season, but still finished fourth and are now holding an all-important double chance.
Craig McRae’s Pies will next meet minor premiers the Adelaide Crows in a Qualifying Final after the pre-finals bye just a few weeks after they lost by three points at the Adelaide Oval despite having 71 inside 50s.
Prior to their grinding six-point victory over Melbourne last Friday night, the Pies had lost five in six which has created plenty of doubt about their premiership credentials.
It has Kane Cornes wondering if there is still a pulse or if they’re limping to the line.
“It’s one of the most anticipated finals you’ve ever seen with no Izak Rankine and there is animosity, there’s no doubt, between both clubs,” Cornes said on SEN’s Fireball.
“Do they have a pulse, Collingwood, or have they just limped over the line? No Jeremy Howe again…
“If they get 70 entries again like they did last time then they win.
“But I’m not sure. How do they defend against Adelaide’s front six with no Jeremy Howe is the question.”
Co-host David King still believes there is a dangerous element to the Pies, but is not convinced they’re currently at their best.
“They’re dangerous,” King said.
“I’m not sure they’re absolutely bankable, I’m not sure you can say, ‘Yep, this is how they’re going to play and they’re going to threaten you here or get you there’.
“They can play all modes so they become a bit of a threat.
“I think Craig has played around with it the last five or six weeks and there’s some confusion. When you’re planning against them it’ll be a challenge to say, ‘This is how they play, this is what they want to do’.
“They have chopped and changed a little bit. It makes them dangerous. They’re not in great form but they’re dangerous.”
Pies fans should be hanging on to hope, knowing that there are several stars in the line-up who are capable of turning finals.
Veteran Scott Pendlebury and Nick Daicos are genuine stars and Jordan De Goey was excellent against the Demons.
“They’re running on very few cylinders, but those cylinders are bloody good,” King added.
“That’s the problem, you can’t just say, ‘We’re going to clamp him and we’ll win’. They’re hard to clamp.
“Pendlebury was brilliant on the weekend. Daicos, De Goey…”
Cornes is intrigued by De Goey in particular who had 26 disposals against the Dees in comfortably his best performance since last season.
“De Goey is the story. Can he put together a run of three weeks that takes his team there?” said Cornes.
“That’s what they’re going to need. It can’t be Pendlebury again. The guy is 36, he’s played 400-odd games.
“Nick will do what Nick does. But there needs to be someone else come along for the ride. He came along for the ride, he was awesome and he needed to be.
“Can he put together three weeks of a stretch that would pout him into legend status at Collingwood after the finals series’ he has had.
“He’s a moments player. I don’t know if he can do it but I think he’s going to need to.”
For King, he rates Beau McCreery as a possible X-factor player who can break things open for the Maggies.
“They do need someone else to do some of the heavy lifting around Nick and Pendles,” he added.
“I think it’s Beau McCreery. Every time I see this guy put his speed into the game he just does things that separate games.
“He’s not to Cam Rayner’s level as Rayner has done it on the biggest stages, but he’s that type of player.”
The Pies will meet the Crows at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday, September 4.
