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Cornes: It’s panic stations for the “physically horrible” Pies
SEN • August 8th, 2025 10:13 am
Is it panic stations for Collingwood?
Kane Cornes certainly believes so.
After four losses in the last five games, the Magpies are now in danger of losing their spot in the top four on the back of a 64-point defeat to Hawthorn on Thursday night.
Just a matter of weeks ago they were 10 points clear on top of the ladder.
Cornes says the ageing Pies - who had an average of 29.9 years against the Hawks - look “washed” and “physically horrible” and wonders how they can bounce back.
“Panic stations for the Pies,” Cornes stated on SEN’s Fireball.
“They looked physically horrible last night. The way that Hawthorn was covering the ground, it looked like a bunch of athletes in their prime versus a bunch of athletes that are washed.
“They looked really vulnerable once again with the defensive six who are all at sea. You would love to play on Darcy Moore. If you’re playing against Collingwood and you’re a key forward your eyes would light up. Same goes for (Billy) Frampton.
“I thought there would have been a response last night. There wasn’t. I’m not sure they’re physically capable of a response.
“The wear and tear of a group that on average is 29.9 years old, the oldest we’ve sever seen…”
Cornes believes the fact the Pies went all-in on winning this year’s flag by recruiting established players and not prioritising the draft could be detrimental if they aren’t immediately successful.
He also spoke of their reliance in defence on Jeremy Howe who copped a nasty concussion early in the loss.
“It’s pretty dire if you are relying on Jeremy Howe at 35. I know he’s important,” Cornes added.
“The concern I’ve got - and I said this at the start of the year - it’s this year or bust. If you don’t win it this year it is absolutely dire with their list, with the risks they’ve taken.
“No club has ever taken risks like this with their list management. You’ve got to start the rebuild.
“There’s no draft picks, there’s nothing. If they win it this year then no worries. You’ve got another one, happy days, You can stomach that and say it was worth it.
“When you take a risk like this and you are as all-in as this like I’ve never seen a club before. They’ve traded away the whole of the future - “don’t give me picks, give me players” - and it starts to unravel before we even get to the finals.
“This is going to be dire for this club if this season continue to peter out like it is right now.”
While co-host David King did criticise the Pies for a lack of effort, he did float a few excuses for such a heavy defeat.
“These days you don’t even have to bring your boots, everything is supplied for you," said King.
“But you’ve got to bring a base level application and effort. They didn’t bring that last night.
“It’s been a long time since we can say that about Collingwood.
“They were rattled by Howe going down early but it’s not an excuse. I’m just saying these are the facts with Collingwood.
“Do I think they’ll be better in the next few weeks? Absolutely I do. Five-day break, lack of speed (with Bobby Hill and Beau McCreery out), Howe goes down early, you can make excuses.”
All eyes on the Pies now as they next travel to Adelaide to play the ladder-leading Crows in Round 22.
A loss there could see them drop out of the four.
