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Sport Nation
“Perfect performance”: Magpies at the peak of their powers
Jaiden Sciberras • June 2nd, 2025 3:45 pm
Collingwood’s Friday night dominance over Hawthorn has rightly received the utmost of plaudits.
Entering the clash on the top of the table against a Hawks side with plenty to prove, the Magpies were composed from start to finish, fending off their opponents’ strong start to run over the top rather comfortably.
Maintaining their status as the team to beat, SEN’s David King was enthralled by the Pies, labelling Friday’s game as the “perfect performance”.
“I think we'll start with Collingwood,” King told SEN's Fireball.
“We watch a lot of footy, and you're always looking to see what's going well, what's working, what needs some room for improvement, whether it's personnel or system or just sheer performance.
“I can't recall seeing a home and away game played with such quality and such polish.
“They were awesome. Both sides of the ball, not necessarily winning it, but they were awesome when they got it and how they used it.
“When they lost control of the footy, and Hawthorn had it, my god did they just take their time and space immediately and force them into chaos.
“It was the perfect performance, and I don't think we've seen too many perfect games.
“I think the most perfect final we've ever seen was the Grand Final of last year. Brisbane, every post was a winner.
“You can go back to '07, Geelong, the 20-goal mauling of Port for a greater demolition, but in terms of, from start to finish, playing exactly the way you want to play and mapping the game out perfectly.
“Craig McRae would be blown away with the levels that this group have achieved.”
Fireball co-host Sam Edmund further commended the Magpies’ form, specifically focusing on the club’s ageing stars, highlighted by forward Jamie Elliott.
“The system is absolutely humming, and the golden oldies are all playing amazing footy,” Edmund continued.
“There's a special place for those who reach new heights in the twilight, and Jamie Elliott is one of those.
“He's second in the Coleman, helps himself to another five. He's 32 and he's in season 14, and he's comfortably on track for a career-best season. He's flying at the moment.
“They’re at the peak of their powers right across the board.”
King doubled down on Collingwood’s experience, identifying the benefits in fielding such a mature squad.
All 31 players fielded by the Pies in 2025 combine for an average 151.6 career AFL games, 20 more than Brisbane’s 131.5 and 40 more than third-placed Melbourne.
“Have a look at their experience,” King continued.
“They're averaging 150 games per player. I haven't seen that sort of level.
“The second most experienced team in the comp this year is Brisbane at about 135 games. That's a big gap.
“16 of the 23 (selected in Round 12) had played 100 games, soon to be 17 (Bobby Hill’s 100th game this week).
“In terms of what that does for you, it's a greater understanding of what is required at that moment of the game, whether it's with ball or without ball.
“I just think we've talked a lot about the age of this group, and not enough about the experience of this group and the benefits of that.”
Remaining on the top of the pyramid through 12 games, the Pies will look to make the most of a 10-day break ahead of Big Freeze 11 against Melbourne at the MCG next Monday.
