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Important SN update for SouthlandWhy Cornes has been surprised by Collingwood's 'gamble'
Nicholas Quinlan • July 5th, 2025 4:08 pm
Kane Cornes has admitted to being surprised by how good Collingwood has been this season.
After a disappointing 52-point loss to GWS in Opening Round, the knives were out for their list strategy, which sees them have the oldest list in the AFL by two years.
But since that loss, Collingwood has been on a tear, with a missed goal after the siren by Jack Crisp back in Round 8 being the only thing preventing them from having a 15-game win streak.
And this week, they would continue their dominance over the competition with a triumphant 56-point victory over the old nemesis in Carlton on Friday night at the MCG.
While many had them playing finals, very few, if anyone, would have had them on top of the ladder with a 10-point gap to second as of Round 16.
When asked by SEN’s Andy Maher whether anyone was surprised by Collingwood’s remarkable form, Cornes confessed that he was.
“Yes, I am (surprised),” Cornes said on SEN’s Crunch Time.
“I didn’t have them (doing this). I look foolish because I just thought they're just all in.
“It was the biggest gamble I’ve seen from a list management point of view for a while. And last year, there was some signs of ‘Gee, I’m not sure this group is going to be able to hold together’.
“Key players missing huge chunks of the season with injury, and you think well, with age, that’s not going to get any better.
“So yeah, I just think the power there playing with, the speed of ball movement, the connection between their mids and their forwards and how strong they have been defensively.
“I think everyone would be surprised; the level of surprise is up to you.”
Nick Dal Santo would be in agreement with Cornes, noting that with their age comes experience, which has been crucial to their performance.
He also noted that the players had an inner belief that if the list strategy came off, there would be nothing stopping them from winning their second premiership in three years.
“Fly said last night that he was surprised that they have won 14 up to this point,” Dal Santo explained.
“I’ve got a young child that plays sport with a Collingwood player’s young son as well. They said during the summer, talking about the age demographic, they said, ‘If we can get this right, we can win it. ’
“So, it was a risk, but what we have seen from this experienced group, and they’ve got a handful, is they're probably not at the level they once were in regard to football performance.
“But their game management is above everybody else. Their scenarios, their execution is exceptional.”
Collingwood's next match is against the Gold Coast Suns at People First Stadium next Friday night.
