On the road to a turnaround?
COLLINGWOOD headed into Round 17 last year with a seven-game winning streak.
Excitement was palpable from the Magpie army.
It hosted West Coast at the MCG and was comfortably defeated by the eventual premier.
This year, the Pies stumble into the same round against the same opponent off an under-whelming month of form.
But should Nathan Buckley’s men pull off a Perth miracle tonight they will be sitting on the same record, with a healthier percentage, and one game clear in the top four.
But is this Collingwood side capable?
The flair and enthusiasm they played with throughout 2018 has vanished, replaced by an uncertainty between teammates and a noticeable lack of confidence.
Collingwood’s talented forward group is struggling to impact games the way it once did, but it is almost impossible to do so without the quick ball movement and midfield dominance that propelled it to within a kick of the flag.
It is all a result of what is happening further down the ground.
Taylor Adams, who could return next week, is desperately needed to bolster a midfield that is being beaten in the contest, while Jeremy Howe and Tom Langdon’s eventual additions will offer muchneeded rebound from defence.
But it goes beyond personnel.
The line-up that faced the Hawks far exceeded its opponents in quality across the ground but failed to play fluidly and build momentum.
Could dashing defender John Noble’s addition inject excitement and dare into a team devoid of such vital assets? Only time will tell.
If the Pies are any chance of causing a prime-time boilover, Mason Cox cannot afford to be pushed out of aerial contests like in recent weeks.
Take out the intercept marking prowess of Jeremy McGovern and Tom Barrass, and they give themselves a chance.
What we do know is the Pies love an opportunity to travel and perform on the road, possessing a 2-0 interstate record this year with wins over Brisbane Lions and Sydney.
If they can pull this one off, it will be their finest since the shock preliminary final triumph.