Pies back in business ... but it was just Suns

MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2019 themercury.com.au SUBSCRIPTIONS 1300 696 397 IT would be a stretch to say that Collingwood is back after its 69-point belting of hapless Gold Coast at the MCG yesterday — but Nathan Buckley saw enough in the performance to be encouraged.

Adam Treloar had a day out for the Pies as they shook off a patchy run of form to score a confidence-boosting 18.12 (120) to 8.3 (51) victory in front of 33,577 fans.

After losing four of their past five matches, Buckley’s men kicked their second-highest score of the season and gained almost five percentage points to tighten their grip on sixth spot and put themselves back in the hunt for a top-four finish.

“It was a step in the right direction and we need to build from that,” Buckley said.

“It was much better. I think we just played more efficiently and it was better team football.

“We need to see that continue over the next three weeks and build that connection in the way that we set up the ground ... so that we can see some fluid, dynamic offence.

“But more importantly to defend well and we were able to defend pretty well today.”

If there was any disappointment to be found in the display, it was that Pies giant Mason Cox sat out the second half with an eye injury — and that the boost to percentage wasn’t even greater.

Collingwood led by 65 points at three-quarter time before easing to the line to make it 15 defeats in a row for the last-placed Suns.

Treloar was outstanding with 35 possessions, 10 clearances and a goal, but he had plenty of willing helpers. 4.4 10.6 16.8 18.12 GOALS CROWD

Brodie Grundy gathered 26 touches and had 43 hit-outs, Steele Sidebottom had 27 disposals and kicked two goals and Scott Pendlebury was all class with 24 possessions and a goal.

To their credit, the Suns kept coming, but it’s all about glimpses of a brighter future for their fans. There were at least a few of those, with Jack Lukosius (21 disposals) and Ben King (three goals) catching the eye.

“We were beaten by a better opponent, so I don’t think it was a step back by us,” coach Stuart Dew said.

“When they lifted, we couldn’t go with them and we were outclassed. When they were harder than us [in the middle two quarters] their outside stuff was far too slick for us. It was disappointing that we couldn’t match them for longer but we fought out the last quarter.”