So proud of Pies ... but Eddie in agony

EDDIE McGuire expects Collingwood will need a little time to recover after its preliminaryfinal heartbreak.

While the Magpies president started thinking about next season as early as yesterday, he said grand-final week would be hard.

Coach Nathan Buckley called it a wasted season and captain Scott Pendlebury said it felt even worse than last year’s grand-final loss when GWS beat them by four points on Saturday in a riveting preliminary final.

“We’re in good shape to go forward, but we won’t be thinking about it for a little while,” McGuire said.

“It’s hard. It’s really hard. But we’ll bounce up tomorrow.

“When the shower hits the back of my head, I will be thinking again of what we can do. I’m terribly disappointed and humbly proud of them.”

McGuire said it was critical for Collingwood not to lose perspective. “If we’re not feeling down now, we’re in the wrong game,” he said.

“We have to dust ourselves off and it will be a very hard week next week. There’s been a lot about mental health ... the sun does come up tomorrow and hope springs eternal.”

Collingwood came from 33 points down early in the last quarter to nearly snatch an unlikely win.

“I was really proud of the way the boys didn’t turn it up,” McGuire said. “They literally took us to the last second with a chance to get in there.

“So full marks to the boys for having a crack.”

McGuire said it had been a successful year for the Magpies, with the club cutting its pokie ties. He also remains hopeful that star ruckman Brodie Grundy will sign a longterm deal and not be distracted by the interest from SA.

“You saw the way he played for the jumper today. Brodie’s a good fella,” McGuire said.