AFL legend’s plea after 58-year low

Collingwood legend Tony Shaw has called for the club’s expected board challenge to be expedited after labelling the Magpies a “rabble” during their loss to St Kilda on Sunday at the MCG.

Aside from a spirited final quarter, which almost saw Collingwood fight back from 49 points down, it was a lamentable performance from the Magpies who were held to their lowest halftime score against the Saints in 58 years.

The Saints had 64 more disposals and 21 more contested possessions than the Pies at three-quarter time and enjoyed a seven-goal lead heading in the fourth term.

The result leaves Collingwood languishing in 16th spot on the ladder with a 4-11 record – ironically their worst start to a season since Shaw’s last year in charge of the Pies as coach in 1999 (2-13).

“We know there’s going to be a board challenge, we need this quicker now. We need to get settled so then we can get to the draft,” Shaw said during 3AW’s broadcast of the match.

“It could be (done in) 21 days if you had that EGM (extraordinary general meeting) if you get the numbers so it’s got to happen. It just can’t go to the end of the year with this rabble the way it’s going.”

Shaw coached Collingwood between 1996 and 1999 following his 313-game career as a player.Source:News Limited

While Collingwood caretaker coach Robert Harvey was pleased with the fight shown in the final term, he was bitterly disappointed by how badly his side was “beaten up” around the ball beforehand and said questions would have to be asked about why such a passive performance was produced.

“We’ve got seven games to go and we want to get as much as we can out of those seven games – it’s seven games of guys’ careers we don’t want to waste,” Harvey said.

“In the end we’ll be asking those questions during the week because it’s important that we turn up … and hopefully we can sort that out.

“It’s certainly something we need to explore.

“They were a lot better, they outworked us, particularly from the stoppage – it was a smashing … that’s our strength and today it was left wanting.”

Despite the season being well and truly shot, Harvey insisted players wouldn’t be handed games over the remainder of the campaign.

“You just look at it (selection) from an integrity point of view who earns the right (to play),” Harvey said.

The eight-point loss was soured further for Collingwood with Josh Daicos suffering a dislocated, and potentially fractured, finger.

The Magpies are due to face Richmond next round, but with so much uncertainty surrounding the fixture as a result of the Covid crisis gripping the nation, Harvey was still unsure as of Sunday evening where and when that game would take place.

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