Collingwood players torn to shreds over lazy, late Lions capitulation

Collingwood star Will Hoskin-Elliott has been singled out for the Magpies’ last-minute meltdown against the Brisbane Lions.

Ugly footage has emerged from the final play of the game where several Pies players appeared sluggish to react and were too lazy to cover the centre square space given to their opposition as they launched one final attack to save the game.

Football greats David King and Kane Cornes have torn Collingwood players to shreds over the footage, with both suggesting Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley will punish at least a few players when he names his team for the Round 4 clash with GWS on Saturday.

King and Cornes singled out former Giants star Will Hoskin-Elliott for his lack of defensive pressure in the moment Lions defender Daniel Rich was able to receive the ball in the centre square before hitting match winner Zac Bailey on the chest before he went back and kicked the dramatic winner after the final siren had sounded.

King told SEN radio on Monday Hoskin-Elliott will likely pay for the mistake by being dropped.

“I think there’ll be some selection dilemmas this week,” King said.

Will Hoskin-Elliott of the Magpies and Nathan Buckley. Getty.Source:Getty Images

“I wouldn’t want to be Josh Thomas or Will Hoskin-Elliott. They’ll come under some serious heat because the last play of the game, they’ve led to ultimately opening up the corridor. Didn’t work hard enough. Didn’t really think team. I think Nathan Buckley will swing the axe this week.”

King had earlier on Fox Footy named four Collingwood players that failed to perform their defensive duties when the game was on the line.

“There’s four players I’ve highlighted: Taylor Adams, who’s far right, who barely moves. You’ve got Josh Thomas, who’s second from the right, who’s been on the ground for one minute, doesn’t move. No corridor cover. You’ve got Hoskin-Elliott and Daicos who haven’t moved,” King said.

“You’re not looking to score, you’re looking to save the game, so why aren’t they rolling up and at least giving (support to) Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom, who worked their tail off to go and assist with the defensive grid there, why weren’t they rolling up? For the life of me, I don’t understand that.

“I think you’ll find that they’ll swing the axe. I think a couple of those players will be out next week.

Nathan Buckley is going to swing away.Source:Getty Images

“Not just because of that stoppage but because of the mindset — where’s your head at? Are you with us or not? They threw away four points. There’s no doubt about that with 45 seconds to go.

“Boundary throw in – it was everything that Collingwood were after. So I just I just think the axe will fall on some of those guys for selection, as they have to make a statement that that’s not acceptable.”

Cornes also highlighted another passage of play late in the last quarter where he accused Hoskin-Elliott of being “lazy”.

The former Port Adelaide great told AFL Media Hoskin-Elliott was responsible for the Lions’ crucial late goal to Daniel Rich where the superboot was able to accept a hand-off from outside the 50m arc and kick a long-range goal. Cornes said the goal was the result of Hoskin-Elliott failing to track Rich’s run after he had been marking him in the centre square.

“Anywhere within 70m Daniel Rich is dangerous. And we’ve seen twice Hoskin-Elliott points for a teammate to get him,” Cornes said.

“For someone else to get him. These are the key moments in a game of footy.”

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