Veteran football journalist Mike Sheahan has slammed Collingwood’s lack of action during the 2017 NAB AFL Trade Period, believing the club should have taken a chance on young key forward Josh Schache.
The Magpies only made one trade last week, bringing in Sydney rookie Sam Murray - who is yet to play an AFL game – along with pick 70 in this year’s draft and the Swans’ third rounder next year in exchange for the Pies’ future second round selection.
However Sheahan says this amount of trade action is simply not enough for a side that struggled to their fourth consecutive finish outside the eight in 2017.
“They have reaffirmed their faith in the coach, and the playing list is essentially exactly what it was in 2017. Who’s to blame for a team that continues to finish outside the eight and this year finished 13th with nine and a half wins? Where’s the blame apportioned here?” he told SEN Breakfast.
“They don’t have the luxury of saying they can wait. I was amazed that A: there was so little activity from Collingwood and that B: that they didn’t take a punt on Josh Schache. We’ve heard all year that Darcy Moore is not ready to do the job up forward, he’s one out and they need some height.
“Finals teams have got four players in from other clubs. Port Adelaide have done it, Geelong have nearly done it, getting these blokes. They’re a lot better placed than Collingwood. I’m staggered by the inactivity at Collingwood.
“How can you, if you’re a Collingwood supporter, expect to bridge that gap with the same team?”
Schache ended up joining the Western Bulldogs from Brisbane just before the trade deadline last Thursday, with the former number two draft pick moving to the kennel with only picks 25 and 40 heading back to the Lions.