Garry Lyon believes Collingwood “missed a trick” by not taking full advantage of Harris Andrews’ absence after he injured his hamstring in the third quarter of Friday night’s game.
Andrews, who is arguably the game’s most in-form defender, ended the night with ice on his hamstring as Brisbane closed out a narrow eight-point win to return to second spot on the ladder.
After the 23-year-old sustained the injury, Lyon said the Pies weren’t able to “make the most” of Brisbane’s “glaring” omission.
“I can’t help but think that Collingwood have missed a trick here particularly after half time with Harris Andrews (being injured),” he said on AFL Nation.
“They didn’t take advantage of it, it’s as glaring as an opportunity presented to them as you possible can have and it wasn’t until three quarter-time that (Collingwood) started to get pro-active about it.
“Grant Birchall’s value in Brisbane’s side is his experience but never once did I see Collingwood once try and isolate him.
"This is the way footy is played these days, teams go out and say ‘this is how we’re going to play’ and they don’t react to the opposition’s circumstances.”
Lyon pointed out the height differential of the 211cm Mason Cox compared to his 192cm opponent in defender Ryan Lester.
Collingwood wasn’t able to isolate Cox against his opponent in the minutes after Andrews left the ground and Lyon said it was a missed opportunity.
“Mason Cox didn’t get a one-on-one with Ryan Lester for the whole third quarter,” he said.
“The first two he got in the last quarter, he out-marked him. It’s as plain as the nose on your face, give him an opportunity, and I’m not saying it as a knock on Ryan Lester, that is the time where you do have an advantage with Mason Cox, when Harris Andrews is off the ground and you’ve got a foot advantage on the defender.”
The Pies are currently sitting in sixth spot on the ladder and have a handy one-and-a-half game buffer from ninth spot with two games remaining.