Two-time Collingwood best and fairest winner Jack Crisp believes that his side found another level in their 78-point demolition of Gold Coast on Saturday.
On paper, the clash was a good chance for Gold Coast to test themselves against a top team, but they were quickly torn apart by a fast and free flowing Collingwood side.
The Magpies have only lost two games this season and remain firm favourites for the premiership. But in a scary proposition for opposition teams, Crisp believes that his side are just getting better, highlighted by their ability to score from the back half on the weekend.
“We have obviously played some exciting footy in different parts of the season, but we probably went to a new level again on Saturday in the Gold Coast which was great,” Crisp told SEN Breakfast.
“I think we had six goals from the back half in the first half alone, so we could see some great ball movement coming through.
“We went back to school a bit last week in terms of our method and system. (In) the Adelaide game it probably let us down a little bit but our effort was always there.”
29-year-old Crisp also revealed how it has taken time for him to adjust to his role in the midfield being lowered in 2023, given the addition of Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell and the emergence of Nick Daicos.
“I might have struggled with it a little bit earlier in the year, but overall I think the overarching theme is the team is doing really well,” Crisp said.
“I feel like I have been a little bit relied on in the past to step up and do those roles but now that everyone has come along and doing their role as well, it’s been kind of a bit different for me.
“I’m still more 60-40 or 70-30 per cent mid/back. I have been playing as a bit of a third wingman at the moment since ‘Steelo’s’ been gone so that’s another different role.
“I have been going to the wing, half-back and centre-bounce, (so) other people can get a go. Everyone’s just playing their role in the team and everyone seems to be playing it really well and that’s what has helped us play well and gel together and be able to play that consistent football.
“But I’m going really well now, the team’s going really well, we have put ourselves in a really strong position to hopefully finish off the year really well and give us the best chance of doing some damage in September.”
Crisp is set to play his 204th consecutive game this weekend in the Magpies' match against the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Friday night.