Collingwood fans should not be too worried by their team’s Opening Round loss to GWS.
The Magpies were in the end comfortably beaten at the Giants’ home ground, conceding 114 points which is the third highest total they’ve copped under Craig McRae.
But it wasn’t all doom and gloom for the reigning premiers who had more inside 50s (60-53) and more scoring shots (27-24) than their opponents - taking nothing away from the Giants who were indeed impressive.
The footy world is always looking to topple the best, but Champion Data’s Daniel Hoyne does not believe there is too much to worry about for the 2023 champions given the amount of ball they had forward.
The Pies, however, do have to fix their accuracy in front of goal after returning 11.16.
“Don’t panic, Collingwood supporters,” Hoyne said on SEN’s Sportsday.
“Play that game 10 times, I reckon you’re winning seven times.
“Accuracy, accuracy, accuracy (is the problem).
“So you’ve had 60 entries, you’ve created 33 forward-half turnovers which is a ridiculous number, you’ve scored 27 times from 60 entries, your forward 50 actually worked ok.
“Your inaccuracy in front of goal was horrific. You’ve had a lot of fortune over the last couple of years in terms of your opposition being really inaccurate and Collingwood being slightly above expectation.
“We’re only one game in but it was a complete reverse. GWS kicked 18.6 from their 53 entries which is the same sort of return with their 27 scores from 60 entries.
“Accuracy separated that game. Yes, there were concerns with how you actually defended transition and I think you can tidy that up, but your game looked in really good order against really good opposition on their home deck.
“Don’t panic.”
Hoyne also moved to dispel a myth surrounding Nick Daicos.
Magpies fans would be well aware of the 21-year-old’s talents in all aspects of the game, but large portions of the wider public still believe he is an outside player.
However, Daicos’ inside game is well and truly elite according to Champion Data’s numbers.
“A bugbear of mine is Nick Daicos and people who think he’s an outside (player) who gets cheap ball,” Hoyne added.
“It is one of the biggest myths in football. He is a contested possession midfielder who does it the way that only the very, very best do it.
“I’m talking the best I’ve ever seen - Gary Ablett Jnr - a very similar profile to what he does. He wins loose ball contested possessions. The loose ball is the ball that is bobbling out in space and he reacts to it quicker than anyone else.
“Everyone thinks he’s winning outside ball. No, no, no, no, no - number one contested possession winner on the ground on the weekend.
“He does it different ways, he’s an absolute superstar and his games as again amazing on the weekend.”
Daicos had 34 disposals, 16 contested possessions, 10 clearances, eight inside 50s and six score involvements on Saturday night.
The Pies get their chance to bounce back quickly when they host Sydney at the MCG this Friday night for the unfurling of their flag.
