David King has put the heat on Collingwood’s veterans to lift for Friday night’s blockbuster clash against Carlton at the MCG.
While the Pies haven’t lost in their last four games, they’re coming off a draw to Essendon on Anzac Day where a raft of senior players had quiet games.
The reigning premiers had nine players aged 30 or over in that clash and King thinks that at least a dozen of them must return to somewhere near their best if they’re to overcome the Blues.
While he didn’t call out any individuals, he thinks that the veteran group – that helped the Pies win the flag just eight months ago – must respond in a big way at the ‘G.
“I’m going to tonight's game to put people in the gun,” King said on SEN Breakfast.
“I'm going to the 30-pluses that are representing the Collingwood Football Club at the moment.
“They have looked off for a few weeks. They need to lift as a collective.
“You can go (Jack) Crisp, you can go (Scott) Pendlebury, you can go (Steele) Sidebottom if you want, you can go wherever you want with it.
“I'm not necessarily going after one player, but this group of senior, experienced, proud warriors who have been there before and have responded to this sort of challenge need to find something tonight.
“There's about half a dozen 30-pluses in there that are underperforming.
“We need to see a response from them tonight.”
How Collingwood’s 30 and older players fared on Anzac Day.
Scott Pendlebury, 36 – 23 disposals, 5 tackles.
Jeremy Howe, 33 – 18 disposals, 4 marks.
Steele Sidebottom, 33 – 7 disposals, 2 tackles.
Mason Cox, 33 – 6 disposals, 3 marks.
Jamie Elliott, 31 – 11 disposals, 2.1, 2 marks.
Brody Mihocek, 31 – 15 disposals, 3.3, 7 marks.
Tom Mitchell, 30 – 19 disposals, 3 tackles.
Will Hoskin-Elliott, 30 – 3 disposals, 3 marks.
Jack Crisp, 30 – 11 disposals, 8 tackles.
