'Stuffed it up': Collingwood's 'arrogant' move that backfired
Collingwood have been labelled "arrogant" over a selection gamble that failed to pay off in the preliminary final defeat to Greater Western Sydney.
GWS sealed a spot in the club's first ever grand final after a thrilling victory over the Magpies at the MCG on Saturday.
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A shattered Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley described it a "wasted season" after the Magpies fell agonisingly short of setting up a blockbuster showdown with Richmond in next Saturday's AFL decider.
However, it was the inclusion of Magpies veteran Ben Reid that had one of the game's greats particularly angry.
The injury-prone Magpies tall was handed his 150th start for the crucial finals clash, despite not featuring in the senior side since round 15.
With poor conditions on Saturday at the MCG, Reid was thrown in at the deep end, despite such limited big-game preparation.
Collingwood's gamble failed to have the desired effect, leading former Brownlow Medallist Brad Hardie to slam the Magpies for making the call.
“They were arrogant,” Hardie said on Macquarie Sports Radio.
“They should not have taken Ben Reid into that game. It was his 150th game, he’s now a life member. That’s fine. But conditions did not suit.
“Chris Scott stuffed it up a couple of weeks ago with Stanley not playing him, thinking the weather was going to come and it didn’t. You knew the weather was there yesterday, it was a low centre of gravity.
“At once stage, inside 50 marks were four to the Giants and two to Collingwood, deep into the third quarter. What does that tell you? You need low centre of gravity players.”
Magpies ‘terribly disappointed’
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire says he expects his club will need a little time to recover after their preliminary final heartbreak.
Magpies captain Scott Pendlebury said it felt even worse than last year's grand final loss when GWS beat them by four points on Saturday in a riveting preliminary final.
McGuire says the club will start planning for next season already but concedes grand final week will be hard.
"We're in good shape to go forward, but we won't be thinking about it for a little while," McGuire told AAP.
"It's hard. It's really hard. But we'll bounce up tomorrow.
"When the shower hits the back of my head, I will be thinking again of what we can do.
"I'm terribly disappointed and humbly proud of them."
With mental health an extremely important issue in the game, McGuire said it is critical for Collingwood not to lose perspective.
"If we're not feeling down now, we're in the wrong game," he said.
"We have to dust ourselves off and it will be a very hard week next week.
"There's been a lot about mental health ... the sun does come up tomorrow and hope springs eternal."
Collingwood came from 33 points down early in the last quarter to nearly snatch an unlikely win.
"I was really proud of the way the boys didn't turn it up," McGuire said.
"They literally took us to the last second with a chance to get in there.
"So full marks to the boys for having a crack."
McGuire said it had been a successful year for the Magpies, with the club cutting their pokie ties.
He also remains hopeful that star ruckman Brodie Grundy will sign a long-term deal and not be distracted by the interest from SA.
"You saw the way he played for the jumper today. Brodie's a good fella," McGuire said.
"We have to work it through, but that's professional football.
"He has to do what's right for him and his family and hopefully that will be staying here, but there's plenty of time."
With AAP
