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Darcy Moore cops brutal truth bomb as AFL figures round on 'awful' Collingwood captain

Questions are once again being raised about Collingwood's premiership captain in 2024.

andrew reid
·4-min read

Collingwood premiership captain Darcy Moore has once again been called out over his inconsistent form in 2024, after another underwhelming display in the Magpies' latest defeat. The defending premiers lost to Gold Coast by 11 points on Saturday as the Suns remained unbeaten at home in the AFL in 2024.

But it was another lacklustre performance from Moore and the Pies that drew the ire of the AFL world, with former Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes the latest to single out the Collingwood skipper for criticism. Moore has failed to stamp his presence on contests this season and has consistently found himself second to the footy or out-muscled by opponents.

Seen here, Darcy Moore playing for Collingwood against Gold Coast in the AFL.
Darcy Moore's form for Collingwood has been called into question in 2024. Pic: Getty

Kangaroos dual premiership legend David King highlighted Moore's positional and decision-making mistakes at the back for Collingwood during their poor run of form earlier in the season. And with Collingwood's latest defeat leaving them sixth on the ladder with a tough run home that includes games against top-eight rivals Essendon, Geelong, Carlton, Sydney and Brisbane, the finals hopes of the Magpies are looking a little precarious.

Moore was a commanding presence at the back for the Pies as they claimed the flag in 2023 but he hasn't been able to stamp his influence as much on games this season. Against the Suns on Saturday, the Collingwood skipper had just 11 touches and one intercept mark for the entire match and Cornes backed up King's criticism about his positional awareness from earlier in the season, arguing that Moore frequently gets his "timing wrong".

"I reckon he plays one good game in every six," Cornes said about Moore on Nine's Sunday Footy Show. "I know that sounds harsh, but as a leader of this footy club ... I just see it far too often. Darcy Moore disappoints me. I've got to be honest about Darcy Moore, the premiership skipper... Too easy to play against. He just gets his timing wrong. He just can't afford to have genuinely awful games like he did yesterday as the skipper of that club."

Essendon great Matthew Lloyd pointed out that the shock retirement of Nathan Murphy earlier this year had heaped added pressure on Moore this season. Murphy was an integral part of Collingwood's premiership success in 2023 but had to call a premature end to his AFL career at just 24 years of age, following repeated head knocks and on the advice of medical professionals. "It's where Nathan Murphy is a huge loss, because Murphy was that player that allowed for Darcy Moore to play the way he wants to play, because he was such a tight defender," Lloyd said.

Seen here, Darcy Moore and Nathan Murphy after winning the AFL grand final with Collingwood in 2023.
Darcy Moore has missed not having premiership defender Nathan Murphy alongside him at Collingwood in 2024. Pic: Getty

Young key forward Billy Frampton has been used as an extra body in defence for the Magpies in 2024 but Craig McRae's side have been unable to stifle opposition attacks like they did last season. And Cornes says the defeat to Gold Coast highlighted the sense the Pies were "one defender short", arguing that McRae's side need an "interceptor" to perform the role that Moore is struggling with.

"Just the one intercept mark (for Moore against Gold Coast)... He wasn't there to be able to help Billy Frampton, who was so vulnerable one on one. "Why don't they put the magnet of the best defender, the captain, on the opposition's best forward? But they want him to be this interceptor, which he is not."