Collingwood’s Resilience and Ambitions for the 2026 Season
Collingwood ruckman Darcy Cameron has dismissed what he calls “silly” suggestions that the club’s aging squad is past the point of no return. His comments come as captain Darcy Moore supports his teammate’s stance, insisting that a premiership remains a realistic goal for the Magpies this season.
Despite their current position at 13th on the table with a record of 2-3, the team acknowledges the urgent need to address their scoring issues. They must improve their connection and efficiency in attack if they are to climb up the ladder.
Craig McRae’s side has gone 14 games without a triple-figure score, averaging just 69.6 points in five matches this season. Only winless Richmond have scored fewer points across the first six rounds of 2026.
The Pies’ struggles in the front half were evident in a six-point loss to Fremantle last round, where they managed only five goals from 61 forward entries. This performance drew criticism from expert commentator and former Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley, who suggested that Collingwood’s list profile was a major concern.
“They’re not on the cliff, they’ve gone over the edge and they’re just holding on with their fingernails,” Hinkley said on SEN.
However, Cameron rejected this narrative during the launch of the annual Peter Mac Cup clash between Collingwood and Carlton.
“I think it’s silly,” Cameron said. “If you look over the last four years, we’ve played in two prelims and a grand final. We’ve still got a lot of the same personnel, and I know some of these players might be getting a little bit older, but they’re still performing at a very high level, so I think that’s silly.”
Injured captain Moore, who spoke at the Peter Mac Cup launch at the MCG, is confident that the team remains in contention for a flag this season.
“In the defensive part of the game, we’re still performing at a really, really high standard and we look really rock-solid, and we can mix it with anyone,” Moore said. “But clearly offensively, we want to kick more goals and make the most of our chances. That’s going to take a bit of work, but we’re definitely up for it and we think we’re in a great position to be able to develop over the next few months and make a good tilt at a flag.”
Moore (hamstring) and star player Jordan De Goey (concussion) will miss the upcoming match against Carlton (1-4) at the MCG on Thursday night. However, history is in Collingwood’s favor for this clash with their long-standing rivals.
The Magpies have dominated recent meetings, winning the past four encounters and seven of eight since 2022. Looking further back, Collingwood has recorded 19 wins and just four losses against the Blues since the start of 2013.
“It’s the longest rivalry in the game really, and it’s one that we all look forward to,” Cameron said. “It’s nice to come together (for charity), but I’m sure that come Thursday night we’ll go out there with a plan to bash each other.”
