Port Adelaide legend and AFL pundit Kane Cornes has called out Collingwood for one of their 'bizarre' tactics during their 64-point loss to Hawthorn on Thursday night.
The Magpies, who have lost top spot on the ladder in recent weeks, were behind for the entire night against the Hawks.
Cornes called out the Pies' tactic of leaving star midfielder Nick Daicos on the bench to start the game against Hawthorn.
"Call me old-fashioned, but that’s bizarre," Cornes told SEN's Fireball.
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"Start your best player on the bench, and he’s stuck there for 14 minutes because of the concussion. Why would they start Nick on the bench? If he’s not right to go, then don’t play him."
Daicos collected 24 disposals, six clearances and played 76 per cent of game time, but despite this, Cornes said that Daicos should be rested if he wasn't right to play.
"It’s not a criticism of him, it’s the management. If he’s playing, he’s playing. He’s starting in the centre bounce and he’s getting them going," he said.
"To be cute like that and start him on the bench. I saw him in the warmup; he was ducking out and getting treatment.
"If he’s not right, don’t play him. There's some desperation. If you play him, you start him."
Collingwood coach Craig McRae said the midfielder wasn't injured in his post-match press conference and apologised to the 'Magpie army' for their performance.
The Pies are in danger of missing the top four and the prized double chance with games against ladder leaders Adelaide and Melbourne, who are in the bottom eight.