Nathan Buckley has urged calm amid growing scrutiny over Collingwood’s form, insisting the club’s recent dip isn’t cause for alarm.
The Pies have lost three of their past four matches, including a 27-point defeat to Brisbane, and have slipped from the top of the ladder to second.
But Buckley, speaking on SEN’s Whateley, said both the hype and the concern have been overblown.
“We put Collingwood too far out in front”
“Can we put on the agenda that the mass media, we put Collingwood too far out in front six weeks ago,” Buckley said. “It was by demonstration, and I suppose it's for the same reason we're questioning their bona fides now because of three losses in the last month.
“We do get caught up in this short-term stuff. I don't think they were as far out in front six to eight weeks ago, and I don't think that there's too much to panic about in terms of their last month.”
While acknowledging defensive issues, notably back-to-back six-goal bags from opposition key forwards, Buckley pointed to missing personnel like Jeremy Howe as a critical factor.
“Jeremy Howe is the glue for the back half. His connection with Scott Pendlebury, who is the glue for the midfield, whose connection to Jamie Elliott, who is the glue for the forward line… that's understood and demonstrated internally.”
Despite the blips, Buckley is optimistic. “The guts of their game is still really solid,” he said. “I’m not losing too much sleep, but the time is now.”