Collingwood Football Club is set to embark on its latest quest for AFL premiership glory with a qualifying final against Adelaide on the evening of March 14, 2024. After a disappointing end to last season, the Magpies are determined to put past performances behind them and focus on their ambitions for the current campaign.
Captain Darc Moore emphasized the team’s commitment to moving forward, stating, “There’s no utility in us looking back and comparing to a past version of ourselves.” The Magpies are intent on improving over the next month and are eager to seize the opportunities presented in the finals.
Collingwood topped the ladder for 11 consecutive weeks during the season but faced challenges in the closing rounds, suffering five losses in their last seven matches. A narrow defeat to Adelaide in round 23 did not shake the confidence of the team. Moore expressed strong belief in their abilities, noting, “As a group, we’ve played in a lot of finals together and we’ve played in a lot of big games.”
The Magpies will need to adjust to the absence of key defender Jeremy Howe, who is recovering from a groin injury. Moore acknowledged that Howe’s presence will be missed but expressed confidence in their defensive unit. “We’ve navigated that really well and finished the season as the most difficult team to score against,” he added, pointing out their achievement as the top team for points against.
Despite Howe’s injury, the return of midfielder Jordan De Goey has provided a boost to the squad. Moore highlighted De Goey’s hard work to recover from injury, noting, “He had a great game last week which sets him up really well for a massive finals series.” The captain is optimistic about De Goey’s performance in the upcoming matches.
The previous encounter with Adelaide was particularly contentious, resulting in a four-match suspension for Izak Rankine due to a homophobic slur aimed at a Collingwood player. The rivalry has intensified, with seven of the last eight meetings being decided by 10 points or fewer. “There’s been a lot of tight finishes, and when that happens, it definitely adds a bit of flavour to the games,” Moore said, acknowledging the stakes of the upcoming qualifying final.
As the Magpies prepare for this critical match, they are focused on executing their game plan and delivering their best performance. With a mixture of experience and fresh energy, Collingwood aims to reclaim its position as a formidable contender in the AFL finals.
