Dual premiership Kangaroo David King has put the blowtorch on Collingwood skipper Darcy Moore and says he’s ‘concerned’ with the reigning premiers’ backline amid a 0-2 start to the season.
King on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 highlighted a series of videos showing Moore, a two-time All-Australian defender, uncharacteristically below his best form against Sydney.
The first clip shows behind-the-goals vision of the always aggressive Moore leave his direct opponent then not affect the contest up the field, causing an outnumber behind him in defensive 50 with a Swans forward free.
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Other vision shows Moore get easily beaten by Sydney players in marking contests.
King pointed out that Collingwood’s defensive group is currently ranked 17th in the AFL – down from third last season. And though “not hanging” Moore for that drop off, the North great said the “vision speaks for itself.”
“This sort of play here is the play of a 10-gamer – not the guy at the front of your footy club,” King said on Fox Footy’s AFL 360.
“That’s not Darcy Moore. I’m wondering what’s going on with Darcy. Is he injured? Has he lost confidence? How do they step forward with this?”
It comes as the Magpies have been without one of their key pillars in defence to start 2024, with premiership defender Nathan Murphy still sidelined due to concussion.
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Charlie Dean, who earned the call up to replace Murphy after overcoming a raft of injuries in his first two seasons at Collingwood, has been dropped for Thursday night’s clash with St Kilda for Billy Frampton amid several changes to McRae’s side.
King believes St Kilda’s forwards should sense an “opportunity” against the Pies’ underperforming back six.
“I can see Membrey and King sitting at home tonight saying: ‘Gee whiz. There’s a real opportunity here and we can put the skids onto the Collingwood footy club. They’re conceding marks and inside 50s, they’re losing that critical ball at centre-half back that’s getting through for easy opportunities’,” King added.
“If I’m Jack Higgins, I’m packing the fastest pair of runners I’ve got and hitting the goals quick as you can.
“There’s an opportunity tomorrow night for someone to take the game off Collingwood.
“I’m worried about what I’m seeing with Collingwood, and I was as bullish as anyone coming into the season. But their backline really concerns me.”
Source Agencies
