AFL

Inefficient Pies want to be 'fun to watch': ruck star

Apr 13, 2026

magp — Collingwood are seeking ways to improve their misfiring attack after the loss to Fremantle. -AAP Image

Collingwood are intent on entertaining as they search for ways to improve their connection and efficiency in attack, ruckman Darcy Cameron says.

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The Magpies have gone 14 games without kicking a triple-figure score, and have averaged just 69.6 points in five outings this season.

Only winless Richmond (59.4) have scored fewer points across the opening six rounds of 2026.

The Pies rank first for points conceded but their front-half issues were laid bare in a six-point loss to Fremantle last round, when they managed just five goals from 61 forward entries.

"We're doing a really good job of holding teams to a low score, which is really important for us, and our defence is really stacking up, but obviously we want to find better ways to score," Cameron said on Monday.

"We want to be fun to watch and fun to play, so we'll keep working towards that and hopefully we can see that soon."

Cameron said Collingwood's midfield group had taken its share of the blame for poor connection with their forwards, which proved particularly costly against Fremantle in wet and wild conditions.

The narrow defeat left the Magpies carrying a 2-3 record ahead of their clash with under-fire rivals Carlton (1-4) at the MCG on Thursday night.

"We just need to create more opportunities to link up with our forwards," Cameron said.

"They're working really hard as a forward group to find ways around that, but as mids we probably missed a few opportunities in the first half to lower our eyes.

"Freo flood a lot of numbers back and we probably played into their hands at times (last week), but we'll go back and look at the vision and see what we can do."

Collingwood take on Carlton in their long-standing annual charity match in support of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation.

The Magpies have dominated the head-to-head record against their old foes in recent times, winning the last four meetings and seven of eight since 2022.

Looking further back, Collingwood have had 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."