After a 0-2 start to the season, dual premiership Kangaroo David King has taken aim at Collingwood skipper Darcy Moore and expressed his “concernement” about the reigning premiers’ backline.
Fox’s King AFL 360 on Footy’s channel featured a number of clips that showed Moore—a two-time All-Australian defender—looking unexpectedly out of sorts against Sydney.
The first clip showcases Moore’s ever-aggressive behind-the-goals vision, as he outnumbers his opponent in the defensive 50 and allows a Swans forward to go free. Moore leaves his direct opponent unaffected.
Additional vision reveals Moore losing marking contests to Sydney players with ease.
King brought up the fact that Collingwood’s defence unit dropped from third place to 17th in the AFL rankings this season. Even though Moore was “not hanging” for the drop, the legendary North star claimed the “vision speaks for itself.”
On Fox Footy’s AFL 360, King stated, “This kind of play here is the play of a 10-gamer – not the guy at the front of your footy club.”
It’s not Darcy Moore at all. What’s going on with Darcy, I wonder? Is he hurt? Has his confidence soured? How can they proceed with this?
It happens at the same time as the Magpies have been without Nathan, a premiership defender, since the beginning of 2024.
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.”
