‘Got no understanding’: Pies boss slammed as AFLW team hits rock bottom
Former Port Adelaide AFLW coach Lauren Arnell has stressed Collingwood’s horror season will cost them dearly, warning key players will depart in the trade period, with a grim rock bottom looming large.
The Pies failed to kick a goal for the first time in their AFLW history on Friday night, crushed 52-4 by the Power at Alberton to slump to 1-10 for the season in what was their 100th ever game.
Collingwood AFLW players reflect on the loss to Port. Getty
The loss was described during the broadcast by former Brisbane star Kate McCarthy as a “brutal reality” for the Pies.
“I don’t know if it gets much lower,” she said.
It extends a dire run under coach Sam Wright, with Collingwood winning just five games since the start of 2024.
Arnell, a pioneer of the women’s game and former Carlton captain, did not hold back on ABC Radio.
“Overall, it was not the best standard of AFLW football that we would expect to see at this point of season 11,” Arnell said.
She took aim at Wright’s defensive setup, which regularly kept two extra players behind the ball.
“If you’re Sam Wright, you’ve made some clear decisions where you want to play plus two behind the ball for a lot of the game,” she said.
“My personal belief is that if you do that in AFLW, you’re giving up (the ability to) score, and that’s what we saw again tonight.”
Arnell, who coached against the Pies at the same ground in 2024, believes heavy defensive systems hurt a league already battling criticism over low scores.
“People who forever criticise AFLW as a sport, or a league, will always point to the lack of score and short quarters,” she said.
“We have a responsibility if you’re coaching to grow the game and put on a show.”
Unrest has been simmering at Collingwood for weeks, with players reportedly frustrated by the club’s coaching, high performance and list management.
Collingwood CEO Craig Kelly recently addressed the playing group, before staunchly defending his club’s AFLW program to News Corp, saying those doubting their investment in the code were “fundamentally wrong”.
“Any of those athletes out there who you talk to, any of the coaching staff saying that we’re not doing stuff to get better and to have support around them … it’s just, you’re not in the building, so don’t say it. It’s wrong,” Kelly said.
Collingwood’s Craig Kelly with head of football Charlie Gardiner. AFL Photos via Getty Images
He also ruled out an independent review, despite Carlton, Richmond and St Kilda all going down that path in recent years.
“I don’t need external people to be sitting there doing that – we can do it ourselves,” he said.
Arnell felt Kelly’s comments exposed a disconnect between the club’s executive and its players.
“That statement just immediately tells me you have never sat down with enough of your women’s players and even asked them questions of their perspective and where they’ve come from,” she said.
“Like, you’ve got no understanding of your playing group and potentially your coaching group.”
The Pies have already lost captain Ruby Schleicher, who will reportedly sign a four-year deal with West Coast at season’s end.
Vice-captain Jordyn Allen tried to join Brisbane in the last trade period, but the club blocked the move. Allen has since called on the Pies to review their failings.
Tarni White, Brianna Davey, Sarah Rowe and Lauren Butler are also out of contract at the end of the season.
Arnell believes Collingwood will unquestionably lose more than just Schleicher in this trade period.
“I’ll guarantee you, off the back of that, there’s going to be a lot of movement in the trade period,” she said.
“We’re going to see evidence of it across the trade period coming in December.
“It will be really clear which players feel like their club’s not invested in the environment.”
Collingwood will face Essendon in the final round. Both teams have just one win for the season, with the loser set to lock in a bottom-two finish.
