Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has likened coach Nathan Buckley to AFL legend Kevin Sheedy, as the Pies look to grab their first win of the season on Friday night against old foes Carlton.
Both sides enter the clash with 0-2 records, with a lot of pressure sure to be heaped on the losing team come Friday.
After re-signing on a two-year deal at the end of last season, Buckley is once again feeling the heat as the Pies are seemingly a world away from their first finals berth since 2013, although McGuire believes Buckley can still turn things around pretty quickly.
โThese things can turn quickly and what we have to do and what Iโve learnt watching Kevin (Sheedy) over the years, is (donโt) be distracted, keep your eye on the ball and do whatโs important for the club,โ McGuire said at the MCG on Wednesday at the launch of the ANZAC Day game.
โI have no doubt thatโs what Nathan Buckley is doing for Collingwood.โ
Sheedy struggled at times during his illustrious 27 years at Essendon, but fought through adversity on several occasions to come out the other side a better coach.
With injuries mounting at Collingwood, McGuire did acknowledge the club have been devastated by injury this season, but implored his side to move past that, saying the Pies don't want any sympathy.
โItโs been upsetting for all of us who have had a hard run with injury,โ McGuire said.
โBut again, bad luck, thatโs the game.
โWeโll get stuck into it and no excuses and we donโt ask for sympathy here at Collingwood - we rarely get it anyway - and weโre not going to start now.โ
Collingwood face Carlton on Friday night, before facing off against Adelaide, Essendon and Richmond over the next three weeks.
