The missing minutes for Nick Daicos that cost the Collingwood Magpies the game against the Adelaide Crows at the MCG

“The third quarter really shifted the momentum, right?” said McRae. “And I’ve been watching the first few rounds and the momentum is shifting pretty quickly in this game now.”

The Pies were defeated from midfield, losing 16-9, and although only two goals were scored after the stoppage, the defeat came at the cost of 11 goals scored through turnovers.

“Honestly, we put a lot of time into our center bounce business,” McRae said. “We have more work to do.”

The Crows did not apply a tag to Daicos. His 33 tackles and a game-high 790 yards were among the Pies’ best, just behind the revamped Dan Houston, but he wasn’t a game-breaker. There is no benefit in being on the wing instead of the edge of the center circle at important moments of the match.

Matthew Nicks laughed when asked how he felt when he walked into the coaches’ box after halftime to see Daicos, the most influential player on the field in the first half, change positions.

The first few games of this season have shown how much damage can be done in a short time from a cross shot.

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“The biggest change in the game right now is a little bit more speed and a little bit more agility and ability of your ballers to jump on the loose ground ball,” Nicks said. “Because of this ball rule, the ball goes further out rather than just hitting and colliding [style].

“We come out of there and we can go forward and play and then it’s difficult for the opposition to score behind the football. That’s the key to the game. I think some of the teams that are winning convincingly at the moment have a real weapon from the bounce area in the middle.”

Riley Thilthorpe did not have the expected field day against a backline that was missing Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe, but he scored three goals and became the most dangerous striker on the field.

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Billy Frampton was in charge at Thilthorpe at times, but there were also spells coached by running defender Isaac Quaynor, who gave up 21 centimeters to the Adelaide giants.

McRae is only “hopeful” Moore will be ready to face GWS on Friday week after suffering a hamstring “awareness” in training. Given his history of soft tissue injuries, it may be wise to give him more time to heal.

Despite all their battles with the ball, the Pies produced more entries inside the 50 points, but there was no lack of heat in the forward line.

Jamie Elliott did not touch the ball in the first half and had just two possessions in three quarters, but was key to their late attack with two goals. Tim Membrey was equally ineffective in the first three quarters before his shortest role in recent memory. Dan McStay didn’t do much either.

The Pies’ two key forwards, Membrey and McStay, scored only two goals in the first two rounds.

Unless they are dominant in the midfield, this will not be a forward line that will shake opposing defenses. They have racked up two 11-goal comebacks in the first two rounds, while their perceived title aspirations are for the ages.

“We can’t get much out of our keys [key forwards]it’s real, I won’t shy away from it,” McRae said.

“We have some work to do on that. I think there was a disconnect at times. In the second and fourth quarters, we scored nine of our 11 goals, and then you say no.” [connection breakdown]. What about the last quarter? How is this connection? “Pretty good, I’d say.”

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