COLLINGWOOD had perhaps an inkling before its shock loss to Carlton last week that it might be in a bit of strife when coach Mick Malthouse cut short the main training session of the week on the MCG — such was the flat and lethargic nature of the workout.

There were no such concerns, however, before Saturday night's game against the Kangaroos. The Magpies had looked good in the lead-up and addressed the issue of their apparent complacency against the Blues, with senior players talking to the club psychologist about their levels of desire.

Which makes Saturday night's loss all the more concerning. The Carlton game could be conveniently dismissed as one of those days. Not so this time, Collingwood was aware of the significance of a 3-2 win-loss record rather than one dipping into the negative after another loss on its home ground.

And it's the nature of the losses to the Brisbane Lions a few weeks back and North Melbourne this weekend that would have Malthouse concerned.

Against the Lions, the Magpies led by 16 points with under 10 minutes to go. On Saturday, it was 21 points with 13 minutes left. Both are games that over the past season-and-a-bit, you would have expected the Pies to close down and lock away. To have let two wins slip like that seems, dare we say it, un-Collingwood-like.

The Pies looked more efficient and perhaps a little more skilled than their opponent in this latest defeat. But the Kangaroos had their measure in the effort stakes for the vast bulk of the game. When the Roos finally got their execution right (i.e., stopped kicking points), the picture changed dramatically, and quickly.

A couple of weeks ago, this column suggested that perhaps the Pies weren't being given enough credit for the skills they possessed to go with their undeniable spirit. Is it possible they've now got a little carried away with the pretty stuff and forgotten, as St Kilda coach Ross Lyon might term it, their "meat and potatoes"?

If that's the case, they'd want to get them back on the plate pretty quickly. Collingwood will rightly start a warmish favourite against Essendon on Anzac Day. But it won't the following week against the undefeated Hawthorn. Then there's St Kilda. And in round nine, another to date undefeated opponent in Geelong.

Collingwood famously came close to upsetting the Cats in an epic preliminary final last year. To get back on track now, it needs an effort every bit as gritty; not only in the rematch in four weeks,but the few games before as well.