Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley believes his side's trip to Sydney to face the Swans is a season-defining match, but says every game for the remainder of the season is as important.
Buckley has labelled the criticism of Collingwood's start to the season asย "premature and disproportionate", and knows the best way to silence the doubters begins with a win over last season's grand finalists on Friday night.
โEvery game is (season-defining), you canโt hide away from that. But it is early in the season,โ Buckley said.
โWeโre not looking any further ahead than Friday, but they are all season-defining, so thereโs your headline.โ
โThe focus on us at the moment is both premature and disproportionate, there are eight other sides on zero and two.
โWe canโt do much about the things we canโt control. We really have got to look after the challenges we are going to face against a grand finalist from last year ... we look forward to those opportunities.โ
Collingwood have recalled former Roo Levi Greenwood into their side for Friday's clash, after hip surgery was scheduled to keep him out for the opening month of the season.
Greenwood's recovery has come along better than expected but the same can't be said for forward Jamie Elliott, who Buckley has confirmed will play in the VFL on Saturday after overcoming an ankle injury.
Daniel Wells is still a little while away from making his first appearance in Collingwood colours, as the 32-year-old is set to make take the field in the VFL the following weekend.
