Star Hawthorn midfielder Tom Mitchell has again tormented the Magpies' midfield, collecting a record 54 disposals in a dominant display on Saturday night. While the achievement was something special, former Sydney and Melbourne coach Paul Roos has lamented it as an embarrassment on Collingwood's behalf.
โI hate being critical of other coaches, I hate being critical of match committees ... but if youโre a Collingwood supporter today, you should be filthy with your match committee," Paul Roos told Triple M on Sunday.
โHeโs got 27 (disposals) at halftime. I watched the last quarter and no one went near him. No one went anywhere near him.
โItโs an embarrassment to the Collingwood Football Club, itโs an embarrassment to their midfield group as a whole."
The former Swan had 27 touches by half-time, and nearly doubled that tally before the final siren, with no one being able to run with the Hawk.
He collected 27 contested possessions, proving to the AFL world his dominance is inside and out, and how prolific he can be in season 2018.
โHe is the best midfielder on the ground. Not saying possessions are overrated but in todayโs game of footy you can get a lot of football racking up handballs," Pendlebury told reporters post-match.
โWe sent Steele [Sidebottom] to him and Taylor Adams but heโs that good he gets the footy.
The worrying factor is that it isn't the first time Mitchell has been able to rack up a high number against the Magpies, with another 50 disposal game last year.
With a tough first seven weeks, and with either end of the ground looking extremely thin, media pressure could again surround Collingwood and Nathan Buckley if results do not come.
