Collingwood’s late-season resurgence will be put to the ultimate test against Hawthorn at the MCG on Friday night, and young gun Marley Williams says there’s no reason for them to fear or fail.
Williams was one of the Magpies’ best in their upset 29-point AFL win over Sydney on Saturday night, continuing the hot form that earned a Rising Star nomination against GWS in round 18.
The Magpies’ form has been similarly impressive since that clash, downing Essendon and the Swans in stirring fashion to mount a case for a spot in the top four.
They now tackle premiership favourites Hawthorn.
“We shouldn’t be scared,” Williams told AAP.
“They’re going to really test us and it’s going to show us where we’re at this season.
“We’re definitely getting better. We’re really improving and if we keep playing the way we want to, then we’re going to be hard to beat this season.
“…If we’re going to move the ball like we did today, against a team like Sydney, then we’re going to be hard to beat.”
Williams, who has kept his spot in the side since being promoted in round 8 against Geelong, noted the Magpies had evolved significantly in the three months since ending the Cats’ undefeated start to the season.
“The team moved the ball so much better this week than we did earlier in the season, now we’re really clean,” the half-back flanker said.
“Consistency has been a focus for us the whole year, and at the start of the season we were dropping off too easily in games.
“Against Sydney we showed we can be a strong team and play the whole four quarters.”
Magpies coach Nathan Buckley suggested he’d be more worried about form, not the prospect of a top-four spot, when his charges clash with Hawthorn.
“If you’re a betting man, mathematically we’re going to struggle to be able to break into the top four,” Buckley said.
“But more important for us right now is to be playing consistently well, heading into the end of the year.”