HAS COLLINGWOOD'S John Anthony changed his grip on the football when kicking for goal? Or was what was seen on Friday night against Essendon a one-off?

However Anthony holds the ball in Friday night's clash with the Western Bulldogs, Collingwood assistant coach Paul Hudson is backing his man to return to his sharp-shooting best.

Not that the 1.2 he booted against the Bombers makes for terrible reading. It’s just that when you’re firing at 70 per cent for the season – and those two misses are bread and butter – then fans start raising their eyebrows.

But Hudson, who was one of the competition's more lethal kicks during a 12-season career across three clubs, is not worried about it and neither is Anthony.

"He’s been out there today at training and having his shots," he told collingwoodfc.com.au on Tuesday.

"He tends to miss quite a few at training at times, too, but then come game day [he turns it around]."

After kicking an astonishing 25.6 in 2008, Anthony has followed that up with 33.14 this season to be one of the Magpies' big improvers and a key component of Mick Malthouse's forward structure.

Friday night's two misses from close range were unlike Anthony, but the 21-year-old’s pronounced hold of the football for the set shots seemed more surprising.

Hudson had one reason.

"What a lot of people don't know is, he got that knock (corked hip) in Sydney [in round 12] and he's been quite tight through that area," he said.

"Subconsciously he might be compensating for that and I reckon that’s what he’s done.

"We’ve had a look at it and we had a chat. I’m not too fussed; I mean he kicked 1.2."

Hudson said there had been no concerted effort to change Anthony's style and was happy to live by the old adage that 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'.

"We often experiment at training when it comes to things like that, but he’s got his routine," Hudson said.

"He knows his steps, he knows how he’s got to hold the ball and stay over it, and that’s why he’s such a good kick.

"He’s got a beautiful action, so there’s no reason to change anything."