COLLINGWOOD is the only winless team in this year' NAB AFL Women's competition, and almost certainly out of Grand Final contention.
After losses to Carlton by eight points and Fremantle and Greater Western Sydney (both by 13), the Pies are bottom of the ladder.
Worryingly, this isn't new ground – they started last year in similar fashion (0-3).
They bounced back in 2017 by winning three of their remaining four games, albeit against fellow bottom-four teams.
But can they do it again this season?
The Magpies rank second for total disposals per game.
They are second best for uncontested possessions, but second last for contested possessions.
The Pies are last for clearances and second last for inside 50s.
Heading into the season, Collingwood had no midfielders rated elite or above average in Champion Data's AFLW player rankings. The squad did, however, have eight players rated average or below, including captain Steph Chiocci.
Its early selections in the 2017 NAB AFLW Draft, in particular Chloe Molloy (a NAB AFLW Rising Star nominee in round one) and defender Iilish Ross, have settled into their AFLW careers, both playing all three games to date.
But midfield-forward Sarah Dargan (pick 20) and small midfielder Kristy Stratton (21) are yet to transition into the Pies midfield, playing only one game between them (Dargan, round one).
Despite the work of All Australian ruck Emma King, Collingwood's inability to win the ball at contests and send it forward is putting enormous pressure on its defence.
Too often, the Pies are having to start their ball movement from deep inside their defensive half. When they do gain possession, they appear hesitant to move the ball through the centre lest it come back it straight away through a turnover or a loss at a stoppage.
Instead, they've focused on maintaining possession, moving laterally before a free option up the ground presents.
This doesn't happen quickly, though.
Collingwood puts twice as much effort into its transition to gain half the distance of other teams such as Melbourne and Brisbane, who rank equal first for uncontested possession and top-two for inside 50s.
And it's not that they can't use the ball – the Magpies rank third for disposal efficiency (61.4 per cent) and switch the ball well.
But AFLW teams are yet to develop consistent ball movement from one end of the ground to the other – a stoppage or turnover is more common in transition play.
So, when the Pies do turn the ball over, the opposition remains in striking distance of goal.
This was evident against the Giants last Sunday, when they struggled to move the ball forward after a promising first quarter.
They drew even in contested possessions – an area in which the Giants excel – while winning uncontested disposals (103-95) and out-marking their opponents 43-38.
Despite the stats being relatively even across the board, Collingwood conceded 37 inside-50s, while managing to go inside its own attacking zone only 17 times.
Collingwood allowed repeat entries into their defensive 50 by choosing to maintain possession in its back half instead of gaining much-needed territory.
"We started really well," Chiocci told collingwoodfc.com.au after the loss.
"We addressed the things we wanted to address during the week … (but) unfortunately couldn't sustain it.
"We have every confidence … that we can win games of footy. It's about stringing together four quarters."
