THE 45-POINT win Collingwood managed against the Brisbane Lions at the MCG on Sunday was its biggest victory this season, but coach Nathan Buckley says inaccurate goalkicking has smashed his side in the percentage column.
Collingwood has a 4-6 record after defeating the Lions and a percentage of a tick over 100.
The Magpies kicked away to post consecutive wins for the first time since round 16 last year, but the coach said his side fell back into old habits after recent improvement.
"Our percentage will sit around 100 now, after 10 games. We could be 10, 15 per cent better off, and a couple of wins better off, if we had have kicked straighter," Buckley said after the game.
"It doesn't impact the result today, but clearly when the game's a bit tighter, it can impact the result. We'll continue to work on it."
Watch Nathan Buckley's full media conference
The Magpies finished with 18.21 with forwards Jamie Elliott, Darcy Moore and Alex Fasolo the main offenders.
"(We won) the game by 5.15. If it was 15.5, it wouldn't change a great deal other than percentage and probably, it's great to fill your boots when you get your opportunities," Buckley said.
"'Billy' (Elliott) had eight shots on goal for 4.4 and probably had a couple more (shots) as well. Darcy had five shots, 'Faz' had six. Each of those guys should really have kicked four, five or six.
"In the end, the general shape of our team was positive. We controlled weight of possession inside forward-50, stabilised clearance and contested ball after quarter time and were able to control the game for the most part."
He praised his side's composure to put away a Lions outfit that lost its ninth-straight game.
"There was some maturity in the performance as well. There was a patch through the first quarter and there was a patch in the third quarter where our intensity dropped off, but we were able to right the ship pretty well," he said.
"At no stage did it look like there was any panic out on the field. That's a sign of maturity – when you know exactly what you need to do to right the ship."
Buckley expressed some disappointment with the way the Lions scored from clearances.
"We gave up three goals from stoppage inside our D50, which is high, and we gave up five scoring shots from centre bounces. We nearly gave up as much score from centre bounces as we've given up for the first nine rounds," Buckley said.
"They were outliers. There's probably a little bit in that, getting that contested-ball stuff right."
Moore had a stint on the bench in the third quarter after he hurt his right shin in a ruck contest and had ice applied but returned with a shin guard and finished the game. Buckley said the 21-year-old was fine.
Collingwood faces Fremantle next Sunday at Domain Stadium in a crunch game between two clubs in the finals race.
