Collingwood coach Craig McRae has called on his entire AFL team to lift their intensity against the Western Bulldogs before pointing fingers at key defender Darcy Moore.
The Magpies were exposed down back against Richmond, with Tom Lynch kicking five first-half goals on Moore en route to a 27-point win last round.
McRae said that Moore was still fine-tuning his game under the new coaching structure while he also had to adjust to playing without Jordan Roughead, who has only managed one game this season due to injury.
But he said that Moore's Magpie teammates hadn't helped against the Tigers.
"Our pressure was the worst all year around the ball so that doesn't make Darcy's job or the job of any of our backs easy so we need to get that right," McRae said on Wednesday.
Roughead remains at least a fortnight away after finger surgery.
"Jordan Roughead not playing, that's an adjustment for him (Moore) as well," McRae said.
"He's a two-metre guy who's not there to support him."
Moore is set to face another big challenge in Aaron Naughton on Friday night at Marvel Stadium with the Bulldogs one place below Collingwood in 10th spot on the ladder.
The 22-year-old key forward is his team's main man for inside 50s with the Bulldogs targeting him twice as much as any other teammate.
"We have a couple options, but I think Darcy prepares well for guys like him," McRae said.
"It's a big challenge because he's a great player."
McRae said the training had been disrupted by illness with young gun Jack Ginnivan and forward Beau McCreery both missing.
He hoped it was the same 24-hour bug that had hit the team in the past two weeks so teenage forward Ginnivan could play.
Jamie Elliott completed his first full training session following shoulder surgery with McRae tempted to rush him back.
But he said the veteran was on track to take on Fremantle next round.
"It's his first main session so it's a massive step forward for him," McRae said of Elliott.
"Hopefully next week we will put his name up and see where that sits.
"Jamie's a great asset and we'd love to have him play but we're not going to push the boundaries on that."
