A final-quarter fight-back was not enough to lift Kuwarna to a win against Collingwood on Saturday.

The visitors fell to the Magpies by 10 points in a close encounter at the MCG.

Kuwarna Senior Coach Matthew Nicks spoke to the media post-game and dissected the result.

Nicks not accepting close losses

The two clubs’ past four match-ups - before today - have been decided by less than a goal.

Saturday's game once again came down to the wire, as a goal to Captain Jordan Dawson put Kuwarna just 10 points behind with five minutes remaining.

“We have confidence in where we are at, but there’s also a reality to it - we have to be better,” Nicks said.

“To walk away from these with a 10-point loss or a one-kick differential, we’re better than that.

“Today there were some key moments which we’ll look back on and, as we do on Mondays after a game where we don’t get the outcome we’re after, we kick ourselves.

“I think we are sick of that. We know we are a good side, but we want to be a great side, like they are.”

Small moments cost Kuwarna

There were plenty of small things that didn’t go right for Kuwarna against Collingwood, leaving Nicks to lament missed opportunities.

Kuwarna finished the game kicking 10.8 - with many of the eight behinds kickable goals.

“We had a couple of costly moments in the game that when you look back on it, in a game that’s really hard to score in because of conditions, those costly errors become even more costly,” Nicks said.

“I think at one stage we were 1.7 from stoppage. If you’re able to turn that around and finish some of your work off.

“It was really important today being a low scoring game, for us to knock through our opportunities, especially when it’s 30-40m set-shots.

“We’ll continue to work on that and it’s an area where we have been reasonably strong in, just didn’t get it done today.”

Nicks on Taylor Walker’s substitution

Kuwarna veteran Taylor Walker was tactically subbed out of the match in the third quarter and replaced by Sam Berry.

The cold and wet weather made it difficult for the Kuwarna talls, with the coaching cohort opting to  inject more power into the game, according to Nicks.

“It wasn’t necessarily about Tex, it was more about what we thought we’d get around the footy,” Nicks said.

“With the conditions it was more about that we wanted to get some power into our footy and try to challenge them there.

“We did get that back on our terms a little with Berry coming in.

“I thought we had more opportunities, we just didn’t convert. In the end, Berry came on and impacted.” 

Kuwarna midfield up to the challenge

Coming up against one of the most potent midfields in the competition is no easy feat.

Collingwood’s engine room includes the likes of Josh and Nick Daicos, Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom, but Kuwarna was up for the fight.

Although the visitors did not walk away with a victory, they won the overall clearances (39-29), the centre clearances (12-9) and stoppage clearances (27-20).

Kuwarna also won the ruck battle, 40 hit-outs to 26.

“It was (a focus) for our mids, and our group. We wanted to match it with them or get it at least on an even keel,” Nicks said.

“Last week, we got destroyed in and around that particular stat and that area.

“This week again, we played (against) respectfully a really strong midfield outfit and our guys stepped up in that space.

“In the end it’s what gave us a chance, (it’s) not the area at this point that we’ll look back on and say it’s cost us the game.”

Nicks on the Skipper’s performance

Kuwarna Captain Jordan Dawson finished the match with 27 disposals, eight score involvements, eight tackles, 500 metres gained and a goal - which gave his side a chance to steal the game with five minutes remaining. 

Nicks lauded Dawson’s performance.

“He’s a professional and there’s a reason why he sits where he is with the respect he’s got from the League,” Nicks said.

“He’s a very, very good player and a good leader.

“If anyone was pushing the review and where we need to be better, it was Daws and he was asking our midfield group to step up.

“Today it was great to see him impact the game and he did what he could for the group.”

Kuwarna will next face Waalitj Marawar (West Coast) in week two of Indigenous Round at Adelaide Oval on Sunday, May 25, at 12.40pm (ACST).