Collingwood was again made to rue small lapses in its loss to Geelong on Sunday. 

The Magpies battled manfully to record its second win of the season at GMHBA Stadium, losing just one quarter for the match.

However, that lull in the third term was enough to cost the Pies victory. It was the side’s third loss by a single-figure margin this season.

Coach Jared Rivers says that the toll of these close losses was beginning to mount on his group.

“As I said to the boys after the game, this should hurt a little bit,” Rivers said after the seven-point loss to the Cats.

“Our intent for four quarters has been so much better than the first few weeks.

“That reward for effort, at the minute we’re not getting it.

“So that should be frustrating for the players and it’s frustrating for us as coaches.”

Rivers did praise his team’s resilience and belief that it could still win until the very end, even though the efforts proved futile.

“It was always going to be hard to come from 17 points down but the boys did rally and we did dig deep a little bit in the last quarter which was pleasing,” he said.

In terms of individual performers, Rivers pinpointed two of Saturday’s AFL emergencies among the VFL team’s standouts on the weekend.

“Isaac (Quaynor) was good, he played that high back role for us which he did pretty well for the majority of the day,” Rivers said.

“Inside, Brayden Sier (26 disposals) is starting to build some momentum moving forward.”

The Pies return to action on Saturday afternoon, when they face reigning premier Box Hill at Victoria Park.