Collingwood coach Craig McRae said illness wasn’t a reason for the flat performance, despite Brayden Maynard, Nick Daicos, Taylor Adams and others dealing with the flu in the build up, a week after gastro hit a group of players ahead of the win against Gold Coast. 

"I thought it was a bigger thing last week. Last week we were coughing and spluttering coming into the game. We didn’t even speak to the players last week," McRae said on Saturday night.

"Did it help? No, but it wasn’t an excuse. Early in the week probably four or five of them didn’t get to train. In terms of where it was comparative to last week was nowhere near the same.

"I just felt they were a bit more seasoned. I said to the players, I feel we are eight rounds in and it's eight dates into a relationship, if you like. [Richmond] are more like married with three kids. It really feels like that. Our group is learning how to play together. Youth versus experience in some parts of the ground. I think we had six under 21 today."

Richmond displaced Collingwood in the top eight on Saturday afternoon by levelling the ledger at 4-4 after eight rounds.