COLLINGWOOD put in a shocker on Saturday against St Kilda.

Statistically the Magpies were obliterated with the differentials in uncontested possessions (-114) and uncontested marks (-55) the worst since the Hawks defeated Collingwood in a dead rubber in round 23, 2014 on their way to back-to-back flags.

The Magpies had two tackles inside their forward 50, their worst figure since round 10, 2014.

The last time the Magpies' pressure factor (a figure derived from a Champion Data measurement of pressure applied) dipped below the number it recorded on Saturday was in the end-of-season downer in 2014 against the Hawks.

St Kilda had 93 more disposals and laid eight more tackles.

Given such measures provide an indication of the Magpies' work rate, you could not provide much worse numbers.

And in an indication of the team's ordinary ball use they conceded 82 points via turnover when the competition average in 2016 is 55.6 points per game.

Not that they had the ball as often as they wanted it. The Magpies have had 90 fewer disposals than their opposition in their two losses and 47 fewer in their miracle win.

Nathan Buckley laid this reality bare post-game when he bemoaned the lack of pressure and spread in comparison to the opposition who exploited the Magpies lack of effort by spreading quicker at clearances and stretching the ground with ease when wanting to move the ball from defence.

It's hard to remember a worse performance from the Magpies in recent times and Collingwood would have put some tough questions to its players during the weekly review to examine why their effort and skill execution were so poor.

From the cheap seats, it appeared the Magpies lacked on-field leaders during the game who could organise teammates so they had a structure that could defend when the opposition won the ball.

It's been a shocking start to 2016 for the Magpies. Picture: AFL Media

Even Buckley conceded that point when he admitted they discussed in the box whether Scott Pendlebury should move into the middle to give the collection of players at the stoppage some guidance and leadership.

Magpies' defender Tyson Goldsack said on Monday that he wouldn't mind 18 Pendleburys on the field.

It was a joke but Goldsack highlighted Collingwood's struggles were: "Getting the right people on the park and getting them to play to our systems".

Two of its five-man leadership group, Steele Sidebottom and Brent Macaffer, were not playing, one through suspension, one omission.

They were also missing Travis Varcoe, who applies pressure and links up play, Jamie Elliott and Dane Swan and fielded the third least experienced team on Saturday in front of only Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions in terms of games played.

Alan Toovey was also running around in the VFL when his ability to lock-down on an opponent was needed.

That's not an excuse - and selection played some role in that - but it provides some context for the performance and the fact the Magpies could do nothing to limit the space St Kilda found during the third quarter.

With the inclusion of James Aish, Adam Treloar, Levi Greenwood, Jordan De Goey, Jack Crisp, Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe in recent years, there was a lot of hype about Collingwood in the pre-season. Perhaps fans – and possibly the club too - became too excited too quickly about the impact the youngsters and most recent arrivals could have.

That's what happens when you play for the self-proclaimed biggest show in town.

De Goey and Moore are in just their second season while Treloar, Aish and Howe have only played six games for the Magpies combined.

Only Treloar has lived up to the promise so far.

Greenwood and Crisp are hard competitors and should be offering more but they have been down in the early rounds and turned the ball over more often than is acceptable.

Travis Cloke battled hard but experimenting with him in the ruck looks desperate.

He is less critical now up forward but he still wreaks his most damage close to goal.

The Magpies has the list to perform better but it needs to find the on-field leaders to organise the troops.

If this is the low point Collingwood can turn things around.

But it needs to start righting the ship they built together on Sunday against Melbourne.

Otherwise the Magpie roar is going to get louder and no-one wearing black and white polos will like its sound.