It hasn't been an easy start for new Collingwood coach Sam Wright.

Two weeks into the 2024 AFLW season his Pies sit winless and 17th on the ladder.

Both losses have come against 2022, season seven, expansion sides Sydney and Hawthorn, and some concerning numbers have begun to emerge after a fortnight of football.

Personnel problems caused by a long injury list

Player availability has been an issue for the Pies, with the side forced to name two VFLW players as emergencies last week to reach the minimum 24 players required for game day.

Young midfielder Tarni White's three-match suspension for a heavy bump on Sydney's Maddy Collier in week one compounded the injury issues the club was already facing.

Important defender Lauren Butler, first missing with a calf issue, has now been struck down with a hamstring injury.

Recent recruits Kalinda Howarth (ACL), Mikayla Hyde (foot) and Annie Lee (knee) have been ruled out long-term, as has Imogen Evans (hamstring). 

Meanwhile, key defender Muireann Atkinson (concussion) and Charlotte Taylor (foot) are both under injury clouds.

As a result, Wright's ability to pick his best team has been limited.

Stars like Brittany Bonnici, Brianna Davey and Ruby Schleicher are still at his disposal, but individual players cannot carry the load.

A leaky defence conceding more points than any other

Staunch defensive footy has been Collingwood's bread and butter for several seasons, but it has conceded more points than any other side through two rounds.

They have been caught wanting when the opposition use speed in attack, and opt to move the ball in space, forcing Pies defenders into one-on-one situations.

As a result, Collingwood is conceding its highest ever goal accuracy, and goal efficiency (goals per inside 50 conceded).

• Average points against: 61.5 (highest in AFLW history)
• Average inside 50s conceded: 34.5 per game
• Average goal accuracy conceded: 50 per cent
• Average goal efficiency conceded: 27.5 per cent (highest in AFLW history)
• Average score efficiency conceded: 55.1 per cent

Where much of this damage is beginning is on turnover.

Collingwood has not been able to recover in the back half fast enough after turning the ball over in attempts to attack.

Often these turnovers occur across half back or through the midfield, and as the Pies' defenders are working high to be part of a rebounding effort, they tend to react slower than their direct opponents, and ultimately get caught out.

This has also fed into its vulnerability with opposition sides transitioning from the defensive 50 into attack with speed, taking the ball off the line, moving laterally across the ground as they attack, rather than sending the ball long down the boundary, and using space.

Missed opportunities inside forward 50

Collingwood has never been a high scoring side, often leaning on its tough defensive efforts to grind out games.

But this year its ability to convert forward 50 entries to goal has plummeted, creating problems at both ends of the ground.

Understandably, Wright is focused on developing his own imprint, one in which the Pies look to score and threaten teams with attacking runs.

But its inability to effectively kick winning scores is being exacerbated by the defensive problems.

The Pies are averaging 36.5 inside 50s through two games, more than their opposition and the most in club history.

Their inside 50s are up 8.1 up on last year's average, but their ability to convert these opportunities into scores is the concern.

Personnel issues are present here, with last season's leading goal kicker Nell Morris-Dalton inactive for the season due to a back injury, and key forward Sabrina Frederick now the side's number one ruck, but other problems are at play.

They are relying on small forwards Grace Campbell, Alana Porter, and Eliza James to do the damage on the scoreboard. Still, Imogen Barnett is largely left as the sole tall target inside 50 around whom they can work.

• Average points for: 30.5
• Average inside 50s: 36.5 (highest in club history)
• Average goal accuracy: 21.4 per cent (lowest in club history)
• Average goal efficiency: 9.6 per cent (lowest in club history)
• Average score efficiency: 39.7 per cent (lowest in club history)

Maintaining possession in its forward 50 has been a struggle for Collingwood early in the season, and it hasn't been helped by a club-low 54.7 per cent disposal efficiency over the opening fortnight.

Kicks forward aren't neatly directed, instead focused purely on gaining territory and competing from there, but often result in turnover.

And things don't get any easier, as Collingwood must now face Brisbane on the reigning premier's home deck. A well-organised, high scoring team that loves to run in space.

But, with context, poor results early in Wright's tenure are not cause for concern. Instead, it is a base from which the club can grow and, in time, push back toward finals.