If Craig McRae's demand for his charges to "act like winners" instead of slumping to the ground in defeat raised eyebrows among AFL watchers, it struck a chord with his Collingwood players.
Magpies coach McRae took issue with some of his players "acting like a loser" on the final siren of Saturday's six-point qualifying final heartbreak final, stressing their season was not yet over.
"We want to act like winners - I must admit, the siren goes and there's half a dozen of our guys lying on the ground," he said in his post-match press conference.
"For me, that's not a winner, that's acting like a loser.
"We lost the game, we're not losers. I just made that point.
"For the lifetime I'm sitting in this chair, maybe barring a grand final, if we don't win, don't lie on the ground."
Veteran Steele Sidebottom backed his coach, saying the situation reminded him of losing a qualifying final in 2018, en route to that year's grand final.
"Although we lost (on Saturday) and clearly boys were tipping in, you've got to be able to move on pretty quick," he told reporters on Monday.
"The way that you carry yourself throughout a game and the way that we've carried ourselves throughout the year, and it started from pre-season, is with our body language and everything.
"We want to stand tall and be proud and that's what winners do.
"I support what Craig said and that's the way that we go about our business around here."
Teammates John Noble and Darcy Cameron told AAP they were also on the same page as McRae.
The Magpies are sweating on Jordan De Goey's fitness ahead of facing Fremantle on Saturday.
The explosive midfielder wasn't at training on Monday after being sent for precautionary scans on his shoulder on Sunday.
"I've seen Jordy in here (at the club) today so he'll be good to go, I'm sure," Sidebottom said.
"He's huge and I think in finals games you look for those guys that have that kind of X-factor.
"You look to those guys as well when things aren't going right. Those goals in the last quarter, not everyone can do that and he makes it look so easy.
"I'm sure Jordy will be right and he'll get himself right to put another display in."
Sidebottom praised vice-captain Taylor Adams, who was at the club supporting his teammates on Monday, despite suffering a season-ending groin tear against Geelong.
