Midfielder Jack Crisp has scoffed at suggestions Collingwood are too old to challenge for the AFL premiership, adamant the Magpies' experience is their biggest strength.
Collingwood were 10 points clear on top of the ladder in June but dropped off dramatically to only just sneak into fourth place.
That led to question marks over the age profile of their personnel, especially heading into the pointy end of the season.
The Magpies have 12 players on their list aged 30 or over, including Crisp, with eight of those featuring in their most recent game - a six-point win over 14th-placed Melbourne.
"We see how often people play to a much older age bracket these days, and if you can still impact and play your role at a high level, why do you have to be too old to play football?" Crisp told AAP.
"It's just about how we connect as a system and a team. And for 75 per cent of the year, we were doing it really, really, really well.
"So write us off at your own peril, if you want.
"But this time of year, we've got, again, the most experience, so we've just got to make sure we connect well on field."
The hard-running 2023 premiership player is also confident he can find his best form as things get hot ahead of Thursday's qualifying final against the Crows at Adelaide Oval.
Crisp, 31, has played an AFL record 260 games in a row, eclipsing Jim Stynes' mark of 244 earlier this year.
The possibility of a rest, or at least reduced loads, had come up late in the season, but was ultimately ruled out.
"There was probably a couple of conversations, maybe towards the back end of the year, if I was going to be a sub or not to help out other guys," Crisp said.
"But I think the way the games have played out, and maybe a couple injuries here and there for the boys that we weren't expecting, we put that away.
"But I'm feeling fresh as a daisy, ready to attack finals - best time of year."
The Magpies will take heart from their narrow three-point loss to Adelaide on August 16.
Crows livewire Izak Rankine was later suspended for four matches for directing a homophobic slur towards a Collingwood counterpart.
Crisp didn't expect the spiteful regular-season match to affect proceedings on Thursday night.
"You'd like to think not," Crisp said.
"We're just going to go and go about our business.
"But obviously, it's a final. It's a big occasion, and it was only two weeks ago, so I'm sure the crowd's probably going to have something to say.
"But I know Adelaide is moving forward. They've got to play football. We've got to play football.
"We'll be putting our best foot forward for the high-stakes game, and we're looking forward to the challenge of going over there."
