Collingwood's Alan Toovey (left) and Ben Reid sprint during a training session ahead of tonight's NAB Cup opener against Essendon and the Western Bulldogs. Source: Getty Images
COLLINGWOOD defender Ben Reid says the influence of Leading Teams co-founder Ray McLean has helped lift the professionalism of the players.
The club called on McLean after becoming concerned player standards had dropped from their 2010 premiership season.
Football manager Geoff Walsh's blunt criticism of the club's culture, during the trade period, made everyone sit up and take notice.
Reid said before tonight's NAB Cup opener against Essendon and the Western Bulldogs the message had been heard and acted upon.
"We want to go out and win every game possible, but at the same time we want to work on the stuff we have been doing over summer and implement that," he said.
"We will try to turn that into good form.
"We have had Leading Teams in and it's been really good.
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"More so it's just every player taking new responsibility and taking hold of some sort of leadership, whether you are in your first year or your 10th year, and just about being that ultimate professional and getting the best out of yourself and your teammates.
"That's all it is, just improving that 1 or 2 per cent in everything we do.
"We did finish in a preliminary final, so we still had a good year, but at the same time we can't sit still these days.
"We have definitely tried to improve our game over summer in every single session we have had."
Walsh's demand was based on the little things that added up to make Collingwood such a masterful unit.
"What I do know is our discipline, our attitude, if that's linked to culture it is something we would feel needs to improve," Walsh said in October.
"Are we going to be a flash in the pan, or do we dig in and give some sort of credence to the talent on the list by virtue of performance? We are hell-bent on returning this team to a premiership."
Part of that change is tinkering with the style of play, although coach Nathan Buckley yesterday denied there had been a major tactical overhaul.
"It's not massive, I wouldn't say," Reid said.
"We have tinkered with things, but the way the game is going with the press, you have to get the ball moving quickly or you get stuck and held up in your back half.
"Each team is trying to get the ball moving to keep it in your forward half and trap it in there."
Reid played on his brother Sam briefly in the losing preliminary final against Sydney, and the key forward went on to help the Swans win the flag.
"I went to the Grand Final and sat with Mum and Dad and Heater (Heath Shaw) and the Shaw family," Reid said.
"It was a good day and I was happy for Sam to get a medal around his neck.
"I went away with him for about a month at the end of the season, to Mexico and LA for a couple of days and then Sydney, but we didn't talk too much about footy."
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