The Magpies were no match for Sydney in a comprehensive 33-point defeat - 15.12 (102) to 10.9 (69) - at the MCG on Friday night, failing to bounce back from a 32-point loss to GWS in the opening round.

It left them 0-2 ahead of a meeting with fellow 2023 finalists St Kilda in six days' time.

"That's probably a natural thing to say but it's not how we think," McRae said post-match when quizzed about a premiership hangover.

"We have trust in the process and we try to get better every single day.

"That's been our mantra for two years and it's not going to change."

McRae knows a thing or two about backing up after a premiership, having played in Brisbane's famous hat-trick of flags under Leigh Matthews from 2001-03.

"We're not standing still here and there's a lot of time to go, which gives us great belief and comfort," McRae said.

"But the reality is there's a lot of hard work, too, in the coming days because we play again here in six days' time.

"We've got to get busy but we can't look too far ahead. Hangovers and doing this and not the same ... we're here to qualify. That's it.

"So we're in the process of qualifying and before we do any of that there's no point in talking about anything else."

Collingwood succumbed to Sydney's intense pressure and coughed up too many turnovers in the back half, which frequently led to scores.

They were headed for the heaviest defeat in third-year coach McRae's 53-game tenure until late goals trimmed the margin with the result already beyond reach.

McRae apologised to Magpies fans who turned up to witness the club's 16th premiership flag unfurled before the match, admitting the performance didn't match the celebration.

"We apologise we didn't deliver on that, but it's a long season," McRae said.

"Our system may be a bit clunky at the moment, so we've got to get to work on that.

"That's coaches and players buying into these things and we can improve these areas quickly.

"The numbers aren't horrendous but the way that we're moving the ball at the moment is hurting us."

McRae forecast personnel changes against St Kilda on Thursday night, with the Magpies facing a second successive six-day break.

Experienced midfielder Tom Mitchell will return after being managed with an ankle issue.

McRae said key forward Ash Johnson would likely be left out after kicking 0.1 from five disposals across the opening two weeks of the season.

Australian Associated Press