Collingwood vice-captain Taylor Adams says it hurts to see the growing burden of pressure placed on coach Nathan Buckley.
He was responding to speculation on Wednesday morning over the future of the coach who is desperate to steer the Pies' season back on track with the club languishing in 13th spot.
"He won't get sacked that is absolutely not going to happen," Adams told RSN radio on Wednesday.
"The way he carried himself around the footy club leading up to the game and post game was exceptional.
"He handles it so well but he is only human."
Buckley has previously said he needs to guide the Magpies into the finals for the first time since 2013 if he is to hold on to his job.
But the coach has an increasingly tough task ahead of him, with the disappointing 18-point loss to Essendon on Anzac Day giving them a 1-4 record this season.
The midfielder said the team was behind the coach "the whole way", adding "Buck can't do anything more, it is down to us players".
"We back him as a coach, we back his whole coaching group and I know the board is exactly the same," said Adams.
"The actions that are happening on game day - it has nothing to do with the game plan, it has nothing to do with the coaching staff because they are putting in a million per cent each week and doing their best to make sure we win games.
"I try not to let it affect me too much but it hurts me to know what he is going through.
"It would be nice to see some of the pressure relieved from him."
Adams, who is in his third season in the black and white stripes, said they were working well throughout the midfield and in the defensive half but struggling to connect with the forwards.
"That just deflates a team," he said.
"We certainly believe that we are good enough to match with anyone and it shows - we have only lost games by a maximum of 20 points.
"That is frustrating."
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