Australian Football Hall of Famer Terry Wallace says the injury to Mason Cox will give Collingwood the chance to structure up with a prominently small forward.
Cox’s difficult season ended abruptly after suffering a season-ending eye injury in Sunday’s win over Gold Coast joining fellow key forward Ben Reid on the sidelines.
“I just think it gives Collingwood an opportunity to look at something different,” Wallace told SEN’s Bob and Andy.
“Can you imagine a forward line for Collingwood that had (Jordan) De Goey one-out at full forward, (Jamie) Elliott and (Jaidyn) Stephenson around the edges, (Brody) Mihocek as their one, (Will) Hoskin Elliott and (Josh) Thomas and throwing (Steele) Sidebottom through there as well? That’s dangerous and it’s a different look.
“All of those guys have played major roles as forwards; all of them have played one-out football.
“I think Collingwood have actually played their best footy when they’ve rotated the smaller guys through there.”
De Goey is close to a return from a hamstring injury, while Stephenson will be available come finals time once he serves his 10-game betting suspension.
Sixth-placed Collingwood go in search of back-to-back wins against struggling Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday.