THE NEXT time Alex Fasolo is selected at Collingwood, he will have earned his spot.
Magpies coach Nathan Buckley admitted on Tuesday that the Collingwood match committee had erred on two or three occasions in the past two seasons by selecting Fasolo before his form demanded inclusion.
He conceded that Fasolo would be selected only if he showed good form on a consistent basis rather than on his obvious potential.
The talented 22-year-old – who played in the VFL before the bye – will need to stitch together several weeks of good football at the lower level before being elevated to the seniors.
Fasolo played 37 games and kicked 44 goals at half-forward in his first two seasons, and was the substitute in the 2011 Grand Final.
However, he played just three games in 2013 in a season curtailed by foot surgery, and has struggled to build momentum this season, having a pin removed from his foot.
Fasolo has played just seven games in 2014, and has been tried in defence.
"What Alex needs to do is have some stability and some consistency in his preparation," Buckley said.
"That, for us, is another couple of weeks in the VFL [to] re-establish his fitness base, showing really good form there to earn his next selection."
Buckley appears to be taking the long-term view to reset Fasolo given his recent injury issues.
Fasolo signed with Collingwood for two seasons earlier this year, tying him at the club until the end of 2016.
