COLLINGWOOD recruit Chris Mayne is up for the challenge of bouncing back from a disappointing 2017, according to Magpies skipper Scott Pendlebury.

The 28-year-old played just three AFL games in 2017 after crossing from Fremantle as a free agent on a lucrative four-year deal.

His performance for the year came under scrutiny ahead of the Magpies' VFL elimination final on Saturday when Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley conceded on SEN radio the club's processes weren't ideal when Mayne was signed. 

COMMENT: Mayne strain not the ex-Docker's fault

The former Docker kicked two late goals in a solid performance but the Magpies were eliminated from the VFL finals.

Pendlebury threw his support behind Mayne, telling the Jock and Journo Podcast he was confident the recruit was up for the fight to regain his spot.

"He is not the first player in the AFL to have a quiet AFL season who is looking to bounce back strong so his motivation won't be an issue at all," Pendlebury said.

"It's whether he will do the work over the off-season. I know he will and he will come back fit and he'll try to get a spot in that front six."

Pendlebury said no one at the club could question Mayne's attitude and his investment in the program. The skipper said he was confident after talking to Mayne this week that he would work hard from the moment pre-season started.

"The way he was talking he is really keen to rip into training again and get fit [and] ready to go for pre-season," Pendlebury said.

Buckley also described Mayne's attitude as "first-class" on SEN, with Magpies sources suggesting the coach had never resiled from being involved in the decision to get Mayne to the club.