DARCY Moore is locked in as Collingwood's main man up forward but the Pies are yet to settle on a second tall to play alongside him in 2017.
Returning from a WADA-imposed backdated two-year suspension, the 204cm Lachie Keeffe appears to be one of the players Collingwood is considering to fill that all-important position.
The mobile big man performed strongly when given the chance up forward during the Magpies' hour of match simulation (four 15-minute quarters) at Olympic Park Oval on Wednesday.
Keeffe displayed his versatility by finding the ball up the ground and inside forward 50, efficiently finishing his work in front of goal.
Following Travis Cloke's departure to the Bulldogs, the Pies will have to use Keeffe, American Mason Cox and Jesse White as their tall options in attack alongside Moore.
Marquee recruit Daniel Wells took part in the first quarter of the makeshift practice match, which saw 18 v 18 with one team in a grey strip and the other in pink, displaying his characteristic smooth movement as he continues his comeback from a calf injury.
Wells left the track after completing his pre-planned 7km of running work, according to an on-field conversation between him and fitness boss Bill Davoren.
Former Giant Will Hoskin-Elliott covered the ground well and was involved in plenty of link-up plays, while ex-Demon Lynden Dunn played a key role in marshalling the defence.
Keeffe, who played 40 games in four seasons for the Pies, and teammate Josh Thomas tested positive for the banned drug clenbuterol during the 2015 pre-season. The pair believe the steroid was ingested when consumed illicit drugs.
The two were reinstated to Collingwood's team as rookies, although Keeffe was upgraded to the primary list late last year.
Injured defender Ben Reid, who is recovering from knee surgery late last year, continued his rehabilitation program with tough repeat running, joining Ben Crocker (hip), Sam McLarty (shoulder), Brayden Sier (back) and Tim Broomhead (shoulder) and Mitch McCarthy (foot).
The Pies are hopeful Reid will resume full training soon.
On his 21st birthday, Moore looked extremely dangerous in the two quarters of match simulation he played, while Fremantle pick-up Chris Mayne managed to slip out the back of the opposition team's zone on a few occasions.
Draftee Callum Brown, the son of Gavin, made sharp decisions with the footy and may come into contention for a debut early in the season.
Jordan De Goey won plenty of the footy in the midfield and in stints at half-back, while Adam Treloar and Scott Pendlebury were both typically prolific.
Ruckmen Brodie Grundy and Cox fought an intriguing battle as opposing big men, while defender Josh Smith put himself in good positions to win the footy.
There were no injuries to report from the hit-out and the players ended the three-hour training session with a tough repeat running session to top up their conditioning.
The Magpies open their JLT Community Series campaign with a match-up against Essendon on February 16.
Adam Treloar's anticipation and ability to stay in the play make him one of the most damaging mids in the @AFL pic.twitter.com/6vgZLbPp3M
— Ben Guthrie (@BenGuthrie_) January 25, 2017