ANYONE with a passing interest in Collingwood understands how big a loss Jamie Elliott was to the Magpies in 2016.

After kicking at least 30 goals a year for three successive seasons, he missed all of last year due to a debilitating back injury.

Even his coach Nathan Buckley now concedes the major impact Elliott's absence had on the team's fortunes, particularly in the first half of last season.

"It did put a hole in our offence," Buckley told AFL.com.au.

"He has the potential to be a match-winner or a difference maker."

Buckley isn't one to identify the importance of individuals in a game that relies on each player fulfilling their role to ensure team success, but he can't deny the obvious. 

"There is less reliance on individuals than there has ever been but then at the same time you can't ignore the fact that individuals within the team plan [can] make or break you," Buckley said.

"Jamie is potentially one of those guys."

Elliott has been part of 43 of Buckley's 60 wins as coach and he shapes as a key figure if the Magpies are to contend for the finals.

Despite acknowledging the small forward's talent, Buckley is quick to point out that expectations surrounding Elliott in 2017 should remain tempered at this stage.

"Jamie is still a young man who hasn't played a lot of footy in the past 18 months due to the back," Buckley said. 

"But he is healthy and he is training well and is excited by the prospect of getting back on the field to continue the really strong growth that we saw for a couple of years leading into that injury."