COLLINGWOOD recruit Travis Varcoe has echoed coach Nathan Buckley's belief his side could "surprise a few" next season, saying there's no limits for the Magpies in 2015.

After an active NAB AFL Trade Period, Buckley said the Pies were building towards their next successful era faster than many people thought.

It's an opinion former Geelong midfielder Varcoe shares after seeing the promising mix of youth and experience on Collingwood's list.

"We can be whatever we want to be, that's just plain and simple," he told the club's website.

"It's just the younger guys, if they can take that next step, and keep pushing us older guys to the next level – that's what makes a good team … and having the team think there's no given for the games – you've got to earn your spot.

"I think there's been good competition throughout the pre-season and I'm sure it will ramp up in the next couple of weeks."

The Pies have slipped from 16 wins in Buckley's first season in charge to 14 in 2013 and 11 last year.

But a spate of injuries, including ongoing soft-tissue problems for important big man Ben Reid, mitigated their 11th-place finish in 2014.

Buckley has also overseen a large-scale refurbishment of the list since the end of 2011.

Jamie Elliott, Brodie Grundy, Marley Williams and Tom Langdon are among the next generation now establishing themselves, while none of the Pies' four top-10 draftees from the past two years has played an AFL match yet.

And although Dayne Beams' departure leaves a hole in midfield, the Pies are set to introduce ex-Kangaroo Levi Greenwood, 190cm former Brisbane Lion Jack Crisp and Varcoe to the mix.

Greenwood finished third in North Melbourne's best and fairest after a breakout campaign last year and 21-year-old Crisp caught the eye when he averaged nearly 19 disposals in the Lions' final six games.

Varcoe is coming off a strong season for Geelong, where he won two flags and played 138 games in eight years after being taken with pick 15 in the 2005 national draft.

The 26-year-old played 23 matches last year after overcoming foot and shoulder problems and hopes he can continue to avoid the injury setbacks that plagued him at Geelong.

"Last year was the first pre-season I've ever done, so I think that held me in good stead for the year," Varcoe said.

"There's no secret to footy, you get the work in and generally you get the rewards for it.

"I'm just wanting to string the training sessions together and then the games from a personal point of view.

"And then as a team be competitive; I think we're a lot better than what a lot of people think."