LEVI Greenwood's serious ankle injury is set to severely test Collingwood's midfield depth early in the season, but skipper Scott Pendlebury is confident a group of promising youngsters can help shoulder the load.
Greenwood will be sidelined for up to two months with a hairline fracture in his ankle, after his right leg was caught under Western Bulldog opponent Jarrad Grant in Saturday night's NAB Challenge hit-out.
Greenwood isn't the only inside midfielder the Pies must cover this year, after Dayne Beams found a new home at the Brisbane Lions and Luke Ball hung up his boots at the end of last season.
However, Pendlebury has nominated Taylor Adams, Ben Kennedy, Tim Broomhead and Jordan De Goey as the young midfielders most likely to step up.
"Whenever you lose a player like that it does hurt, but we've been through it here at this football club and a guy named Dayne Beams jumped up and grabbed a spot when Luke Ball did his knee (in 2012), and turned himself into one of the best midfielders in the competition," Pendlebury said at AFL captains' day on Wednesday.
"Now that challenge goes onto the next batch of young guys, who, are, as cruel as it sounds, waiting for their opportunity and now they get it.
"Whether that's Kennedy, Broomhead, Taylor Adams, De Goey; the opportunity is going to be there for them and I'm confident one of those boys will grab that spot."
Pendlebury also backed rookie forward Corey Gault to continue pressing his case to be elevated to the senior list, after he impressed through the NAB Challenge.
Gault, 199cm, kicked three goals in three pre-season games but the 22-year-old caught the eye with his competitiveness and ability to take a clean grab.
"(Before the NAB Challenge) I said to Dad 'keep an eye out for Corey Gault because he's a really good player'," Pendlebury said.
"It's good that people get surprised by him because we see that every day at training. He's quite a big boy, he can run really well and he's pretty hard at the footy.
"He's going well in that second ruck role as well. Good form at this time of year should put guys in line for round one."
Levi Greenwood grimaces in pain after injuring his ankle against the Bulldogs. Picture: AFL Media
The Greenwood replacements:
Taylor Adams
Height: 181cm
Weight: 84kg
Age: 21
Games: 43
Summary: Adams' hardness around the contest and his application to improve himself this pre-season have him firmly in line for a breakout year.
Ben Kennedy
Height: 175cm
Weight: 76kg
Age: 21
Games: 20
Summary: Many at Collingwood believe Kennedy is ready to cement himself in the club's best 22, where his pace and goalsense can be put to best use.
Tim Broomhead
Height: 184cm
Weight: 77kg
Age: 21
Games: 8
Summary: Having put illness and injury behind him, Broomhead is readying himself for a big 2015. The South Australian is highly regarded for his vision in heavy traffic.
Jordan De Goey
Height: 187cm
Weight: 82kg
Age: 19
Games: Nil
Summary: The club's first-round draft choice (No.5 overall) from last year never takes a backward step and generally finishes his work in front of goal. Expect plenty of senior games this season.
