Collingwood has refused to commit to selecting ex-Carlton ruckman Chris Bryan in this month's AFL pre-season draft, with the Magpies strongly linked with luring veteran Matthew Clarke out of retirement.

Former Adelaide ruckman Clarke, a 15-year veteran of nearly 250 AFL matches before retiring at the end of last season, has been approached by two clubs about the prospect of playing one more year.

It is understood St Kilda, desperately seeking another ruckman, is one of the clubs chasing the 33-year-old.

Collingwood is believed to be the other, though the Magpies have refused to confirm that.

The Magpies also wouldn't guarantee that Bryan, who turned down a contract offer to remain at the Blues and declared he would nominate for the pre-season draft on December 12, was their main target.

Bryan, 24, had been linked with being Collingwood's choice at the pre-season draft, but coach Mick Malthouse was giving little away.

"That's up to the recruiting staff. We've spoken about a number of players, but you can't guarantee," Malthouse said.

"Are we looking at a short-term or a long-term thing? That's one of the things we'll discuss."

The Magpies had been linked with Bryan, ex-Brisbane ruckman Clark Keating and delisted Essendon youngster Tristan Cartledge.

But Clarke, now believed to be weighing up whether to nominate for the pre-season draft, would be an intriguing prospect for both the Pies and St Kilda, which has the advantage of holding a pick before Collingwood on December 12.

Despite his age, Clarke is still rated one of the league's premier tap ruckmen.

Malthouse said any decision on who to draft would be made with the Magpies' best interests in mind and warned of the dangers of picking an older player over youth.

"I would have thought on last season's efforts, he (Clarke) looked like he was going around okay.

"But younger players improve dramatically from October to March, older players tend to get a bit stiffer and more sore.

"You have to be very, very careful about picking players who have played at other league clubs.

"If they fit the criteria of youth, they can play for six or seven years, perhaps you go that way. In a football club, you must look at the future."

The Magpies unveiled their five national draft acquisitions from last weekend, including their two top 10 picks Ben Reid and Nathan Brown.

Reid, a key position player who can play at either end, has been given departed forward Chris Tarrant's former jersey number 20.