TYSON Goldsack has been Nathan Buckley's version of a Swiss Army Knife in recent seasons.
The Magpie utility has been deployed in defence. Up forward. On the wing. Up forward again and is now settling into a role down back.
It is in defence where Goldsack believes he plays his best football, with a potential role on Dustin Martin or Brett Deledio in the offing against Richmond on Sunday.
"Seeing the ball come in and having to defend it seems to be a lot easier for me," Goldsack told AFL.com.au.
"I wish I was naturally more offensive because they get paid the big bucks, the forwards.
"But I'll stick down back for the majority of the season if all goes well."
It was after a chat with Buckley that a permanent post in defence was decided upon for Goldsack.
Buckley made the point in a recent interview that Goldsack was fulfilling his duty with his trademark tackling pressure up forward, but that he was falling down when it came to converting his chances in front of goal.
Goldsack, who is signed up until the end of 2017, has kicked one goal this season and it came when he pushed up the ground from defence in the round five game against Carlton.
"With Goldy, while his pressure in the front half was excellent, he wasn't taking his chances as a forward," Buckley said on Melbourne radio station SEN last weekend.
"Now he's remoulded himself in recent weeks as a defender and we'll continue to look at that.
"We need blokes to be able to hit the scoreboard as well as defend in the front half and we'll keep looking for that eventuality."
Buckley has also indicated the Magpies' preferred forward setup contains three tall forwards, including the resting ruckman, to continue the club's plan of developing the partnership between Brodie Grundy and Jarrod Witts.
In his frank discussion with the coach, Goldsack agreed that hitting the scoreboard was a must for forwards.
"If you're playing as a forward you have to hit the scoreboard," Goldsack said.
"I was doing one part of my role, which was the chasing and the pressure, but not executing the other part (kicking goals)."
After Buckley questioned his players' effort in the review of Collingwood's 41-point loss to Geelong last Friday night, Goldsack said he and his teammates are planning to come out fired up from the outset against Richmond on Sunday.
"Our bread and butter is turning the ball over in the front half and scoring from that," Goldsack said.
"We didn't bring the heat early in our front half (against Geelong). We allowed scores when they went forward.
"If we can put the heat on their backline players then hopefully we can mop up and kick a winning score."
