A FRUSTRATED Nathan Buckley has hinted at a significant rejig of his side's misfiring forward line for what looms as a season-defining Anzac Day clash against Essendon.
Marquee recruit Daniel Wells and father-son draftee Josh Daicos could come into the selection mix for the game against the Bombers, as Buckley looks to refresh his tired-looking team.
The Magpies' ineptitude up forward was underlined in a 14-point loss to St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Sunday where they kicked just seven goals from 50 inside 50 entries.
Third-year forward Darcy Moore again struggled to have an impact against the Saints and was well beaten by former Magpie Nathan Brown.
Buckley did not entirely lay the blame at Moore's feet, but it was clear he was getting fed up with his team's inability to kick a winning score.
"It's not just Darcy. None of our forwards have really looked dangerous at any stage this year," Buckley said.
"Darcy's one of and there's been a fair bit of focus on one bloke at the moment and we need to continue to find that connection and chemistry between the midfield and going in to our front half."
The Magpies have Mason Cox and potentially Lachie Keeffe as tall options to call upon if they decide on a personnel change among their key forwards.
Buckley said it was disappointing his side could not capitalise on its opportunities in front of goal.
"When you work hard to move the ball forward and you think you're doing quite a bit right and you don't get bang for buck it sets you back a little bit," Buckley said.
"Clearly we need to look at our execution going forward, the connection between our backs, our midfielders and our forwards and the balance of our offence in our game.
"We weren't going to win with that score."
The template for a Magpies victory was laid out in a defining one-point victory against Sydney last week, as they used daring ball use and strong tackling pressure (115 tackles) to overwhelm the Swans.
Collingwood was well beaten in the tackling count (55-88) on Sunday as the Saints forced Buckley's team into multiple turnovers that left the coach venting his anger in the coach's box.
"The players felt like they betrayed themselves in that regard and there's great frustration in that," Buckley said.
"We need to be a side that brings our brand of footy and tonight we lowered our colours in that regard, which we're most disappointed about."
WATCH: Nathan Buckley's full post-match media conference
Wells got through his first VFL hit-out injury free against Coburg on Saturday and will push to make his club debut against the Bombers.
The 32-year-old, signed as a free agent on a three-year deal, played 70-75 per cent game time after being hampered by persistent calf troubles.
"He's fit. We've got 10 days into Anzac Day, then five days into Geelong and six into Carlton after that," Buckley said.
"We'll manage our squad as effectively as we possibly can to be competitive across that band."
On Daicos, the son of Collingwood champion Peter, Buckley said the youngster's debut was approaching: "He had a really strong performance on the weekend … if he strings a couple of those games together then he's not far away."
Buckley acknowledged skipper Scott Pendlebury was "not as sharp as he has been in the first three rounds", but denied he was restricted by an injury complaint.
Pendlebury spent a large amount of time on the bench in the third term and played just 77 per cent game time against the Saints.
