QUESTION marks over Dale Thomas's ability toreturn to full fitness for Collingwood led to the 26-year-old's departure toCarlton in the free agency period, coach Nathan Buckley says.
Buckley said the Magpies had an offer in front of the premiership midfielder for four months during 2013 but Thomas wanted to keep his options open.When Carlton's offer to Thomas became clear, the Magpies made a pragmatic decision not to match it.
"He really struggled with his body over the last two years and I wish him all the best, but we think there were enough question marks about it to allocate that many resources and funds from a salary cap perspective to those questions," Buckley said.
"I hope that [Daisy] gets over his ankle issues and that he is able to return to full fitness and I wish him all the best in that regard."
Speaking at the Westpac Centre as the club unveiled three of its four recruits – Taylor Adams, Jesse White and Patrick Karnezis – Buckley said there was nothing personal in the decision to trade Heath Shaw to Greater Western Sydney.
Shaw had two years remaining on his contract but the club and player made a mutual decision to part company at the end of the season.
"The issues were fairly clear, the situation was fairly clear. You'd like for things to go on forever but they don't," Buckley said.
He had no doubt that the 2014 team would be an improvement on the 2013 version, when the Magpies finished eighth and in the coach's words, underperformed.
Buckley said Adams was a tough ball winner with strong leadership potential, earmarked White to play the forward-relief rucking role and that Karnezis had the potential to become a very handy third forward who could push into the midfield.
"We have enough talent. It's just a matter of building the team to play winning footy and we weren't able to do that next year.
"We are rapt to have these three with the opportunity to come into this organisation and make a difference with their actions, their efforts and their hard work."
Only Leon Davis is gone from the top five placegetters in the past three Copeland Trophy awards and the club will have had five picks within the top 20 in the last two seasons after next Thursday's NAB AFL Draft on the Gold Coast.
"Our strategy as a club is to continue to renew, and find ways of being better on-field. It's pretty simple," Buckley said.
Collingwood has decided not to undertake altitude training this year and Buckley said a decision on who would captain the club would be made around February.
