Buckley said Swan was doing all the right things despite his indifferent start to the season, but admitted it was important to the team's fortunes that he returned to his best.

"Swanny's working hard. His intent is right, but we would clearly like more from him because he is a star of the game," Buckley said. 

Swan has averaged just 22 disposals a game in the first three rounds – well down on his average of 31.2 disposals in 2013 – and has struggled to have his normal impact. 

But Buckley said the Brownlow medallist was working in a manner that suggested a form turnaround was imminent. 

"He's a competitor. He wants to perform," Buckley said. 

The Magpies will have to make one change to their midfield for Friday night's clash with Richmond, with Taylor Adams serving a one-week suspension. 

The Magpies will wait and see whether Sam Dwyer (knee) is fit to play, while Buckley indicated that Ben Kennedy and Josh Thomas were likely inclusions if Dwyer joined Adams on the sidelines.  

Buckley said Nick Maxwell and Dayne Beams were tracking well after treatment for ankle injuries, adding that defender Nathan Brown was keen to return – just two weeks after suffering a shoulder injury – but he remained a long shot. 

The coach admitted Collingwood had toyed with the idea of playing another ruckman last Saturday night against Geelong to support Brodie Grundy. Dawson Simpson was a late inclusion for the Cats, and Geelong worked Grundy hard. 

"Brodie [Grundy] has been excellent for us," Buckley said. 

"We think 11 games throughout his career he has given us everything he has got, contest after contest."

Buckley said the Magpies would regularly ponder the question of whether or not Grundy required support, as they were happy with the form of Jarrod Witts and Quinten Lynch in the VFL.  

Grundy has developed rapidly in his short AFL career to date, but Buckley admitted the ruckman had been spoken to about some of the free kicks he has conceded. Grundy has given away eight free kicks to be third in the AFL for free kicks against. 

The coach was encouraged with Alex Fasolo's first game in defence and the gradual diminishing of the injury list with Patrick Karnezis and Paul Seedsman due to play their first games for the season soon. 

Collingwood knows the importance of the game and the challenge of beating Richmond, which has also won one of its opening three matches. 

After all, the Pies lost to the Tigers in the NAB Challenge less than two months ago. 

"Richmond's best is very good," Buckley said.