COLLINGWOOD is creating a game style similar to the Western Bulldogs, according to coach Nathan Buckley.

Despite missing the finals for the third consecutive year, Buckley painted an optimistic picture at the annual members' forum at the Holden Centre on Tuesday night.

He said the Magpies had shown their capabilities post-bye when they won half of their games and lost two matches by less than a goal.

Improvements in ball use, contested ball numbers and the performance of individuals were explained to indicate the upward trajectory Buckley thought the group was on. 

"If we're looking at a side we think we play closest to is the Dogs," Buckley said. 

"We think we have elements of Hawthorn in our back-half use [of the ball] but our defensive and contested focus is probably more like the Western Bulldogs than anyone else." 

The Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn play each other in a semi-final on Friday night with Collingwood losing to both teams by less than a goal in the last three rounds.

"We developed our resilience and belief over the second half of year," Buckley said. 

Buckley made a 20-minute presentation to members before taking questions on everything from the game-plan to players' footwear and was followed by high performance manager Bill Davoren and recruiting manager Derek Hine.

The Magpies also told members:

  • Youngster Jackson Ramsay was on a trip in America with rehabilitation specialist Chris Howley as part of his recovery from an ACL
  • Jamie Elliott was expected to be in full training around Christmas after an injury Davoren described as challenging and complicated
  • They are after a small forward, a key defender and a forward
  • A sports psychologist would be appointed full-time
  • Robert Harvey would coach the backs, Scott Burns the midfield and two other line coaches would be appointed
  • The club lost 208 games through injury with 166 being due to traumatic injury
  • The club did not guarantee it would select father-son prospects Josh Daicos and Callum Brown but it was in open and honest dialogue with the players and their families
  • The Magpies had hair tested its players for illicit drugs twice during the year

Club president Eddie McGuire said the decision on Buckley's future beyond 2017 would be dictated by "where we are, how we're going and the circumstances around us".

However, he said such discussions were for another time and another place.