COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley says struggling key forward Travis Cloke and American import Mason Cox can play in the same side as the Magpies search for a winning formula following their fourth loss of the season.
The Magpies lost to West Coast by 62 points at Domain Stadium on Sunday to slump to 2-4 in a season where so much was expected of them.
They kicked just nine goals against the Eagles but that was as much about supply as anything else given they only managed 33 inside 50s. Cox backed up a promising debut on Anzac Day with two goals against the Eagles.
Cloke was solid without being banging the door down in his second VFL match in a row on Saturday.
But Buckley said he had no problems with playing both men in the same side if they were needed in a must-win clash with Carlton next Saturday.
"Yes we would," Buckley said.
WATCH: Nathan Buckley's full post-match press conference
He said he would have to look at the vision of Cloke's performance before he could assess his chances of a recall.
"It's work rate and contest," Buckley said.
"But we'll have a look at that when we get back."
Cox took three marks and kicked 2.1 up forward against the Eagles and Buckley said he had several other opportunities.
"He's still getting his hands to another three of four that he's not clutching at the moment," Buckley said.
"But a young bloke, young to the game and still learning and for the most part, his effort's been pretty good. Even playing on this size ground is a totally different experience from playing at the 'G. He'll learn from it."
Buckley said Cox and Grundy would learn some valuable lessons from facing Nic Naitanui on Sunday.
"Brodie Grundy is still a young ruckman, Mason Cox was playing his second game," Buckley said.
"We thought they battled away. But we were never expecting to dominate around clearance, but we were hoping to square it up."
Buckley said Travis Varcoe (hamstring) was a chance to return against the Blues and he said there were some other impressive performances in the VFL that would put pressure on the incumbents.
Tom Langdon suffered an ankle injury against the Eagles and would need to be assessed this week, while Ben Sinclair copped a knock to the head but he passed a concussion test.
Five talking points: West Coast v Collingwood
Skipper Scott Pendlebury carried soreness into the game but still racked up 29 possessions. A second consecutive six-day break will test the star midfielder again this week.
"He was a bit sore during the week and it was touch and go whether we were going to play him or not," Buckley said.
"But he got through his final fitness test this morning and was cleared to play.
"My philosophy and the philosophy at the club is as soon as you pull your boots on, you're 100 per cent fit and 'Pendles' didn't let us down."
Buckley said the performance against West Coast gave a fair indication of where the Magpies are at and they need to deliver four quarters of consistent performance if they are to match it with the best sides.
