Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley says Brayden Sier's omission from the side is due to getting the team balance right.
The 21-year old played a key role in the Pies' midfield in the back half of last season, averaging 19.5 possessions and 3.9 clearances across 12 games, including a 21-disposal effort in the Grand Final.
But Sier is yet to receive a senior opportunity this season despite Collingwood's star-studded midfield failing to fire in the opening three games.
“We’re definitely looking to get the balance in our side. We need a certain amount of inside midfielders and you need the runners outside,” Buckley told SEN Breakfast.
“Brayden was clearly in our best mix towards the end of year and played some really good footy with lower game time. He was a 65 per cent midfielder and just gave us the capacity to thicken the soup.
"He’s had an okay pre-season, he’s got some solid work in. He’s had a few little injury concerns over the last month or so but I think what Brayden is working out as we all discover at some stages of our career is that it’s a tough caper. You need to keep finding ways to improve, you need to keep doing the work to get the rewards and there are form fluctuations as well.”
Buckley remained confident that Sier would get his chance at some stage.
“We’ve got no fears that he has the talent to get back to where he was last year and beyond that,” Buckley said.
“He’s just a young man.”