Collingwood could consider reopening their doors for former Port Adelaide tall Brynn Teakle next week as the reigning premiers potentially enter the second half of their flag defence without substantial ruck depth.
The Magpies are already without third-string option Aiden Begg (knee) for the season, while Oscar Steene (toe) is at least eight weeks away from returning and is yet to feature at AFL level during his time in black and white.
Coach Craig McRae will be down to just one recognised ruckman at selection for next week at least, with Mason Cox entering concussion protocols and potentially facing a longer stint out of action due to a knee injury also sustained in the draw to Fremantle on Friday.
While Darcy Cameron has proven in the past he can take on the entire workload, one more setback to McRae's ruck stocks would leave the Magpies relying on either Nathan Kreuger or Billy Frampton to lead from the middle in a home stretch that includes two matches against Max Gawn and Melbourne.
Collingwood flirted with adding the aforementioned Teakle to their list over the pre-season, with the ex-Power tall one of six train-on players at Olympic Park during the Supplemental Selection Period.
The 25-year-old narrowly missed out on one of the three vacant list spots in McRae's squad, the Magpies going in favour of Jack Bytel, Lachie Sullivan and Josh Eyre.
With Begg able to be moved to the club's inactive list, Collingwood have up to two selections for next Wednesday's talent intake and would be considering bolstering their ruck depth with experienced options who could come into the senior side if required.
Having trained with the side over summer, there may be no better option than Teakle, who has since returned to East Fremantle to be a dominant force in the WAFL to start the season.
The Sharks star is averagingย 16.3 disposals, 36.5 hitouts and almost a goal per game from six matches this year and earned a spot in the WAFL's representative side for last week's State Game against the SANFL, where he hadย 20 disposals, 16 hitouts and five marks in the loss.
Teakle is arguably the leading ruck option among this year's Mid-Season Draft crop who has experience in the top flight, with Collingwood unlikely to be the only potential suitor for the Northampton product.
Richmond could consider the six-gamer given the recent loss of Sam Naismith to an ACL injury, while Adelaide, Carlton, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs may also be keen on drafting a ruckman on Wednesday.
VIEW: CURRENT AFL MID-SEASON DRAFT ORDER
Long-term prospects for AFL clubs to consider are Geelong Falcons talent Joe Pike, Northern Bullants ruck-forward Will Elliott and Western Jets teenager Lucas Impey, with all three likely to be viewed as project additions and not AFL-ready options.
Collingwood's first of two selections could fall as early as Pick 11 - depending on the remaining results of Round 11 - while their second pick will be one of the last in the second round of selections - approximately Pick 22 overall.
The Magpies may also look to add to their key defensive stocks in the wake of Nathan Murphy's retirement, with Peel Thunder's Jacob Blight and West Adelaide's Will Patton potentially on their radar.
The club's VFL program could lose key forward Jack Hutchinson and midfielder Ned Long to AFL lists at the Mid-Season Draft following strong openings to their first season with the Magpies in 2024.
