Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley is optimistic that his side can bounce back from its 0-2 start to the season despite a growing injury list.
With Ben Reid and Mason Cox set to return to the senior side and Jamie Elliott and Jordan De Goey through the VFL, the Magpies coach affirms that there are โblue skies on the horizonโ.
Collingwoodโs undermanned forward line has looked dysfunctional in the first two rounds of this season, managing scores of 67 and 79.
The Pies play their old enemy Carlton this Friday night in a do or die blockbuster where the loser will drop to a dreary 0-3.
Alex Fasolo is in the mix to return against the Blues, while Daniel Wells is still one or two weeks away from a senior call-up.
Being winless after three rounds would be a disastrous start for Collingwood, who only recently extended Buckleyโs contract until the end of the 2019 season.
โI understand the focus on that but itโs early April so there is a long season to go ahead and we are not looking beyond Friday night and the task we are faced with which is bringing our brand of footy against an opposition which wants to win as well,โโ Buckley told reporters at the Holden Centre on Wednesday.
โWe want to see more of our brand and thatโs our real challenge, we canโt do more about the other stuff.โ
Buckley was confident De Goey can bounce back and have a real impact for the Pies this season.
โHe has adhered to the program set in place. His in-Holden Centre decisions have been really good the whole pre-season,โ he said.
โThe focus on him was to be more diligent and professional with some of his preparation on his way here and his way home.
โSo from all reports that has been really positive. He has trained really well with intensity.
โHe can see the impact he can have on the football club if he brings his best and actions will do the talking more than words.โ
