With a grand final appearance in 2018, a preliminary final last year and the 2020 season sitting precariously, Collingwood's premiership window looks to be creeping closer to the padlock.
Their list is not getting any younger, with many of the Magpies' top end talent either in or edging toward the autumn of their careers.
Undoubtedly, the aim of professional football teams is to win silverware and goals must be kicked to do so.
Collingwood's tall forward stocks are headlined by Mason Cox, a man recently foreign to the code, Brody Mihocek, a mature-aged recruit originally selected as an intercept defender, and Darcy Cameron, the former Swan more recognised as a ruckman.
The attacking mosquito fleet of Stephenson, De Goey, Elliot and the like have served the Pies often and admirably in the past, but their output on the scoreboard this season doesn't make for pretty reading.
If Collingwood are serious about adding to their premiership tally with this list, then it is time they bite the bullet and get the cheque book out for a tall forward.
Whether a realistic option or Pie in the sky, here are the names that should be on the Woodsmen's shopping list.
Though before you begin dreaming Collingwood fans, this is contingent on your club making room in their salary cap, meaning some of your favourites may be out the door.
Do you agree with our 10?
10. Cam McCarthy
With Thursday's news that Cam McCarthy has walked out on Fremantle after not being offered a contract for next season, the Magpies are primed to swoop.
However, if the Pies were to take the punt on McCarthy, it wouldn't come without a buyer beware warning.
The temperamental forward played only 49 games in purple since his dramatic exit from the Giants at the end of 2015.
A proneness to injury along with potential homesickness issues are a thorn in the side, but with a career average of almost a goal and a half a game, McCarthy is no stranger to the big sticks.
Should the Pies be able to coax McCarthy away from Perth, he would no doubt be aware that he is on his final strike.
