After a luckless two seasons so far for Collingwood, key forward Dan McStay could be a central part of the Magpies' plans to return to premiership contention.
An ACL injury to McStay in between his two campaigns back in Victoria has kept Magpies fans from seeing the full extent of the top recruit who arrived at Olympic Park at the end of 2022 on a lucrative long-term deal.
McStay hasn't been a large contributor in the goalkickers column across his 180 career games, recording 166 majors in his time with the Lions and Magpies.
However, his efforts in the black and white have netted a better return, with McStay booting 20 goals in his first year with Collingwood - totalling 14 games - before adding a further eight goals in his five appearances after returning from his extended layoff.
He managed a goal in each of those five matches - leading the goalkicking in two - in an attacking ensemble that often saw him positioned as the sole recognised full-time forward, with any assistance coming from rotating rucks Darcy Cameron and Mason Cox.
In that same run the Magpies booted 58 goals, with just 15 coming from key position options - a third of which was made up by McStay.
The Magpies didn't get a look at their preferred forward pairing of McStay and five-time club leading goalkicker Brody Mihocek in 2024, with the latter's campaign over by Round 17 due to a ruptured pectoral tendon.
The duo combined for 43 goals in the 13 games they played together in the club's run to the 2023 premiership, with an MCL sprain unfortunately from the one-point preliminary final win over GWS ruling McStay out of the eventual flag-clinching performance over his former side.
With Collingwood hoping to rebound from their disappointing 2024 campaign and return to the summit this season, McStay could play an integral role in doing so as the Magpies hope to uncover their first 50-goal forward since Travis Cloke a dozen years ago.
Mihocek has been an astute addition since Cloke departed, but the 31-year-old - who mightn't be considered a key forward at 192cm - will hope his prospects of a sixth goalkicking gong at the Magpies can be rivalled this year.
McStay would need to have a career-best season to do just that, with his highest single-season goal haul coming in at just 28 majors back in 2021 with the Lions.
While Collingwood have contended - and even gone the distance - with a heavy reliance on their brigade of small forwards, McStay's rise to spearhead status and a 40+ goal forward be what separates the Magpies from having a good season and a great one.
The same output from the likes of Bobby Hill, Beau McCreery, Lachie Schultz and Jamie Elliott in 2025 will help have the Magpies in the finals window, but it will be the output from McStay and Mihocek that helps them take the next step.
A more potent front third would also ease the pressure on an underwhelming defence that conceded the sixth most points in 2024, with the search for a viable Nathan Murphy replacement still ongoing.
While that endeavour continues, the Magpies were able to bolster their midfield over the off-season with the acquisitions of Daniel Houston and Harry Perryman, who will offer a defensive edge in the middle of the field.
The club's third experienced addition came in the form of delisted free agent Tim Membrey, who could be the needed puzzle piece to form a compelling three-pronged attack alongside McStay and Mihocek.
Membrey has kicked 30 or more goals in his past seven full seasons - excluding the COVID-impacted 2020 campaign - and could put up similar numbers in 2025 as a third target in Craig McRae's offence.
The Magpies will get their first look at what could be considered a 'new-look' forward third in their trio of talls next month when they take on both Gold Coast and Brisbane in Queensland as part of a three-club match simulation session prior to their Community Series clash with Richmond in late February.
Their first test of 2025 will come against GWS in Opening Round, with the Giants possessing one of the more rock-solid rearguards in the competition.
