Collingwood coach Craig McRae says he is "not sure" if the club will persist with the four-pronged attack that fans saw against West Coast at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
Debutant Charlie West joined the likes of Brody Mihocek, Dan McStay and Tim Membrey in the forward line, while the absence of small forwards Bobby Hill (late out - personal reasons), Beau McCreery (hamstring) and Lachie Schultz (hamstring) also added to the uniqueness of the line-up.
McRae, albeit seeing the Round 16 clash as an "opportunity to reward behaviour", did concede that the arrangement in the front half didn't yield effective forward thrusts.
"I didn't think we connected inside 50s as well as we did last week," McRae said.
"I thought last week was elite. We had 18 marks (inside 50). We only had 13.
"We had four talls. We were trying that for the first time. Charlie West deserved an opportunity, but then we didn't want to leave Checkers out in his 150th, and Tim (Membrey) is playing well, and then Dan (McStay) is playing second ruck.
"So, we went into the game, saying it is what it is, and we got to adapt and evolve for that. I just didn't think we connected as well."
The ladder position between the two sides would've initially suggested a bloodbath in favour of the black and white, but a plucky Eagles outfit shocked onlookers as they were nearing an upset.
The cream at Collingwood rose to the occasion, holding off the visitors by 28 points, which McRae said didn't come as a surprise.
"We knew what was coming," McRae said.
"Watching their last month, you look at the work of their score against, and for last month, they hung in there.
"They've been really competitive, and we knew that was going to be the case.
"The last things I said to the boys [in the post-game debrief], we came here for four points. We didn't come here for style points."
Round 16 is the final weekend of the AFL's bye rounds, which have been stretched over five weeks.
McRae, despite admitting he doesn't have the "perfect science" behind the correct decision, says that a "genuine rest from the game", allowing a competition-wide layoff.
"Everyone gets a week off," McRae said.
"We live with what we got. Our bye was good for us, and we enjoyed it. We've come back and haven't lost since."
The Pies will take on arch rivals Carlton next Friday at the MCG in the hope of continuing their impressive form, which sees them 10 points clear at the top of the ladder.
The Collingwood coach shared that he sent former teammate and Blues mentor Michael Voss a "message of love and care" amid the wretched form of his club.
"Next week we'll be arch rivals," McRae said.
"They'll want to bounce back, and we want to give our best version of ourselves. And when the balls bounce, we'll be arch rivals. But after the game, I'll make sure I'm there for whatever he needs from me as a mate."
