First-year Collingwood Charlie West is putting his name forward as a selection option for Craig McRae to consider as the Magpies look to their reinforcements in the wake of Dan McStay's knee injury.
With McStay looking at up to two months on the sidelines, McRae's front third is facing another reshuffle, having been without the ex-Lion for most of last year through injury while setbacks to Brody Mihocek and Mason Cox also required the ongoing movement of attacking magnets.
McStay, Mihocek and delisted free agent Tim Membrey have combined to the needed effect in 2025, booting 28 goals between them as small forwards Jamie Elliott and Bobby Hill remain a headache for the opposition.
Ahead of Saturday's clash with Geelong, the ladder leaders will likely regain Lachie Schultz from a hamstring concern that halted his blistering start to 2025, and he could be joined by the impressive West as an inclusion.
Drafted out of South Australia as the 50th overall pick in last year's draft, West, a 194cm key forward, has been a shining light under VFL coach Andy Otten to start his maiden campaign in the black and white.
The Henley product booted two goals in his VFL debut against Sydney in March before going on to boot nine goals in his three appearances this month. That spell included a four-goal game against Coburg prior to multiple majors in contests with Brisbane and Essendon, the latter coming over the most recent weekend.
West was named as emergency for Collingwood's trip to South Australia to face the Swans for Gather Round, edging closer to an early debut while getting the chance to return to his home state.
While West will be in contention for McStay's spot, McRae could look toward veteran Mason Cox for what will be an entertaining clash against the Cats.
Cox would help the Magpies stretch Geelong's rearguard, with the Cats struggling to quell tall Blues pairing Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay in Round 7, with the trio of Cox, Mihocek and Membrey another task for Chris Scott to overcome.
Cox has played just two games at AFL level this year and just as many in the VFL, booting five goals in his pair of appearances at the state league level while also averaging 17.5 disposals.
Further support for first-string ruck option Darcy Cameron will further buoy the American's selection prospects for Round 8, with McStay often having the same role this year.
West hasn't been required in the middle this year, with the Magpies having developing pair Oscar Steene and Iliro Smit also on hand to help in the ruck at VFL level. The Woodville-West Torrens junior did pinch-hit last year in the National Championships, averaging 10 hitouts per game.
