Collingwood is currently sitting pretty 10 points clear atop the AFL ladder.
The club has passed the 14-win threshold that all but guarantees their participation in finals, which will allow them to shift their focus to fire in September, alongside ensuring they stay in the top two and get two home finals.
We've outlined some key areas the Magpies will want to get right to give themselves the best chance of winning their second flag in three seasons.
1. Manage troops
A catchcry of the Pies in 2025 has been that players have to be fit to perform, not fit to play.
Aligning with that strategy, Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom have both missed games so far this season.
Jamie Elliott looms as a possibility to have a rest on the run home, having played every game so far and kicking 41 goals in what is already a career-best season.
Jeremy Howe has played the last eight on the bounce, Tim Membrey has played the last 10 and Brody Mihocek seven, so all loom as ageing players the Pies could look to rest.
โWe're managing players through games, some players have low game time so we won't flirt with things but there'll be a deliberate plan to make sure we're right,โ McRae said following the recent clash with Carlton.
Jack Crisp is also part of the experienced brigade but has famously played 253 games in a row, so is likely to be backed to have his body right.
โWe've had conversations about (resting),โ McRae said.
โIf the body's not right to perform, let's not worry about the numbers, let's worry about performance.
โIf there was ever a grey time, we wouldn't use the record not to manage him.โ
2. Coalface consistency
Collingwood's Round 17 clash with Carlton was a big step forward in the Magpies' inside game, winning contested possession by 18 against a side which prides itself on that aspect of the game.
Even across the Pies' eight-game winning streak, they have been regularly beaten at the coalface, winning that figure in just five of their eight games.
Following the game, McRae indicated it was something the club had identified as an important area of improvement, and it came to fruition on Friday night.
โIt was a big step forward (against Carlton),โ McRae said on Wednesday.
โOur contest was slowly on the decline and we weren't that concerned about it to some degreeโฆ
โSome parts we look at and go โoh, you can have that if you grab it straight out of the ruck and kick it back to us'.
โThere's other parts of the contest we've got to get right and if you don't get it then you don't get territory.
โWe went to work on that and our aerial contest in particular was a strength of the night.โ
The return of Mitchell was of great assistance, but ensuring that they continue to get first hands on it and win the contest will be something they just need to get right on their charge to September.
An extension of that has been the Pies' contested marking, another aspect of the game that took a step forward against Carlton, with the Pies taking 22 contested marks to Carlton's seven.
3. Defending tall forwards
How an undermanned and undersized defence combats a three-pronged Gold Coast tall forward line will be an intriguing watch.
Systemically, it shapes as a potential precursor for how the Pies could approach a comparable challenge in finals against Adelaide and Geelong, who have a trio of damaging talls, and to some degree Western Bulldogs, which is spearheaded by Sam Darcy.
At times against the Crows forward trio of Riley Thilthorpe, Taylor Walker and Darcy Fogarty earlier in the season, it felt like Adelaide got on top, with those three combining for 16 marks (six contested).
Given his unbelievable form, Billy Frampton would be used if fit against the Suns, but even still, the Pies will always be undersized in defence with Brayden Maynard and Jeremy Howe used as talls.
Playing a system-based defence eases the pressure on one-on-one matchups and the ladder-leaders have done well to peel off, intercept and flood back in numbers so the size difference can't be exploited.
Regardless, it's an area opposition sides would hope to expose the Pies.
โWe're probably going to play a little bit undermanned at times with rotations but we'd like to think our system's going to catch that," McRae said of the game against Gold Coast on Wednesday.
โWhether that's extra support in the air or on the ground, our system has been pretty strong.
โWe have the best points against in the competition for a reason โ because there's not just one person.
โWe miss Billy and he trained well so we'll look forward to getting him back in the coming weeks but we'll rely heavily on system.โ
After the Gold Coast game, the Pies take on the Crows in Round 23 which will also serve as an important tune up to ensure.
4. Protect Nick
Nick Daicos is the man Collingwood is built around.
Giving him the best opportunity to dominate in the midfield will be a priority for Craig McRae and he has spoken about the importance of protecting the superstar, particularly when is being tagged.
St Kilda was the most recent team to put attention into Daicos via Marcus Windhager, and Daicos was able to shrug that off for a best on ground performance.
Perhaps more noteworthy, though, was the way many of his teammates imposed themselves physically against Windhager and the Saints to limit his attempts to nullify Daicos.
Maintaining an awareness of Daicos' treatment and attention from direct opponents is something the Pies' plethora of leaders will ensure they keep an eye on each week.
5. Prime Jordan De Goey
Unsighted since Round 8 and with just five games to his name this year, Jordan De Goey looms as Collingwood's forgotten man who could have a big influence on whether they go all the way.
The powerful midfielder-forward is currently recovering from a concussion, with an Achilles issue previously sidelining him.
He is likely to return on limited minutes via the VFL late in the season before being inserted into the AFL side.
His distinctive skillset as an explosive centre-forward who wins clearances and kicks goals would complement the class of Daicos, IQ of Pendlebury and hardness of Long beautifully.
6. Mitchell's magnet
Tom Mitchell was made to earn his spot at AFL level, playing seven VFL games before finally getting the callup.
Coach Craig McRae praised his impact following the 26-disposal performance, noting that he was working hard at the lower levels, averaging 23 disposals and eight clearances.
โI saw the middle of winter as a great time to bring Tom back because the game changes โ it's contest, clearance, all those things that Tom brings for us so we're rapt to get him back in our team,โ the coach said on Friday night.
It's a telling statement from McRae, who has referenced different phases of the season multiple times in 2025.
If the middle of winter is perfect for Mitchell, is the sunshine of September still suited enough to his in-and-under style when faster, open play becomes more prominent?
The impediment to a player of such high calibre being a lock has been the emergence of Ned Long, who similarly leans heavily on his stoppage game.
The pressure cooker environment of finals footy lends itself well to that sort of player, but rarely do teams have two bullocking inside midfielders.
Also noteworthy was that Mitchell had just 69 per cent time on ground, the fewest of any Pie excluding the two subs, highlighting the preference to use him as a stoppage player only.
It will be a big call either way, and, alongside the potential late season return of star playmaker De Goey, there could be a ripple effect to moving some players who have carried the midfield load this season to other positions, so the club will want certainty sooner rather than later.
7. Keep Quaynor humming
Craig McRae gave the halfback strong praise following Collingwood's decisive victory over Carlton.
He is averaging 14 disposals, four intercept possessions and 12 pressure acts in 2025.
โHe has big impact โ if the ball comes into his area, he marks it all the time,โ McRae said following Friday's win.
โHe's back to his 2023 form (when he) was in the All Australian squad.
โThe numbers don't tell the story but his ability to win and neutraliseโฆI'm loving โQ's form.
โHis leadership has really come along as well, his second year in the leadership group, I'm rapt with his form
Ahead of the season, Quaynor spoke about the importance of finding balance this season after his game plateaued last year, but he played a significant role in the 2023 flag, famously losing just two one-on-one contests all season.
His balance of devastating speed and daring rebound alongside his ability to lockdown the best small forwards in the game is significant given the daring way the Pies move the footy and increasing prominence of small forwards he will need to stop.
8. Maximise Houston
Two-time All Australian Dan Houston has been solid if unspectacular in his time in black and white so far.
After missing three of the Pies' first six games through suspension, the 28-year-old has built some continuity, averaging 17 disposals.
He's been quite trusty with his offerings one-on-one and in the contest, but was brought to the club regarded as one of the best kicks in the AFL.
Averaging just 278 metres gained, his lowest since his first season in the AFL, and 5.9 handball receives โ in each of his last four seasons at the Power, he had more than eight per game โ his rebounding has been below its best.
While the Power utilised him as the key playmaker to distribute from the back, the Pies reliance on Josh Daicos has somewhat stymied his ability to perform a comparable role.
The more the ball is in hands, the better it is for the Pies, who look to bite off dangerous kicks and punish teams on turnover.
"When you have someone come to your club you have this great optimism about what they're going to bring,โ McRae said following Houston's starring Round 1 performance for the Pies.
โBut when they are actually in your system, you go 'woah, he is going to make a difference'.
"Not only does he win the ball in the air, he wins it on the ground and then uses it ridiculously well. He is a rare talent, we are very happy to have him."
There's clearly complexities adapting to a new team's gamestyle, but a strong Round 1 performance against his old side demonstrated just how damaging he can be for the Pies, who will be desperate to get him to those levels for September.
