MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 6: Scott Pendlebury of the Magpies (left) congratulates Adam Treloar of the Magpies on a goal during the 2018 AFL round 03 match between the Carlton Blues and the Collingwood Magpies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 6, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)

Essendon great Matthew Lloyd has stated that he believes Collingwood's 2019 midfield has the potential to be the "best midfield the game has ever seen".

Adding former Brisbane captain Dayne Beams during last years trade period was a huge coup for Nathan Buckley's side.

"I think the two greatest midfields I've seen in my time in football has been the West Coast midfield and the Brisbane midfield that won three flags," Lloyd said on Channel 9's The Footy Show.

"This Collingwood midfield going into 2019, I think this is arguably the deepest and best midfield the game has ever seen.

"I believe that Treloar, Adams and De Goey and better than Embley, Fletcher and  Braun. I believe Grundy is a better player than Clark Keating.

"I just think the depth players, if De Goey is number seven and Phillips, not mentioned, is number eight, that's as good as I've seen." Lloyd said.

According to Champion Data, Collingwood's midfield crop sits fourth in the competition behind Melbourne, Geelong and Adelaide.

Following a narrow defeat during last year's Grand Final, the stronger engine room of the Magpies will look to go one step further in 2019, beginning the season against Geelong on Friday night at the MCG.