Collingwood forward Jamie Elliott is confident that the club has the forward firepower to challenge teams in 2026.
The Magpies lost workhorse and five-time leading goalkicker Brody Mihocek to Melbourne in the off-season, while Mason Cox was delisted and is now at Fremantle, and Bobby Hill's return from leave remains unclear.
Dan McStay and Lachie Sullivan, meanwhile, have had their pre-seasons interrupted by injury.
Mihocek, Hill and McStay were among Collingwood's top five goal scorers in 2025, with the aforementioned quintet contributing 85 majors last year.
Their absences open up opportunity for less experienced players in attack, with recruit Jack Buller and young pair Noah Howes and Charlie West all looking promising at Collingwood's most significant match simulation of the year last Friday.
“It's pretty inexperienced at the moment with Dan (McStay) out - Tim (Membrey) and me are the main guys who have played and are more experienced," Elliott said on Thursday at the team's photo day.
“It's going to be interesting - it will be a new look forward line.
“We'll get guys, like (Jack Buller), ‘Westy' probably play, ‘Howesy' looks good and strong, Zac McCarthy who has just come in as well looks good, so it's a really exciting time and it will be something fresh and new.”
Elliott nominated Harvey Harrison as a potential option to replace Hill, who was unsighted at the club's photo day as he remains on personal leave, while also referencing Will Hayes, who got AFL exposure in 2025.
Sixteen-gamer Harrison has been rehabilitating a ruptured ACL since midway through 2024, but appears notably bigger this pre-season as he looks to build on the explosiveness that excited Pies fans two years ago.
“He came back flying,” Elliott said of Harrison.
“At the start of pre-season, he was one of the fittest blokes.
“His pre-season's been managed just because he came back so fit.
“He's looking really good so hopefully he can take the next step this year and play consistent games.
“There's guys who can step into that (small forward) role - everyone's a little bit different.
“Bobby's really dynamic, he's a skilful player, he's got a lot of x-factor so hopefully these guys coming into the team will get more opportunities with match (simulation) coming up.
“It's an exciting time because it's not a set team.”
Given the change in the Pies' front half, Elliott is again set to play an important leadership role after being part of the leadership group for the first time in 2025.
“I took a step last year in getting into the group and I had the leadership label and I feel like I've got more of a voice
“In the past I've felt like I don't want to speak too much and step on people's toes but I feel like I'm experienced enough and have enough knowledge to help these guys especially with the system of how we want to play.
“The more I can help them, the better.”
Coming off a career-best 60-goal season, Elliott signed a two-year contract extension in September, and feels well placed to back up his strong 2025 season.
The high-flyer kicked more than four goals seven times last year, with his lively start to 2025 helping the Pies win 14 of their first 16 games.
“I think for me the biggest thing is continuity - getting on the park,” Elliott said.
“(Strength and conditioning coach) Jarrod Wade's really good at individualising programs so it's more (looking at) how I manage myself throughout pre-season without getting injuries, soft tissue or impact injuries.
“I'm trying to manage my body but I want to improve so it's (about) finding a really good balance with that and hopefully I can. The big thing for me is just staying on the park.
“The body's feeling good - I'm just getting a little bit more aged, but I feel powerful still, I think that's the main thing for me is if I've got my power and my explosiveness, that's the thing I feel like is my edge over opponents, especially playing forward.”
