Melbourne great Gary Lyon believes Collingwood can't contend for this seasons premiership without the contribution of three of their stars.
Collingwood have been hurt by injury this year and three players have stood out as irreplaceable to Lyon.
Speaking on SEN, Lyon said that without Steele Sidebottom, Jordan De Goey and Jeremy Howe the Magpies have no chance of a premiership.
Sidebottom will likely play his last game of the season on Monday night as he heads back home for the birth of his first child.
De Goey (finger) and Jeremy Howe (knee) are still battling injuries and are unlikely to feature again until the finals should Collingwood make the eight.
Even then, Howe will be pushing it fine to make a comeback.
Tim Watson asked Lyon whether the Pies had the stocks to go all the way without three of their stars.
“I don’t think so,” Lyon said on SEN Breakfast.
“But I didn’t think Richmond would win the flag with all their injuries as well so Collingwood supporters will be hoping I get this wrong.
“I don’t think they’re playing well enough and I don’t think they look dangerous enough when they go forward.
“We will find out tonight, they’ve got both (Mason) Cox and (Darcy) Cameron playing so that will be interesting.”
Collingwood currently sit in eighth and face North Melbourne on Monday night before a matchup with Carlton in a must win game on Sunday.
