Brayden Sier’s absence in Collingwood’s midfield is down to team balance, according to coach Nathan Buckley.

Sier, 21, is yet to feature for the Magpies this season after enjoying a break-out year in 2018, culminating in a Grand Final appearance.

“We’re definitely looking to get the balance in our side. We need a certain amount of inside midfielders and you need the runners outside,” Buckley told SEN Breakfast.

“Brayden was clearly in our best mix towards the end of year and played some really good footy with lower game time. He was a 65 per cent midfielder and just gave us the capacity to thicken the soup.”

The young inside midfielder has been troubled by niggling injuries over the past month, but Buckley remains confident he will work through this situation and return to his best.

“He’s had an ok pre-season. He’s got some good solid work in; he’s had a few little injury concerns over the last month or so,” he added.

“What Brayden is working out, as we all discover at some stages of our career, is that it’s a tough caper.

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“You need to keep finding ways to improve, you need to keep doing that work to get the rewards and there are form fluctuations as well.

“We have no fears that he has the talent to be able to get back to where he was last year. He’ll be fine.”

Sier is out of contract with the Pies at the end of the season.

Listen to Nathan Buckley’s chat on SEN Breakfast with Garry Lyon and Tim Watson in the player below