The Collingwood Magpies are heading into 2019 with a largely healthy list, no off-field drama, a happy coach and a united playing group.

The Pies fell agonisingly short of a Premiership last year - something they'll be striving to atone for this year - but the fact that they even got to that last day in September was a testament to a refreshed Nathan Buckley and a squad that gave their all despite constant setbacks.

On top of that, SEN Breakfast's Garry Lyon tipped them to win the flag just this morning.

A stable pre-season and a renewed vigour for the contest should see the Magpies contesting for finals again - and all of those injury holes appear to have been filled.

Except one ... potentially.

It's fair to say that the Pies would not have even been in the eight last year without Brodie Grundy, their star ruckman and co-Best-and-Fairest winner for 2018. The big-man dominated the contest, winning hitouts, contested possessions and marking around the ground. His incredible goal out of the ruck towards the end of their prelim final against Richmond was a glorious cap to his season, and he can hold his head high after the Grand Final loss.

It's concerning, then, to hear that he has been on restricted training in 2019 due to a minor toe injury. Not because it should hamper his performance at all, but because it highlights that fact that there's simply no back-up for the All-Australian.

Take a look at Collingwood's list: Mason Cox has the height, but proved crucial to Collingwood's forward structure last year - throwing him into the ruck on a permanent basis would throw the Pies into disarray. Youngster Sam McLarty was delisted at the end of last year (and has since been picked up by Williamstown in the VFL), and rookie Max Lynch is unproven at AFL level.

Jordan Roughead was a fantastic pick-up for the Magpies in the trade period, with the flexible tall able to play ruck, back and forward - but the Pies have demonstrated a need for Roughie in defense.

Should Grundy go down for more than a week or two, the ruck would certainly loom as a vulnerability. Collinwood supporters should be throwing up a prayer for big South Australian to stay on the park in season 2019.