Collingwood’s ill-timed injuries came later this year and were of greater volume. Unlike the Tigers, they’ve uncovered little quality youth during their descent (besides Isaac Quaynor). Stephenson was joined in the stands by Darcy Moore, Tom Langdon couldn’t recover from a knee, Dayne Beams underwent hip surgery (before his mental health break) and a succession of players succumbed to hamstrings, groins and calves. This latest injury pestilence has reached the point that the Magpies will have little choice but to launch an in-depth investigation or review into their injury management regime. This latest injury pestilence has reached the point that the Magpies will have little choice but to launch an in-depth investigation or review into their injury management regime. This should happen at season’s end, which on present trends will be at least a fortnight sooner than anticipated.

Amid changes of game plan, assistant coaches and staff, player unavailability has been a constant during the majority of Nathan Buckley’s nearly eight-year tenure. Loading In 2018, the Magpies coped brilliantly with the loss of personnel, but as Scott Pendlebury said after the limp loss to Richmond, this year they’ve struggled to successfully plug players into their system. Having finally overcome their nemesis West Coast in Perth, the Magpies promptly lost four players for the following game – Moore (hamstring), Jamie Elliott (‘‘soreness’’, whatever that means), debutant John Noble (calf), while Levi Greenwood did a hamstring at training. Taylor Adams came back for the Giants, then promptly withdrew from the Richmond game with hamstring tightness or awareness; Brayden Sier, who had been dumped and was Adams’ obvious replacement if fit, had hurt his calf, too, at training.

Training, indeed, seems more hazardous for Collingwood players than game day for the intact Brisbane Lions. Collingwood’s capacity to cope with injuries last year might have masked the sobering reality that their 2018 was also injury-afflicted, although they regained and retained enough quality to be a Dom Sheed drop punt away from an improbable flag. Clubs typically say that they ‘‘review everything’’ each year as a matter of course, to downplay any prospective sackings or changes. But Collingwood would be wiser to acknowledge there’s a problem and say they’re looking for solutions. The review of the football department by football boss Geoff Walsh – in concert with acting chief executive Peter Murphy – was the basis of Collingwood’s rise to the grand final, as game plans, recruiting and coaching were examined forensically and a bearded Buckley let go of his controlling tendencies. The headstrong conditioning boss Bill Davoren had clashed with Buckley. He was removed and replaced by his underling Kevin White, but this year’s repeated soft-tissue injuries suggest something is amiss.

Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video In 2014, Collingwood’s hamstrings et al were such that they fronted their members to explain the carnage, in what was their first fan forum. Logically, there are two explanations for repeated injuries at a footy club. One is that there is an issue with the conditioning, medical or rehab programs. The other is that there’s a disproportionate number of injury-prone players. Or it’s a combination of those two. Collingwood certainly have a hefty contingent of players who’ve spent more time in Row G than on the ground. A number of these perennially injured players seem certain be culled at season’s end, when the Magpies are looking at a sizeable cleanout for a club that played in a grand final last year.

Collingwood certainly have a hefty contingent of players who’ve spent more time in Row G than on the ground. Most of the prospective departures are obvious, given they don’t play. The grounded Daniel Wells, Lynden Dunn and overlooked Tyson Goldsack will surely finish up, while Ben Reid would only be saved by a sheer lack of key position depth. Elliott, who is out of contract – having chosen a one-year deal when the Pies offered two – should be looking elsewhere after another season of frustration (hamstrings). Richmond used a rough patch of missing stars to uncover players such as Shai Bolton. Credit:AAP Travis Varcoe, 32 next year, will be lucky to hang on. Ben Crocker, a surprising late change for Adams on Friday night, shapes as another probable exit. Rupert Wills will be touch and go. Sam Murray, serving a provisional suspension for a positive game day test, can’t expect another year.

Loading That’s up to nine players who are either going or clinging on by a toenail. The troubled Beams trade, meanwhile, means they enter the national draft without a top 20 draft pick. In view of their tight salary cap and lack of a decent pick, the Magpies should also look to trade out a reasonable player or two to get back in to the draft. Injuries aren’t solely responsible for Collingwood’s slide. The absence of a quality key forward – which they combed over with mid-sized forwards Jordan De Goey, Stephenson and Will Hoskin-Elliott last year – remains an issue, as does the midfield’s lack of speed.