BEN REID has given Collingwood's match committee food for thought when it comes to its preferred forward structure, after a strong return performance in the club's 39-point win over Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium on Friday night.

Reid was wayward in front of the big sticks, kicking 1.4, but he competed well and importantly moved freely in the absence of Mason Cox in his first senior match since round 10, 2018.

Whether he can hold his spot once Cox returns was a question posed to coach Nathan Buckley in his post-game press conference.

MAGPIES v POWER Full match coverage and stats

"That's exactly the opportunity that he had and I think he took it," Buckley said of Reid.

"That's the question that we'll ask ourselves and that Reidy's asked of the match committee. It's a really good problem to have.

"Right through his time since we've put him forward, he's always believed he's had the capacity to impact at senior level and his belief has been unwavering so we saw him follow through tonight."

With Cox a chance to return next week against Carlton following a minor ankle complaint, Buckley said the coaching staff would have a long hard think as to whether Reid, Cox and the mobile Brody Mihocek can all fit into the same forward line.



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The Magpies have shown this year their preferred forward structure is a two-tall, four-small forward line, which again delivered against the Power.

"We've thrown that about because Brody (Mihocek) is quite a mobile forward and we see him as a tall at the moment and we generally go in with a 2-4 forward line," Buckley said.



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"That is a prospect, it's something we might have to consider if the form warrants it."

Buckley described his side's first quarter, which saw the Magpies have 13 scoring shots and nail seven goals to the Power's none, as "exceptional".

Jaidyn Stephenson kicks the opening goal of the match! #AFLPiesPower pic.twitter.com/cPUubcx4yJ — AFL (@AFL) May 3, 2019

"That first 30 minutes was exceptional footy and you get to quarter-time and you've got nothing more to say other than, 'Geez, well done boys. That's our footy played at its best'.

"Twenty inside 50s, turning the ball over in your front half and nearly plus-20 in contested ball, we really imposed ourselves on the opposition and set the game up and set the game up when it counted."

Buckley said Darcy Moore would continue to get better as commentators start pegging him as a possible All Australian defender come the end of the year.



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"He was always going to grow in the role and he'll get better and better," Buckley said.

"He's such a strong mark, he's very quick off the mark and his groundball, especially early, was exceptional and his positioning he'll only improve as he goes along.



WATCH Nathan Buckley's full post-match media conference

"He's a very aggressive defender and I think the game's asking for that, and how you connect with your teammates is important and 'Darce' is an intelligent young fella and he communicates really well, which makes him a prototype key defender.”