THE cost of Collingwood’s stirring win over Fremantle will be significant, with three key players to miss games starting with the Queen’s Birthday clash with Melbourne.

Jamie Elliott, Daniel Wells and Tyson Goldsack all suffered injuries in the victory and will be sidelined in what is a setback to the Magpies after impressive and improved form over the past month.

Expensive recruit Wells has suffered what the club described as a medium-term calf injury. The former North Melbourne gun has a history of calf problems having missed the first four games of the 2017 season with a similar injury, although this strain was to the other leg.

While the Pies are optimistic Elliott’s injury is not severe, the forward will be in a boot for the next five days and then be reassessed. No timeline has yet been given.

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Elliott hurt the same ankle during the preseason and did not play the opening three matches of this year. That he has managed to boot 20 goals since in eight games is a measure of his value to Collingwood’s often dysfunctional forward line.

Goldsack fractured his scapula - the shoulder blade - and will be missing for some weeks. The club is yet to put a timetable on his return but said he would be reassessed after the bye.

The defender has been lauded for his courage in remaining on the field against the Dockers when the Magpies were running out of fit men in what has been probably Goldsack’s best season.

More positively, Levi Greenwood will be tested for a corked quad but the Magpies are hopeful he will be right to play the Demons on Queen’s Birthday. The eight-day break gives him a better chance.