Reid, Goldsack set to boost Magpies in AFL

Jun 22, 2017 - 4:24 AM Collingwood will regain Tyson Goldsack and most likely Ben Reid as well for their major AFL test against Port Adelaide.

Coach Nathan Buckley said Jesse White and Rupert Wills are also available after recovering from injury, giving them a healthy list as the Magpies come out of the mid-season bye.

Travis Varcoe is also on the verge of returning, but Buckley remains unsure about stars Jamie Elliott and Daniel Wells.

Goldsack comes straight back into the team from a shoulder injury and Buckley said they would probably do the same with Reid (quad).

"We have more coming in than out and that's always a good sign," Buckley said of their injury list.

"Goldy has been in our best 22, he's been clearly one of our better tall defenders, so he'll come back.

"He (Reid) is likely, but it is a marginal call because we've had some guys who have performed pretty well."

The perennial question for Collingwood is also whether to play Reid, who has a bad history of soft-tissue injuries, in defence or attack.

"Whether to use Reidy forward or back is clearly a discussion point," Buckley said.

"When he's up and about, and fit, we have the option of doing both.

"We need to decide whether coming straight back in is the best thing for him in that as well.

"The idea of the swing man is a nice bit of armoury to have - it's a nice thing to have in your arsenal."

Buckley said they remain unsure about the severity of Elliott's ankle injury, but added the likelihood is he will miss their next two games.

"We clearly think we're a better side with him in it," Buckley said.

Yet another calf injury means Wells is in the midst of another period where he is trying to strengthen the muscle.

But overall, the Magpies look healthy heading into the second half of the season.

"We've tipped into what we need to and we're looking forward to attacking the second half of the year," Buckley said of their mid-season break.

"Any players (who) aren't favoured ... will probably not miss due to form.

"It will be just the balance of the side and how we think we're going to best present, which is a pretty good position to be in."

Collingwood are 13th, a game outside the top eight.

Port are fourth and boast the league's second-best percentage.

"They're at the pointy end and they're going to be a great challenge," Buckley said.

Buckley said Collingwood had been in winning positions several times so far this season.

"We need to bring that type of footy and then better it, to be able to turn those close losses into wins," he said.

"There's not a lot of margin for error."

Source: AAP