Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley says Jaidyn Stephenson’s absence won’t change the way the Magpies go about kicking a winning AFL score.
Buckley spoke to reporters on Friday, two days after Stephenson was sensationally slapped with a 10-game ban for breaking the league’s betting rules.
The absence of the mercurial forward, winner of last year’s Rising Star award, clearly leaves Buckley with a big hole to fill inside attacking 50.
The coach wouldn’t be drawn on exactly who will take Stephenson’s place in the line-up to face the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
But regardless of who gets the call-up, the Pies’ attacking process won’t change.
“Our general shape and method of attack is not just about the players that might be in front of the ball,” Buckley said.
“I think we’ve proven over a long period of time that we stack up OK with changes in personnel.
“We consider the opponent, we consider the ground, recent form, the loads of the players but we’re still picking the best 22 to win in any given week.”
Ben Crocker, Josh Daicos, Max Lynch, Isaac Quaynor and Ben Reid were added to an extended squad that will be trimmed to the final 22 at 5pm on Friday.
Daicos has been widely tipped to come in for Stephenson after toiling away in the VFL all season.
“His attitude’s been first class and the last month or five weeks he’s put together a compelling case to play AFL footy,” Buckley said.
“He’s AFL ready, there’s no doubt about it, it’s been a really impressive block from him.
“He’s enjoying his footy … you can definitely see that coming out in the way he’s going about it.”
Jamie Elliott would have been the logical replacement for Stephenson but he is still at least a week away from resuming from a hamstring injury.