Collingwood is counting the cost of its loss to Greater Western Sydney, with vice-captain Taylor Adams set to be sidelined with a knee injury as coach Nathan Buckley flags changes for the Magpies.
The bullocking midfielder was a casualty of the Pies' 30-point defeat to the Giants at the MCG, limping from the field in the second half after the injury.
The club had already used its medical substitute to replace Brayden Sier, who had come down with gastro throughout the game, when Adams left the contest and the club suspects he has injured a medial ligament.
"The doc says it's significant enough, obviously to not go back out so we'll see how that settles over the next day or so," Buckley said post-game.
"They would have been handy to have there [in the second half] and Tay in particular is a player who is a leader we need out there when the whips are cracking but we'll need to find a replacement there."
The defeat leaves Buckley's side placed at one win after four rounds of the season and the coach was clearly disappointed with the Pies' "consistent contested intent" so far in 2021, saying it was a new question on the team having previously been a strength.
He indicated there would have to be a shift internally for Collingwood to dig itself out of an underwhelming start to its campaign, with Buckley citing Darcy Cameron, Finlay Macrae, Reef McInnes, Ollie Henry and Caleb Poulter as all being in selection considerations.
"You can't be 1-3 and sit on your hands. We think we've picked the best sides to get results and we haven't, so we've got to look at changes. Whether that's the way we play, whether we strip things back, the way we prepare or personnel," he said.
"There's plenty of things that will be assessed in that regard and we've got six days to turn around and get over to Perth."
The Magpies will take on West Coast at Optus Stadium – the scene of their remarkable elimination final win last year – next Friday night as they look to get a hold of their campaign.
"We're not in a hole. We need to address this right now and turn it around," he said.
