Important forward Dan McStay may play a crucial role in the Magpies’ aspirations to return to premiership contention after Collingwood has had a dismal two seasons thus far.
McStay’s ACL injury between his two campaigns back in Victoria has prevented Magpies supporters from witnessing the full potential of the top recruit, who signed a lucrative long-term contract at the end of 2022 and moved to Olympic Park.
With 166 majors over his tenure with the Lions and Magpies, McStay hasn’t made a significant contribution to the goalkickers column in his 180 career games.
But his efforts in the black and white have paid off, as McStay scored 20 goals in 14 games during his first season with Collingwood and another eight goals in five games after returning from a lengthy hiatus.
In an attacking lineup that frequently saw him positioned as the only recognized full-time forward, with any help coming from alternating rucks Darcy Cameron and Mason Cox, he managed to score a goal in each of those five games, leading the goalkicking in two of them.
Only 15 of the 58 goals the Magpies scored during that period were from key position possibilities, with McStay accounting for a third of those goals.
The duo combined for 43 goals in the 13 games they played together in the club’s run to the 2023 premiership, with an MCL sprain unfortunately from the one-point preliminary final win over GWS ruling McStay out of the eventual flag-clinching performance over his former side.
With Collingwood hoping to rebound from their disappointing 2024 campaign and return to the summit this season, McStay could play an integral role in doing so as the Magpies hope to uncover their first 50-goal forward since a dozen years ago.
Mihocek has been an astute addition since Cloke departed, but the 31-year-old – who mightn’t be considered a key forward at 192cm – will hope his prospects of a sixth goalkicking gong at the Magpies can be rivalled this year.
McStay would need to have a career-best season to do just that, with his highest single-season goal haul coming in at just 28 majors back in 2021 with the Lions.
While Collingwood have contended – and even gone the distance – with a heavy reliance on their brigade of small forwards, McStay’s rise to spearhead status and a 40+ goal forward be what separates the Magpies from having a good season and a great one.