Collingwood has officially responded to Eddie McGuire’s strong call for change, unveiling a revamped forward line in the lead-up to the AFL finals.

The Magpies, who have been struggling to find consistency in attack, made the bold decision to bring Mason Cox into the forward mix. The towering American will line up alongside Brody Mihocek and Dan McStay, with Tim Membrey stepping aside as part of the shake-up. The move directly answers McGuire’s demand for a more unpredictable and dynamic setup, after he labelled the forward structure “vanilla.”

Collingwood’s scoring slump — averaging just 67 points per game since round 18 — had seen them slide from top spot and face the risk of missing a top-four finish. Determined to reignite their premiership charge, the club acted swiftly to inject Cox’s presence as a wildcard option.

Adding to the boost, Jeremy Howe has been cleared to return from concussion for the crucial clash against Melbourne, strengthening the Magpies’ defence. However, Norm Smith Medallist Bobby Hill remains unavailable as he continues to focus on personal matters, with coach Craig McRae stressing that Hill’s wellbeing remains the priority.

McRae said the decision to reshuffle the forward line was about breaking patterns and adding energy. “We needed something different — Mason gives us that,” the coach explained. “It’s about creating opportunities and bringing unpredictability back into our game.”

Fans have already embraced the changes, with many believing the shake-up has reignited Collingwood’s finals hopes. As September looms, the Magpies’ bold selection call could prove to be the turning point in their push for back-to-back glory.