Collingwood caretaker coach Robert Harvey has a selection headache to work through, balancing the club’s big men.
Brodie Grundy made his return from injury this weekend, pushing the impressive Max Lynch out of the side.
Darcy Cameron has had a strong season playing as the club’s secondary ruck-forward, while Mason Cox also got a senior opportunity in the loss to Fremantle.
Grundy kicked two goals and looked strong inside 50 across the afternoon and King wonders whether the Pies could benefit from throwing him forward more often.
“I reckon we overvalue hit-outs. I reckon hit-outs are the most overrated thing in AFL footy,” King told SEN Breakfast.
“Brodie was important. Seven score involvements. If I was Rob Harvey, I would have a look at Brodie Grundy playing as a deep forward target and splitting the ruck 50-50 with Darcy Cameron.
“I think Darcy Cameron has shown so much in the last six to eight weeks that he’s going to get first opportunity ahead of Mason Cox.
“I would use Grundy and Cameron 50-50 full forward and ruck. Some of Cameron’s kicks yesterday, he bit off kicks that rucks shouldn’t bite off, but he hits them. He’s an exciting young ruckman.”
Cox meanwhile was quiet in his return, finishing with six disposals, four marks and two behinds.
Given all of the above, Sam Edmund posed the question: “Has Mason Cox maybe played his last game for Collingwood or is that too strong”?
To which King responded: “No, possibly (he has played his last game for the Pies), and that’s okay. It’s been a good partnership for both. Maybe it would be a good separation for both”.
“Cox could probably walk into half a dozen teams right now and then gets an opportunity.”
Collingwood may stick with the three ruck options next weekend, taking on St Kilda’s pairing of Rowan Marshall and Paddy Ryder.