Essendon great Matthew Lloyd is of the view that Collingwood should part company with a star player this trade period for the betterment of the club long-term.
The Magpies, who finished 17th in 2021, are juggling pursuits for Western Bulldogs midfield-forward Patrick Lipinski and Geelong tall Nathan Kreuger, while banking draft points to match a bid for father-son prospect Nick Daicos.
Star trio Jordan De Goey, Darcy Moore and Brayden Maynard are all eligible for free agency at the end of 2022 as they enter the final year of their contracts.
Lloyd urged the Pies to make “aggressive” list decisions this off-season and said the likes of De Goey and Moore shouldn’t be off limits.
“No one expects that much in Craig McRae’s first year. They were pretty poor this year anyway with senior players in their team … they finished second last,” Lloyd told AFL Trade Radio’s The Early Trade.
“I’d make aggressive decisions to try and do exactly what we’re suggestion Hawthorn should do.
“I’d be going the opposite way and saying to myself, ‘(Nick) Daicos comes in, we started with all these kids last year, but they’re not the cream on the cake’.
“They’re hoping they’re going to be good players and they showed a little bit at AFL level, guys like (Caleb) Poulter, (Trent) Bianco and a few other players.
“Daicos comes in, but then they’re pretty much losing pick 36, 39, 41 and 45 for those (draft) points.
“I think they need to let a star go for the future and betterment of their football.”
Collingwood blooded nine debutants this season – the most of any club.