Kane Cornes was surprised by Collingwood’s selection calls for Saturday’s game versus West Coast.
With the Pies atop the ladder and the Eagles sitting 18th, Cornes believes this game provided the perfect opportunity for the Magpies to rest some of their players.
With Jamie Elliott and Steele Sidebottom the only outs with the pair both injured, Cornes said he would have rested another five key names that he feels could do with the week off.
“My first thoughts are, I'm really surprised Collingwood didn't rest a few, really surprised,” Cornes said on SEN Breakfast.
“I get that you do come under scrutiny if you do that and the risk that people say, ‘You're taking the opposition lightly’.
“But for a big trip to Perth, this is what I would have done, ‘Tom Mitchell have a rest, stay home’.
“Darcy Moore who has a history of injury and you can't predict injury but he's in good shape at the moment, ‘Stay home’.
“Scott Pendlebury doesn't need to play, does Scott Pendlebury really need to play and go to Perth and play another game?
“Nick Daicos has been bashed up a little bit recently, I would have left him at home.
“(Brody) Mihocek is the other one who I would have left at home and given some other opportunities to test the depth of the Pies.
“They'll still win, but they didn’t really end up resting anyone.
“Jamie Elliott is out but he’s sore, I’m just surprised at that.”
While Cornes disagreed with the call, Collingwood coach Craig McRae said during the week that the Magpies wouldn’t be resting any players ahead of the West Coast game.
In response to Cornes’ take, a Collingwood fan dialled in to say he’d be backing any call McRae makes with the Power great understanding that the coach has serious credits in the bank.
“You should be (backing McRae),” Cornes replied to the caller.
“He's hardly made any errors in his time, short time as Collingwood coach.
“I'm just surprised, it's a long season, it’s even longer this year.
“A couple of those key players have got a lot of miles on them.
“It's a unique situation where West Coast are a really poor side and I'm not sure they need to take the trip.
“But anyway, you'll back Craig McRae, I'll question whether they should have rested them.
“That's the opinion game that we're in.”
With Sidebottom and Elliott out, key tall Billy Frampton and debutant Harvey Harrison have been named as their replacements.
The bounce for Saturday’s game at Optus Stadium is set for 4.35 pm (AEST).