This is bad time for a Collingwood player to be forced out of the AFL side.
They're a game and a half clear at the top of the ladder, boast a rock-solid game style, and Charlie West will make his senior debut on Saturday against West Coast to further boost their depth of talent.
Pat Lipinski was relieved to make a successful return last weekend after two weeks out because of concussion.
The midfielder kicked two goals among his 26 disposals in the win over St Kilda.
"It was a little bit frustrating, but it's just part of what happens and you can't do much about it," Lipinski said of his layoff.
"I was super-excited to play and just get back into this team. We're obviously going really well, so you don't want to miss too many games.
"You want to be out there and be part of it."
Lipinski used West as a prime example of the talent they have ready to go in the VFL. West kicked six goals, including the match-winner, against Sandringham last weekend to force his way into the senior line-up.
"That's the beauty, we have such a strong list,'' Lipinski said.
"We have a lot of great young players in the VFL who haven't even debuted yet, who are going to do great things.''
Then there are senior players Brayden Maynard and Jordan De Goey who are coming back from injury, with Billy Frampton (calf) and Beau McCreery the latest casualties. All four are premiership players.
The Magpies have a Saturday night game at Marvel Stadium for the second week in a row and will start strong favourites against the Eagles.
West Coast will give key forward Jobe Shanahan his senior debut, while Brady Hough returns.
Hough could be given the tagging job on Nick Daicos, which is a role in the headlines given the Magpie star's duel last week with St Kilda's Marcus Windhager.
Lipinski spoke of the need for himself and the other Collingwood midfielders to make sure whoever tags Daicos feels some pressure back the other way.
"It's super-important. He's obviously the best player in the league and gets tagged every week," Lipinski said.
"We know teams are going to throw it up against us.
"Every time someone went past Windhager, he felt Collingwood going at him.
"Nick handled it really well and he dominated. He won that match-up, which was nice."
Daicos capped his big night with a crucial - and stunning - goal in the last term.
"I was going nuts, the whole team was going nuts, Nick was going nuts," Lipinski said.
"It was such a big moment as well, really lifted the team."
