Collingwood could welcome back key backman Jeremy Howe to face Port Adelaide next week but Ben Reid will miss the rest of the AFL season with a torn calf.
Reid's injury in the VFL was the only dampener as the Magpies climbed to fifth on the ladder with a comfortable 31-point win over Brisbane on Saturday night.
Coach Nathan Buckley confirmed the 29-year-old Reid had suffered another calf tear, just weeks after undergoing surgery on both knees.
It further diminishes the Mapies' already-depleted key-position stocks with Darcy Moore recovering from a hamstring issue and Lynden Dunn and Matt Scharenberg both ruled out for the rest of the season with knee injuries.
Significantly, the Magpies emerged unscathed at senior level after a horror injury run over the past two months.
Moore's return date remains unclear but the Magpies hope to have Howe available to face the Power next Saturday after he missed the Lions' clash with a badly-corked thigh.
"We're trying to manage that and get that down and get him back to full range so that he can be fit to play," Buckley said.
"When he's thereabouts, he'll play and we hope it's next week."
Howe has not played since being concussed in the round-19 game against Richmond but Buckley stressed that his absence was not related to the head knock.
Star forward Jordan De Goey's four goals on return from a leg injury were an obvious positive for the Pies while Brody Mihocek (three majors) and Jaidyn Stephenson (two) played strong supporting roles.
Buckley was also full of praise for Levi Greenwood, who restricted Dayne Zorko to 14 disposals in a typically relentless shutdown role.
"He was huge," Buckley said.
"Zorko had 34 (touches) and kicked four against us in round seven so that was a really important role.
"Some of his tackle efforts and pressure on the opposition, whether it was Zorko or another Brisbane Lions player, I think they really set the tone."
Buckley said Tyson Goldsack remained a chance to return this season from a ruptured ACL despite also grappling with back soreness.
The Pies also hope to have Adam Treloar available for the finals with the gun midfielder slowly recovering from a double hamstring tear.
