Nathan Buckley believes Darcy Moore can be the key defender Collingwood have been looking for after showing "exceptional" signs in his new AFL role.
A key forward during his first three seasons, the 22-year-old has trained in the backline throughout the off-season while veteran Ben Reid has spent most of his time with the forwards group.
The Magpies' lack of height down back has hurt them in recent seasons, and they missed out on two key targets when Adelaide's Mitch McGovern signed a new deal and former Crows teammate Jake Lever joined Melbourne.
With Brodie Grundy and Mason Cox set to continue in a ruck-forward combination, Moore has been earmarked for a defensive role when Collingwood launch their season against Hawthorn on Saturday March 24.
"He's probably trained about 75 per cent of the pre-season thus far and he's looked exceptional behind the ball," Buckley told SEN radio on Wednesday.
"I think it will definitely be good for Darcy's development. He's not a shrinking violet. He wants to be in the action.
"I personally have a belief that you really need to build from the back, and it's going to be important for us to be able to win one-on-ones both aerially and in the ground in our back half to support our defensive structures.
"Darcy will be important in that."
Moore is one of several Magpies to have had a disrupted pre-season with Jamie Elliott (ankle), Alex Fasolo (shoulder) and Levi Greenwood (knee) all ahead of schedule in their recovery from surgeries.
Buckley's future was the subject of intense speculation for much of last season as the club embarked on a wide-ranging external review.
Now entering his seventh season as coach after being given a two-year contract extension, Buckley said his renewed job security wouldn't affect how he approached his role.
"I can honestly say that it's not front of mind at all," he said.
"I don't feel any less determined to get the job done.
"I'm really confident and there's a great element of trust that I have in our coaching group to be able to deliver what we need to deliver, and also that has developed over the years with the playing group as well."
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