It was a discussion Nathan Buckley had to have. With Collingwood's backline ravaged by injury, the Pies coach sought out recruit Jeremy Howe at training a few weeks ago to deliver some news: he had to break a promise made in last year's trade period.

One of the key factors in Howe's move to the Magpies from Melbourne was based on his desire to play up forward, which was the crux of Buckley's pitch to Howe when the two met up in Bali to sign off on the deal in October last year. But Buckley needed a solution, and Howe was it.

"'Bucks' actually sat me down and said, 'Look I'm going to go against my word here, I said I'd never play you in the backline, but I'm going to ask you if you can,'" Howe told AFL Media.

The shift was set in motion as the Magpies' defence was struck down by a "curse of the half backs", as Howe puts it. Jackson Ramsay went down with a season-ending knee injury, Tom Langdon rolled his ankle and Marley Williams hurt his foot, while Ben Sinclair has also been in and out of the side because of ongoing concussion symptoms.

WATCH - Neil Balme provides the latest injury news on the Blackmores Injury Update.

Howe's move to the backline now appears to be permanent after the high-flyer starred in Collingwood's 24-point win over Geelong last weekend.

His intercept marking and precise kicking added another dimension to the Magpies' backline, Howe amassing 22 disposals at 81.1 per cent efficiency, as well as hauling in 11 marks.

Buckley said after the win over the Cats that Howe would remain in the backline for the "foreseeable future".

His role in curtailing a forward line consisting of Jake Stringer, Tory Dickson and Jack Redpath will be crucial when the Magpies do battle with the Western Bulldogs at the MCG this Sunday.

"Right now we need him as a backman and he fulfills that third tall defender's role for us," Buckley said.

"He comes across and impacts really well and he gives us a little bit of bite with our kicking out of the back half as well.

"I see him there in the foreseeable future, but we know he can impact the scoreboard up forward as well."

Howe said Collingwood's style of defending space rather than a specific opponent was a concept the team was gradually adapting to.

"I'm actually really enjoying playing down there and the way we're setting up probably really suits the way I play," Howe said.

"When we're putting pressure on the ball up the field it definitely gives you the licence to be able to come across and help (in contests), so, in that sense, I feel like I can use that to my advantage."

After an interrupted pre-season following a hot spot in his foot that flared in January and then the broken finger he suffered in infamous circumstances in February, Howe came into the team in round three and has not missed a game since.


The 25-year-old, who played 100 games in six seasons for the Demons, insists he sustained the finger injury playing Frisbee with his dog and not after appearing in a local Twenty20 cricket match.

"It was frustrating but at the same time you've got to laugh it off," Howe said.

"It dragged out a little bit longer than what I had hoped for … and if I had a better excuse I would give it to you."

The 4-5 Magpies are now back in the finals hunt after a dismal start to the season, and Howe revealed one of the reasons behind the club's recent successes had come down to a tweak in the training program.

"We've definitely made a stronger emphasis on doing a little bit less two days after a game now," Howe said.

"We just added a little bit more into our main training session earlier in the week and we're probably out on the track longer in those sessions.

"The intensity has gone through the roof, and it's no surprise that we're performing on game day now."