A decade after he was first drafted to the club as a key forward, a former Collingwood great believes Ben Reid must return to his roots if the Magpies are to catapult into finals contention.

“One thing I want to see is Ben Reid playing forward [in the second half of this season],” 1990 Premiership hero Michael Christian told Collingwood Media’s ‘The Agenda’ this week.

Christian – who played 131 games for Collingwood – was a dynamic footballer who made a name for himself in the back half.

Similarly to Reid, the defender was effective when he pushed up into forward half, kicking 23 goals across his Collingwood career.

And according to Christian, the time has come for the Magpies’ most profound swingman to make his move up into the forward 50 once again.

“I think what’s happened over recent weeks is that the small forward line has worked, but it’s almost been out of necessity…but I don’t know that it’s sustainable.”

“I’d like to see Reid there. It means that he takes the best defender and gives Darcy Moore the second-best defender. Darcy can still do his time in the ruck.

“I think if that happens, it gives Collingwood another target, and I really think it’s going to be the best position for Ben Reid.”

With the emergence of one other Collingwood defender and solid recruiting over the summer, Christian believes the Magpies’ backline wouldn’t compromised by the move.

“We’ve seen that Lynden Dunn and Henry Schade have been able to fill the roles in the back half, and with the support of Jeremy Howe who has been outstanding, I think there’s enough coverage behind the ball.”

The former All-Australian defender has been sidelined for the past five weeks after injuring his quad against Greater Western Sydney.

According to last week’s Blackmore’s Injury Update, the club is confident of regaining Reid’s services when the Magpies face Port Adelaide this week.

“All things are going well. He’ll do some work over the bye period. He’s on track to be available for the Port Adelaide weekend, so that’s good news,” General Manager of Football Geoff Walsh said.

After kicking five goals in his first five years at the club, Reid kicked 25 majors in 2013, after spending the majority of the second half of the season playing forward.



Reid played his first seven games of 2017 in defence, before missing the past five with a quad injury. Image: AFL Photos.

And the team from ‘The Agenda’ firmly believe Reid could be the man to launch the Magpies forward.

But if he isn’t the man for the job, Reid himself has floated his brother – Sydney’s Sam Reid – as a potential forward target for the Magpies next season.

“I’d absolutely love to have him in the side. It’s help us, I think,” Reid said in an article with afl.com.au last week.

The younger of the Reid brothers has spent seven years at the Sydney Swans, and will be become a restricted free agent at season’s end.

“He does love it up in Sydney and he’s very settled up there, but at the same time I’l l definitely try to get in his ear."

“It’s his decision and whatever he decides on, as long as he’s happy and playing footy, that’s the main thing.”