Kane Cornes believes Collingwood's misfortune over the past few weeks does not come down to missing ruckman Mason Cox, despite journalist Sam McClure's high praise for the premiership big man.
Cox has been sidelined since late May, after scans showed he suffered a grade two MCL injury during the Pies draw against Fremantle in round 11.
Since then, the Pies have won just two of five games, with their injury list continuing to grow.
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Their latest loss came in round 17, going down by 12 points to Essendon.
Cox's injury has left Magpies ruckman Darcy Cameron to go at the job alone, with evident struggles shining through as the weeks progress.
Now Cameron is managing his own injury concern, after being taken to hospital with a rib problem after Friday's loss to the Bombers.
Cameron's fatigue has shown McClure just how crucial Cox is to the Pies success.
"I think they're missing Mason Cox. He's been out for a while now, he's only two more weeks away," McClure said on Nine's Footy Classified on Monday night.
"This guy gives them a presence that I don't think any other player on their list can give them.
"We know how important … how influential he is in big games, in critical moments.
"Now with Darcy Cameron sore. He's been struggling to ruck full time without him (Cox).
"The sooner they can get Mason Cox back in this team, the better they are."
But Cornes was quick to jump in and challenge McClure's view.
"I disagree with you. If you're relying on Mason Cox to be an influential player … (that's wrong)," Cornes said.
"I don't think Collingwood's misfortune is down to Mason Cox's absence."
Cornes declared that Cox has minimal impact when he is in the side and placed in the ruck, evident in his lacklustre grand final performance in 2023.
He also noted that another Collingwood big man, Nathan Kreuger, who has emerged due to the amount of injuries in 2024, has also been able to fill the hole left by Cox with ease.
"(Cox) averages seven touches and has kicked three goals. You can get that from Nathan Kreuger, let's be honest," he said.
The Pies sit in ninth on the ladder with an 8-6-2 record after 17 rounds.
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