Essendon great Matthew Lloyd is imploring Collingwood to loosen the shackles and mix up the game plan for its qualifying final against the Crows.
After dominating the middle of the season, building a 10-point lead atop the ladder, the Pies limped to the finish line and were fortunated to grab fourth place ahead of the Giants and Dockers on percentage.
Craig McRae's troops trailed at three-quarter time against the Demons in round 24 before rallying for a one-goal win and Lloyd believes Collingwood needs to be brave if it has a chance to record an upset at a hostile Adelaide Oval.
"I just feel that sometimes they can be one-paced through the midfield," Lloyd told AFL.com.au's Access.
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"So why not throw (Scott) Pendlebury back earlier, bring Josh Daicos into it because if you can load up with Josh Daicos, Nick Daicos and Jordan De Goey, suddenly it's a bit of a different looking midfield.
"I thought they were slow (against Melbourne), kicked down the line too much.
"(It) brought Max Gawn into it and it wasn't until the game was lost and done that the risks started to be taken, the small forwards and mediums got to it because the ball movement was far quicker than it was (earlier in the game).
"They need to change a few things up heading into this first final against the Crows."
After their bye in round 15, the Crows have ripped off a nine-game winning streak, which included a three-point victory over the Pies in round 23.
Even at the ripe age of 37, Pendlebury is looming as a critical piece of the Collingwood puzzle against the Crows.
"Josh Daicos against Gold Coast a month ago was break glass, and again they go to Josh Daicos in the centre of the ground (against Melbourne) in the last quarter," Lloyd said.
"That then allowed Scott Pendlebury to go behind the ball and be like the wicketkeeper, the quarter-back across the backline.
"While Josh Daicos didn't have a huge last quarter, Pendlebury had a massive last quarter behind the ball and being able to control things."