Adam Treloar shows his tricks in attack but Mick Malthouse thinks he’s a midfielder

COLLINGWOOD star Adam Treloar has become a new forward weapon designed to help fix the Magpies’ problems inside 50m. But former Pies coach Mick Malthouse isn’t sold on the move.

Collingwood's Adam Treloar charges forward. Pic: Michael Klein

COLLINGWOOD playmaker Adam Treloar has become a new forward weapon designed to help fix the Magpies’ ground ball problems inside 50m.

Treloar, 25, has been a permanent fixture of Collingwood’s onball operations, spending 92 per cent of his game time in the midfield last season.

But in a move which could help reignite his career, Treloar has been swung forward this season to give the Pies another speedy and creative goal kicker.

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The former Greater Western Sydney line breaker spent 48 per cent of Friday night’s win over Carlton in the new forward role, often leading out from deep in the goal square.

He kicked only 13 goals last year but already Treloar has had a bigger impact on the score board with the ex-Giant booting three goals in two games.

But former Collingwood coach Michael Malthouse was less sure of the strategic move this week.

“You’ve got a midfielder who can get the ball 30 times,” Malthouse said.

“I like to judge coaches on how they respond to a player who came or was drafted and has a level, can he (the coach) make them better?

Adam Treloar celebrates kicking a goal last week. Picture: AAP

“In Treloar’s case, he arrived as a very good midfielder for two years, and all of a sudden is he not a good midfielder?

“He has been average, but I think that (midfield), is where he has got to play his football.”

While Treloar’s ball use has fluctuated since arriving at Collingwood, his speed gives Nathan Buckley another option to target in attack.

Key forward Ben Reid supported the tactical swing, saying Treloar and midfield jet Steele Sidebottom were dangerous as forwards.

“I thought we were a lot better as a forward group (against Carlton),” Reid said.

“Our contest at ground level was something we have had to work on the last couple of weeks and it was a lot better.”

Mick Malthosue says Treloar has been ‘average’ but should play in the midfield. Pic: AAP

Collingwood has had huge problems at ground level in the forward half of the ground in recent years.

Last year the Magpies were ranked 16th in the competition for ground ball differential in the forward half according to Champion Data.

Buckley admitted after the win over the Blues it was a headache.

The Pies will again be without star forwards Jamie Elliott and Daniel Wells when the Pies attempt to upset the Crows in Adelaide tonight.

“The ground ball gets at the moment, we are in the bottom couple in the league,” Buckley said.

“We were definitely 18th at the end of last week and we lost that stat again tonight (against Carlton).

“So we are scratching our heads about that, we have got to do better.”