Fagan's message to Daniher in 'pick on Joey week'

But he doesn't think criticism of the lanky goal-kicker led by former club great Jonathan Brown is warranted.

"It's an interesting one; the week before (against Melbourne) he kicks four goals and nobody is talking about it," Fagan said.

"Last week he kicks 0.4 and it's, 'Let's pick on Joey Daniher week'.

"He's not the only one up there; we need all our other tall forwards to be playing better. The forward line in general wasn't at it's best.

"Reserve judgment. We tend to jump on his back pretty quickly. We're much slower to pat him on the back when he plays well."

The pair took turns playing key roles in finals victories last season but Daniher and Eric Hipwood have combined for seven goals and just three contested marks in the Lions' 1-2 start to 2023.

Recruit Jack Gunston, brought in from Hawthorn as a replacement for Collingwood pick-up Dan McStay, kicked three of his five goals this season in one quarter of last week's dour loss to the Bulldogs.

McStay is likely to spend time in the ruck against his old club on Thursday for the injury-hit, but unbeaten, Magpies.

Fagan said McStay's worth was never questioned during his nine seasons at the Gabba, but that Hipwood and Daniher's inconsistency couldn't be put down to the hard-working forward's absence.

Instead, the coach pinned it solely on them, demanding more activity before and after the ball is delivered into the forward 50m.

"Not last week," he said when asked if he'd been satisfied with Hipwood and Daniher's work rate.

"A bit of that's them, a bit of that is ball movement as well.

"And the stats will tell you this season we haven't been very good at winning the ball when it hits the ground in our forward line."

Unbeaten Collingwood have continued the eye-catching football they discovered under former Lions champion Craig McRae last season.

Second-year star Nick Daicos is the early Brownlow Medal favourite, averaging more than 33 disposals per game.

"He bobs up in different spots on the ground; halfback, wing, inside ... he's a little bit hard to tag because they move him around," Fagan said of the 20-year-old.

"Their (strength is their) ability to turn up in numbers in contests; they keep it in motion and supply their forwards pretty well and seem to be on the one page with that."

McRae, whose face will be among those on the special Lions' guernsey celebrating 20 years since their 2003 flag, is wary.

"Their backs are against the wall a little bit," the second-year coach said.

"It seems like they're a different team at home and we go up there knowing that they don't lose too many home games. 

"They're not going to give us anything. It should be a great game."