Mick builds flag squad

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Collingwood may sit atop the AFL ladder unbeaten for seven matches, but that won't prevent coach Mick Malthouse from tinkering with his line-up in the build-up to September.

Coming off Saturday's 72-point win over Richmond with five matches to play before the finals might seem a good time for the Magpies to consolidate in a bid to establish their best 22.

But Malthouse, who rates his playing list as better-balanced now than at any time during his 11 years at the club, has said he will continue to provide opportunities for his youngsters, in particular.

The idea, he told his post-match media conference on Saturday, is to build not just a team, but a squad capable of going all the way in September.

Malthouse said it's important to his plan that the club's VFL side continues to play well and that there's ongoing pressure from below for places in the senior line-up.

"It's not a matter of me saying we don't want to settle, we want to have available a number of players who can come in and play a role whoever we play," said Malthouse.

"You need to have players who will be able to play roles."

"Certain sides, and they've been very, very good, have just stuck with their list and when somebody falls out injured they bring somebody in."

"We need to look at our list every week and we need to look at our opponents every week and we will continue to do that."

Asked whether he has a clear idea of his best 22, Malthouse said: "Our best 22 were out there today."

"I pick a best 22 every week in consultation with the match committee."

"No player should ever feel that he's not in our best 22 if he runs down the race."

"Next week maybe it will be a different 22 but it will be our best 22."

That 22 is expected to include Heath Shaw who missed the Tigers' clash because of a back injury, and key forward Travis Cloke who's available after serving a two-match suspension for striking.

Malthouse said he was pleased with the percentage boost from Saturday's win and wasn't concerned that the Tigers scored all of their goals towards the end of each quarter which suggests the Pies may have slackened off.

"That can happen in football, but it doesn't necessarily mean that you've played poorly," he said.

"I think we have a tendency to think that you actually own the scoreboard because you've kicked five or six and you think someone else is not worthy of kicking the next two."

"I think that's an underestimation of the ability of the opposition for a start and when you analyse their side, yes, they've been hit by injury but they've still got a midfield that's No.1 for clearances."

"I don't want to take anything away from the fact that they're an AFL side who have won now five of their last seven games."

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