Burning questions for 2013: Collingwood

One of the key areas where Collingwood's game plan fell apart in 2012 was the decision to play Chris Dawes in the role of second-ruck to support Darren Jolly. The idea of a tall utility playing multiple roles across the ground was a Mick Malthouse initiative that he used to great effect when he had Leigh Brown at his disposal in 2010. But Dawes wasn't up to the task, frequently losing the ruck battle, and worse still, his output and confidence up forward also took a big hit, reducing his effectiveness as a foil for Travis Cloke.

Nathan Buckley wasted no time seeking a replacement that was capable of playing both as a ruck and a forward and found one of the best available in Quinten Lynch. While Lynch should be able to play the role Buckley wants with aplomb, perhaps even better than the way Brown performed in the role in Collingwood's premiership in 2010, fans should be cautious about expecting the same result. When Brown was playing the role effectively, he was the third tall forward option behind Cloke and Dawes. Now that the Pies have lost Dawes, they need either another permanent key forward capable of taking strong contested marks or a different plan in attack.

Click here for answers to more 'burning' questions:

• Can Cloke win a Coleman Medal?
• Can Buckley beat his former mentor?
• What else do they need to get back to their flag-winning form?