Jordan welcome relief for Magpies

JORDAN Roughead’s arrival at Collingwood is a “match made in heaven”, says veteran Magpies defender Tyson Goldsack.

Roughead’s move via a lastminute October trade comes after the ruckman admitted he felt stale at the Bulldogs.

He is unlikely to see much action at stoppages given AllAustralian Brodie Grundy and American gun Mason Cox dominated in the ruck last season. But with Lynden Dunn and Matthew Scharenberg still on the comeback from injury, last year’s beaten grand finalists will benefit from the 28year-old’s size and experience in defence.

“We’ve seen enough of him playing for the Dogs, we know what he can bring,” Goldsack said of Roughead, who is a cousin of Hawthorn forward Jarryd. “He knows what it’s like to play in a grand final and win one, so we’ll take all the experience we can get.

“We were happy to get that [trade] done; it’s a match made in heaven.”

Collingwood’s five-point loss to West Coast in the decider was a gut-wrenching conclusion to their first finals campaign in five years.

Entering his 13th season at the club, Goldsack knows they can’t afford to stand still if they are to go one better this year.

That’s why the arrival of Roughead — and return of former Magpie and Brisbane captain Dayne Beams — is so important.

“You want to keep your list nice and bolstered and don’t want to get lean in your senior player group,” he said.

Goldsack spent just five months on the sidelines after knee surgery last year, allowing him to return for the finals and chase a second flag. Having fallen just short there is plenty of motivation to go around again.

“Last year I worked so hard to get back and play the finals, which was nice,” he said. “But to go through the process this year from the start and join the journey [is better].”