Anything less than a grand final appearance for Collingwood next year will be a failure.

That was the blunt assessment from Magpies coach-in-waiting Nathan Buckley.

Speaking at his first official media conference as a Collingwood assistant on Monday morning, the former skipper said his team would have to take at least one extra step in 2010, following its preliminary final thumping at the hands of Geelong this year, to obtain a pass mark.

If it didn't, the Magpies would be going backwards according to Buckley.

"We're a very young list so there's going to be some improvement in that regard," Buckley said at Gosch's Paddock.

"You'd like to think that every player on the list can improve and with that should come natural improvement from the team."

"Year by year you expect to get better and if Collingwood's not better next year it will be going backwards."

And if the Magpies are to make their first grand final since 2003, marked improvement will have to come from centre half-forward Travis Cloke.

Cloke had a season to forget this year, averaging only one goal a game and looking like a shadow of the player who won Collingwood's best-and-fairest in 2007.

However, with the retirement of Anthony Rocca, Cloke has become the Magpies' most senior recognised key target in attack and much of Collingwood's fortunes next year will hinge on a lift in output from the 22-year-old.

"Clokey's one of the guys in that forward structure who's obviously pivotal to the success of the club," Buckley said.

"He's a hard worker, you can't put enough work into him. He's a bit of an animal in that respect."

"He's one of the tall guys we rely upon."

Another player who could join the likes of Cloke, John Anthony and Chris Dawes up forward in 2010 is forgotten man Sean Rusling.

Rusling has experienced a nightmare run of injuries since being recruited by the Magpies which has seen him play just 17 games in five seasons.

"It would be great to see him play a full season without injury wouldn't it? Everyone understands he's an exciting player and the snippets that we've seen of him when he's up and running have whet the appetite," said Buckley.

"He needs a bit of luck, that's what he needs. Then we'll see where he goes from there."

Meanwhile, Buckley admitted he was still getting used to the idea of coaching players who were once his team-mates.

"It's all about relationships, whether you're playing with them or whether you're coaching with the guys, the whole idea is to try to help them be the best they can be and mould it into a successful unit," he said.

"That's the coaching staff's responsibility and I'm part of that."

"I've always been a friend and a confidante and someone who's there to help them be the best they can be, so in far as that goes nothing's changed."

Buckley was joined by fellow new assistants Scott Watters and Max Hudghton at Collingwood's first pre-season hitout while senior coach Mick Malthouse enjoyed some time off.