Collingwood have been dealt another blow, with defender Marley Williams set to be sidelined for at least a fortnight — and possibly considerably longer — with a foot sprain from Saturday's loss to St Kilda at the MCG.

Magpies football manager Neil Balme told the club's website on Monday that Williams would be out for the "medium term". Williams joins Dane Swan (foot), Jarrod Witts (hand), Jamie Elliott (back), Jonathon Marsh (hamstring), Jackson Ramsay (knee) and Matt Scharenberg (knee) on the sidelines.

Collingwood (1-2) will regain Steele Sidebottom (suspension) for the match against Melbourne on Sunday. Travis Varcoe (hamstring) will be tested, but is likely to face the Demons.

Meanwhile, struggling Pies forward Travis Cloke has bemoaned the negativity of the media as he looks to improve on a slow start to the year. Cloke has kicked just three goals in three games in 2016, and was shifted into the ruck during the loss to the Saints. It prompted North Melbourne great Wayne Carey to quip on Triple M that Cloke's next move could be a demotion to the VFL.

But the veteran Magpie hit back during a promotion for Holden on Monday.

"That's one person's opinion," Cloke said when asked about recent criticism from Carey.

"I'm still here to play football. It's a bit of a shame that everything written's negative."