Heritier Lumumba with Collingwood teammates in 2014. Picture: AFL Photos

COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley remains adamant he never heard Heritier Lumumba nicknamed "chimp" in his time at the club despite two former Pies backing the claim on Wednesday.

Lumumba's premiership teammates Brent Macaffer and Chris Dawes told SBS they can recall the name being used in a period Lumumba says ran from 2005-13.

The Pies have launched an internal investigation into Lumumba's allegations that the club did little to stamp out racism in his time as a Pie that ended with 199 AFL matches.

01:53

Macaffer, who played 77 games at the Pies from 2009-16, said he found it very difficult to believe others weren't aware of Lumumba's nickname.

"The nickname 'the chimp' and stuff like that which absolutely I remember clearly like that was (his) nickname from whenever I got to the football club in 2006," he told SBS.

Dawes added: "You mentioned the nickname 'chimp'. I heard that a couple times."

In regards to the nicknames, the only mouth I've heard that nickname (come) out of was Heritier's himself when he told me about it

- Nathan Buckley

Buckley, who played with Lumumba from 2005-07, was an assistant coach at the club from 2010-11 and his senior coach from 2012-13, has previously said he'd love to speak to Lumumba to address his feelings.  

"The way we've discussed it is in truth telling and understanding Heritier's truth," Buckley said on Wednesday of the club's investigation.

Nathan Buckley in the round three win over St Kilda. Picture: AFL Photos

"I can say from my perspective that I've learnt things today, last week, two weeks ago that I was not aware of from Heritier's perspective.

"In regards to the nicknames, the only mouth I've heard that nickname (come) out of was Heritier's himself when he told me about it.

"That's categoric and I suppose that's me telling my truth.

"There are a lot of details that need to be unearthed and shared and spoken about with an open mind and an open heart so that we can address this situation, we can address Heritier's experience."

WATCH LEIGH MATTHEWS IN LAST TIME I CRIED

One of the game's hardest, 'Lethal' Leigh, opens up in the latest episode of Last Time I Cried, presented by AIA Vitality

Watch Now

On Twitter on Wednesday morning, Lumumba said it was "insulting" the club had now decided to investigate his allegations after six years.

Despite wishes from Collingwood for Lumumba to be part of their investigation process, the 2010 premiership player said he had no intentions to do so.

"I have no desire to convince Collingwood of a truth that they already know," he said.

Meantime, Buckley looks set to make one change to the Pies' line-up for Friday night's trip to face Greater Western Sydney.

Mason Cox trained with the AFL squad at Olympic Park Oval and will likely replace Darcy Cameron after two games.

Midfielder Adam Treloar appears destined to spend another week building his fitness back from a calf strain after training with the reserves players when the midfield groups split during the 90-minute session.