Injuries are set to rule out captain Darcy Moore and veteran Scott Pendlebury for Collingwood’s clash with the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba on Thursday night.
The veteran stars picked up a surprise injury during Friday night’s win over GWS at Marvel Stadium, with both spending much of the match on the bench.
Moore’s issue was described as “hamstring sensitivity” by Collingwood coach Craig McRae, who admitted Pendlebury had Achilles problems.
But this may be news to Pendlebury. He previously dismissed concerns about his foot on Fox Footy, saying he sat out most of the second half as a precaution due to an ankle sprain.
He said he picked up an injury the week before against Adelaide.
The Magpies will also sweat the Giants match review official’s analysis, following the incident involving Ned Long.
Collingwood’s hard-nosed midfielder appeared to turn opponent Clayton Oliver’s face with his hand during the 33-point win, sending the Giants player down. He is at risk of being suspended for a week.
The talk of the night was Moore. He would often come off the ground limp and come back full of running.
The key defender returned to the Collingwood line-up for his first game of the season after recovering, but was barely able to kick the ball.
“It’s hamstring awareness,” McRae said. “For those who followed his rehabilitation to play again, he had this about 10 to 12 days ago – the same thing – and we were just, ‘No risk, no risk, no risk’.
“But we were in the game, and you say, ‘Can he push? Can he take some minutes?’ Because it is important that, in terms of rotation, to see if he could take some minutes without risk.
“Now I say that, but I support a top team. That’s not my area, and so we did it.
“But he’s not right. He’s not 100 percent. Has he pulled a hamstring? I’m not sure. I don’t think so … but obviously we’ll do all the tests and find out.
“In six days we travel to Brisbane, so I’d say he has a chance next week.”
Pendlebury was to match Brent Harvey’s record of 432 games on Anzac Day, breaking it the following week during the MCG’s home game against Hawthorn. But that timeline has been pushed back by McRae.
“Pendles and I spoke this week, and we spoke before the season, and there was no possibility of playing this game (against the Lions on Thursday), and so we’ll probably stick to that plan,” McRae said.
“That was our plan not to go into this game, so it probably goes with that.”
McRae said he is unsure of the extent of the Pendlebury issue.
“The paint is still wet,” he said. “We’ll have to find all of this. You guys will be the first to know when we find out.”
The football world will be watching with interest.
Following their round eight clash with Hawthorn, Collingwood have an away game against Geelong at the MCG, and then head to the SCG to face the Swans as possible points for Pendlebury’s 433rd game (when he would leave one of Brent Harvey’s 432nd).
Despite the injury cloud hanging over his two key players, McRae was full of praise for first baseman Oscar Steene.
The Magpies coach made a surprise move to start the high-flying Steene in the ruck. He quickly repaid the faith by setting up the team’s second goal with a superb touch from the square to Nick Daicos.
“We’ve got a guy who can jump up the middle and get the ball first and that changes the dynamic of the midfield,” McRae said.
“Nick can get on the list, and Jordy (De Goey) can get on the list, and they’re very good players in that phase.”
In addition to his ruck performance, Steene also made a powerful grab in the goal area to score his first AFL goal. When the ball went through the big sticks he was booed by 17 teammates.
Collingwood’s defense was stingy. Despite the Giants winning a large amount of possession and beating their forward 50, the Magpies’ defense held firm.
“They’re a dangerous team, the Giants, when they get the tsunami handball, and we tried to figure it out, but we forced them to compete more in the second half, which is what we wanted to do,” McRae said.
Nick Daicos dominated the night and was best on ground with 36 disposals and two goals.
His brother Josh wasn’t far behind with 33 possessions, despite leaving the field briefly in the opening period with a sore shoulder. Tim Membrey led the way with four goals.
For Giants coach Adam Kingsley, it was another frustrating week. They led in the kicks and handball counts and led inside 50 for a total of 58 to Collingwood’s 50. But they could not score.
In the second half they were carved in the middle of the square.
Kingsley said his team did not increase their number of goals, nor their chances of scoring a victory.
“It’s a relationship,” Kingsley said. “I thought Collingwood defended well when they needed to, but I think our connection is nowhere near where it needs to be at the moment.”
