The Pies’ shock loss to the Hawks got here at a large price with an essential pillar doubtful till finals and the Brownlow Medal favorite Nick Daicos additionally below an harm cloud.
Nathan Murphy may miss the remainder of the house and away season with a suspected syndesmosis harm as Collingwood coach Craig McRae ponders how you can mend his “disconnected” aspect.
Magpies star Nick Daicos can be doubtful for Friday evening’s blockbuster towards Geelong and can be despatched for scans after sustaining a knock to his knee in a heavy collision through the shock 32-point loss on the MCG.
McRae believed Murphy’s harm was a “low grade” syndesmosis sprain, whereas he stated Daicos’ scan could be precautionary to rule out any structural injury to his knee.
Daicos, who signed a bumper six-year deal this week, was held to a career-low 5 disposals and moved to full-forward because the Magpies tried to assist him break a fierce tag from Hawk Finn Maginness.
McRae stated he was pressured to surrender on the positional shift heading into the final quarter, as he thought the transfer was contributing to a disconnect which had additionally dogged them within the earlier loss to the Blues.
He stated the necessity to assist Daicos on the sphere to assist him break the tag was mentioned pre-game, however he must “watch the tape” to know whether or not extra ought to have been carried out by his teammates.
“In the long run you go we’re truly tying ourselves in knots right here looking for a spot for Nick, and it’s truly disconnecting different elements of our recreation, so in the long run we simply went with what we knew,” he stated.
“We wish to assume we glance after one another fairly properly … I believe the disconnection between our recreation has simply gone off the final couple of weeks.
“We’ll look deeper into that, however I believe we’ve had nice delight in our connection over the past 18 months, and (Saturday) wasn’t that.”
McRae stated the Magpies would wish to “discover out rapidly” what has impacting areas of their recreation together with stoppages, the place they had been soundly crushed 18-3 at centre bounces.
Requested if the back-to-back losses may very well be essential for the Magpies to mount a profitable finals marketing campaign, McRae stated that was his hope.
“I stay in that world the place I’d wish to assume so … I’m an optimistic man, I search for the nice in issues,” he stated.
“The final couple of weeks, there are a whole lot of elements of our recreation that simply don’t look the identical as what they’ve, however it is a lengthy journey.
“We learnt lots (from the Blues loss), there was a lot we learnt final week and introduced it to the gamers, and we learnt a bit extra this week.”
McRae stated there was no harm challenge for Tom Mitchell, who was seen icing his quad after being subbed out of the sport with solely 12 disposals towards his former aspect.
Daicos considerations spotlight Pies day from hell
A battered and bruised Collingwood suffered a second consecutive defeat because the Magpies sweat on accidents to Brownlow Medal favorite Nick Daicos and essential defender Nathan Murphy out of Saturday’s shock 32-point loss to Hawthorn.
In what may very well be a pricey loss and a end result that would open the race for the premiership, the Magpies endured a day from hell on the MCG as the young Hawks stunned the flag favourites.
In a shocking end result, the highest of the desk aspect was outplayed and outworked by the Hawks virtually from begin to end in a efficiency that can give rival flag aspirants hope.
However it was the harm considerations from the sport that may virtually be as worrying for coach Craig McRae as his staff’s kind droop over the previous two weeks only a month out from the finals.
Scans for Daicos and Murphy will decide the extent of their harm considerations forward of Friday evening’s essential conflict with Geelong on the MCG.
The Magpies appeared flat, drained and weak towards the Hawks they usually have a troublesome run house within the ultimate three weeks of the house and away season with the Cats, the Brisbane Lions and Essendon earlier than the finals.
Daicos had the hardest day of his AFL profession up to now, being tagged out of the sport by Finn Maginness and having a career-low 5 disposals.
The Hawks went after him from the beginning of the sport, making use of bodily stress on the newly re-signed Magpie, and getting in his face as usually as they might.
His earlier lowest disposal tally was 16 final yr, and he hadn’t gone under 25 this season as he rocketed to Brownlow Medal favouritism.
He was crunched on a number of events – considered one of them leading to a free kick and purpose to him – however he appeared sore all through the match, and was hobbling for a lot of the second half.
He was rested for many of the ultimate time period and sat on the bench with ice utilized to his knee and shin. He was limping noticeably after the sport.
The Magpies additionally misplaced Murphy early within the final quarter after he was caught in a rundown sort out. He instantly clutched his leg and was taken off the bottom within the arms of trainers, initially happening into the rooms.
He emerged to take a seat on the bench, however his day was completed as properly.
Murphy is a key participant for the Pies as his presence permits Darcy Moore to play with extra freedom in defence.
Tom Mitchell was subbed out of the sport for tactical causes however was seen pointing to his leg the place he had clearly copped a knock as he sat on the bench late within the recreation.
Initially revealed as AFL round 21: All the latest injury news from across the weekend
