Collingwood coach Craig McRae has dominated younger star Nick Daicos out of a shock return from damage in Thursday’s AFL qualifying last in opposition to Melbourne.
On Sunday, Daicos began operating for the primary time since sustaining a hairline fracture in his proper knee in spherical 21.
The 20-year-old accomplished run-throughs away from Collingwood’s major coaching group, regularly increase velocity.
But dealing with the Demons on the MCG on Thursday night time had at all times appeared unlikely.
“He’s not quite right unfortunately,” McRae advised SEN radio on Monday.
“But I think we all knew that, I just didn’t want to admit to it at one stage – just let it take its own course.
“This one’s clearly a medical decision not a football decision.”
The Magpies had been clearly buoyed by Daicos striding out on his personal on Sunday.
“I saw Nick run yesterday and I went over as he was just doing his first strides and I’m like fist-pumping ‘Yes’, and just seen this one small step for man, one giant leap for Collingwood,” McRae joked.
“It’s a nice thing to see him progressing.”
The Magpies are assured Daicos might be out there for the second week of the finals if required – whereas he would have a further week’s preparation in the event that they beat Melbourne.
“He’s probably a week away from being in serious discussion for selection,” McRae mentioned.
“He wasn’t able to run until yesterday, clearly that was always going to be an uphill battle to play on Thursday if he was only running yesterday.
“But he did, he ran well and it looks like he’s going to pull up well and keep progressing.
“I think the next steps are going to be really quick – there should be a change of direction and all these other parts; I saw the footballs come into it a little bit yesterday.
“There’s a timeline that I’ve attached to it and then you are relying on no swelling and other things. They can often hold the player back.”
McRae confirmed skipper Darcy Moore (hamstring) and fellow defender Nathan Murphy (ankle) would play on Thursday.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
