Collingwood will follow its plan to reintroduce Jack Ginnivan through the VFL regardless of a darkening harm cloud over fellow ahead Brody Mihocek.
Mihocek, who was amongst Collingwood’s greatest with 3.1 earlier than dislocating his finger in opposition to Port Adelaide, is quick working out of time to show his health earlier than Friday night time’s conflict in opposition to Richmond, with Magpies coach Craig McRae saying Mihocek’s finger nonetheless wants to enhance.
“It’s a watch this space actually – we were hoping he’d be a little more advanced than where he is at the moment,” McRae stated.
“We’ve got match committee this afternoon, he’s going to have to improve a little bit to be available.
“There’s a little bit of splitting of the skin there, and he’s got stitches required for that, so we’re going to have to wait and see – he’s not ruled out, but he’s going to have to improve a bit in the next 48 hours.”
McRae stated Ginnivan would nonetheless play within the VFL on Saturday night time earlier than the Magpies thought of deciding on him for his or her spherical 4 journey to the Gabba.
“He’ll play VFL, they play Saturday night and he’ll get some chance to get some game time and make himself available,” he stated.
“We’ve got a five or six-day break after that heading up to Brisbane, and we’ll assess it post game.
“Jack’s done everything he can do in terms of what he can control … he’s trained really well for a couple of weeks, trained well again today, looks ready to play and now he’s got to go out and perform at a different level.”
If Mihocek will not be cleared to play his spot is prone to go to Reef McInnes, who has booted three targets from simply 5 disposals in two extremely efficient substitute performances to start the season.
McRae stated 2022 revelation Ash Johnson was one other who could be thought of ought to Mihocek miss.
“Ash has been in good form the last couple of weeks, he’s another that’s really playing above the level in VFL, and his name will be mentioned for sure,” he stated.
Richmond’s model of soccer was properly suited to moist climate and the Magpies could be cautious of their opponents on the MCG on Friday, McRae stated.
He stated Collingwood would proceed to look to achieve territory by any means doable, flagging that they’d look to kick the ball off the bottom.
The Magpies had been assured they may assist second-year star Nick Daicos throw off one other tag if Richmond focused him, McRae stated.
“We learned some great lessons down in Tassie (practice match against Hawthorn) – Nick got tagged the whole game, and from that we came up with a few strategies around how we can support him,” he stated.
“It’s very difficult to tag a player who can play four or five different positions because that means their opponent has to do the same.
“That seemed to work on the weekend, but that’s not always going to work. We’ll have to meet each week as it presents.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
