Craig McRae can afford to face in awe of Collingwood’s rising celebrity Nick Daicos however, as coach of a rival membership, Fremantle’s Justin Longmuir is cautious of falling into the identical entice.
Daicos, the raging Brownlow Medal favorite, poses an enormous menace to the Dockers who’re desperately looking for an upset on the MCG on Saturday to reignite their finals hopes.
But Longmuir notes the high-powered Magpies engine room, the place skilful playmaker Daicos has spent extra time because the season progresses, boasts a couple of participant able to tearing his aspect aside.
Daicos will probably be joined within the Magpies’ midfield rotation by explosive game-breaker Jordan De Goey, who performs his a hundred and fiftieth recreation, although ball magnet Tom Mitchell has been managed.
“They’ve got weapons all over the field and they’ve got a really strong midfield, and Nick has obviously moved into the midfield more,” Longmuir mentioned.
“But we’ve got to make sure we don’t focus all our attention on Nick – whilst maintaining a level of control (on him) – and let De Goey and (Scott) Pendlebury and these guys get off the chain.
“Clearly we need more out of our midfield than what we got last week and they’re really keen to nullify, but they’re (also) really keen to get on the front foot and try and take it up to them.”
Collingwood coach McRae has relished watching Daicos develop from final 12 months’s unanimous Rising Star winner into one of many competitors’s elite gamers this season.
“We’re in awe of him, as I’m sure are others watching, and we’re really lucky to have him,” McRae mentioned.
“We just love what he does. He’s a brilliant player and he’s a 20-year-old kid.”
Important Magpies trio Steele Sidebottom (knee), Brayden Maynard (shoulder) and Dan McStay (finger) return from accidents however Darcy Cameron has been sidelined by a again difficulty, leaving Mason Cox and Billy Frampton to share ruck duties against imposing Fremantle huge man Sean Darcy.
The Dockers have been left reeling by accidents to Brennan Cox (ankle), Hayden Young (ankle), Michael Frederick (soreness) and Karl Worner (calf), in addition to influential midfielder Caleb Serong’s suspension.
Key defender Joel Hamling has been named to play his first match since spherical two final 12 months.
Saturday’s conflict is the primary assembly between the edges since Collingwood’s snug semi-final win on the identical venue final season.
“I know they’ve got some key players out but we’re well aware that at the MCG they’ve had good form,” McRae mentioned.
“They’ve beaten Melbourne there this year and last year.
“They play well at that ground. We’re well aware of what’s coming and we don’t take any opposition lightly.”
Brett Rosebury will turn into the second area umpire to officiate in 500 AFL/VFL video games through the Collingwood-Fremantle conflict.
The nine-times grand closing whistleblower’s profession on the high stage spans 24 seasons after his debut in 2000.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
