Collingwood have disregarded issues about sickness sweeping by the membership main into the Anzac Day blockbuster towards Essendon.
Darcy Moore and Nathan Kreuger are among the many gamers who’ve skilled away from the primary group as a precaution prior to now week.
Jordan De Goey was ailing and missed final spherical’s win over St Kilda, however is ready to return towards the Bombers on the MCG.
Magpies coach Craig McRae mentioned the membership had adopted a cautious method to sickness after being stung final season.
“We’re a little bit gun-shy from last year,” McRae mentioned this week.
“Illness went through the place last year for about three weeks and we’re a little bit scared of that.
“So anybody that is bought slightly sniffle, they are not coming in.”
Moore and Kreuger have both been cleared to play, with the latter returning for his first game of the season after undergoing a right shoulder reconstruction in January.
The versatile tall could line up in several roles, with the injury-hit Pies looking for cover at both ends of the ground.
Kreuger could also assist key defender Billy Frampton in a ruck battle with Essendon duo Sam Draper and Andrew Phillips, with the Pies’ regular ruckmen sidelined.
Darcy Cameron (knee), Mason Cox (spleen) and Aiden Begg (back) are all unavailable, as is key forward Dan McStay (finger) and defender Nathan Murphy (concussion).
Magpies wingman Steele Sidebottom backed Frampton and Kreuger to stand up against the physical Bombers ruck pairing.
“We’ve clearly had our ruckmen go down however Billy’s the type of man the place you place a job in entrance of him and he is completely happy to do it,” Sidebottom instructed SEN.
“He’s bought that little little bit of mongrel in him as properly, which is good for a man who’s going into the ruck.
“Kreuger is a similar type of player. He’ll come in and throw himself around whether he has to play forward or back.
“But they’re each guys who can have a crack for us.”
It is just the second time in 28 Anzac Day meetings that Collingwood and Essendon have both entered as top-four sides.
Both boast 4-1 records after impressive starts to the season and the contest is expected to draw more than 90,000 fans to the MCG.
“It’s no larger than some other sport – that is the truth when it comes to 4 factors – however the event itself, clearly there’s quite a bit to embrace,” McRae mentioned.
“The day itself is such an incredible event and we will step proper into it.
“We’re not going to shy away from the big crowd.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
