Collingwood coach Craig McRae has declared he isn’t within the business of resting gamers because the Magpies proceed their merry march in direction of the AFL minor premiership.
The Magpies notched their eighth win on the trot on Saturday with a 63-point overcome West Coast at Optus Stadium.
The consequence improved Collingwood’s file to 11-1, retaining them one win and proportion away from second-placed Port Adelaide.
Given West Coast’s struggles this yr, there was some thought that Saturday’s match in Perth introduced the right probability for the Pies to relaxation any of their drained gamers, most notably rising star Nick Daicos.
But McRae firmly shot down that prospect.
It was simply as nicely, with West Coast’s injury-hit squad threatening a boilover earlier than Collingwood booted the final eight targets of the match to safe the 18.12 (120) to eight.9 (57) win.
Daicos completed with 30 disposals and three targets in a efficiency that will land him the three Brownlow votes.
“We’re not in the business of resting place,” McRae stated after the match.
“You’re disrespecting the competition if you want to rest players … and we’re not in that position.
“We will respect everybody. I knew as we speak it was going to be a hard-fought recreation. They (West Coast) appear like they’re getting their recreation again so as, some key gamers coming again.
“We’ll use other avenues to manage our players. It might be during the week and I had some discussion around Nick Daicos.
“We take care of him through the week; simply let him play match days.”
McRae is confident Will Hoskin-Elliott (ankle) will recover in time to take on Melbourne in the King’s Birthday clash on June 12, but Beau McCreery (ankle) is in doubt.
The Magpies are likely to welcome back Jamie Elliot, Patrick Lipinski and Dan McStay for the clash with Melbourne.
But star forward Jordan De Goey is almost certain to be suspended for multiple weeks after unleashing a late and high bump that concussed West Coast youngster Elijah Hewett.
The home side showed plenty of fight against the Pies, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Eagles slumping to a new club-record 10th straight loss.
Compounding their woes are fresh injuries to Shannon Hurn (hamstring), Hewett (concussion) and Connor West (knee).
“It’s simply circumstance,” Eagles coach Adam Simpson said of his team’s latest injury blows.
“You can level your finger at sure issues, however you already know, a man will get knocked out, a man hurts his knee, and a 36-year-old does a hamstring.
“We’ve just got to prepare them as best we can and hopefully they can come back and stay in the side.”
Captain Luke Shuey (hamstring/ankle) and Tom Barrass (hip) are probabilities to return for subsequent week’s conflict with the Crows in Adelaide, whereas Jeremy McGovern and Jack Darling will return shortly after the bye.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
