Craig McRae had the necessity for velocity, so he recruited Oleg Markov.
The 27-year-old is repaying the religion, aptly booting his first purpose for his third membership in opposition to his second membership within the Magpies’ 79-point drubbing of Gold Coast on Saturday.
The Belarus-born expertise, who moved to Adelaide earlier than he was one, was considering retirement after the Suns delisted him final 12 months.
Hobbled by accidents, Markov had performed 28 video games in two seasons, which got here after 5 years and 23 senior video games at Richmond.
He’s now managed 12 video games this season after pushing his means into the AFL group in spherical 4 and is filling a job for the bookies’ premiership favorite.
“Fantastic to see him get rewarded on the scoreboard, but he’s just a great character,” McRae stated.
“The boys love him, he fits in really well and his speed really stands out.
“And we had a necessity, wished somebody like Oleg to return in and play a job for us and he is finished that extraordinarily nicely.
“Today was the best game he’s played for our club and we wanted to make sure that playing against his old club we supported him and made him feel like he’s really at home.”
Collingwood improved to 13-2 with the one-sided victory McRae stated kick-started a vital interval of the season for the ladder leaders.
“We’re very conscious that July’s cold in Melbourne and this was the first week of it,” he stated when requested if it felt just like the mid-season grind was now behind them.
“We’re using this period … to really set ourselves up. We have set our sights on a few weeks here we want to just step in.
“It’s a troublesome time of the 12 months; good groups step up and a few possibly do not.”
Jeremy Howe’s damage comeback has gone to plan, whereas Steele Sidebottom is nearing a return from a knee damage. Dan McStay will return through the VFL on Sunday and Jordan de Goey can return from suspension subsequent week in opposition to the Western Bulldogs.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
