Collingwood coach Craig McRae has “slept on a couple of magnets” this week however has declared one choice certainty – Mason Cox and Darcy Cameron will each play on Thursday evening.
McRae mentioned the forecast moist circumstances would “somewhat” affect the Magpies’ remaining aspect to face Melbourne however confirmed his two ruckmen would each line up within the qualifying remaining, presumably with one beginning because the sub.
All-Australian Nick Daicos was absent from the observe on Tuesday, however McRae mentioned Daicos would run once more on Wednesday as he pushed for a return within the Magpies’ subsequent sport.
The coach wouldn’t say whether or not Daicos could be out there if the Pies misplaced to the Demons and had been pressured right into a semi-final subsequent week.
“We’re hoping we’re not going to have to worry about that,” he mentioned.
“We’ll take what we can control right now.”
Defenders Darcy Moore and Nathan Murphy will return from harm on Thursday, whereas stress ahead Beau McCreery is offered after serving a one-week suspension.
McRae mentioned tough choice calls loomed, with Jack Ginnivan performing brilliantly in McCreery’s absence in spherical 24 after spending a lot of the season on the fringes.
“It’s going to be tough, I’ve slept on a couple of magnets, not sure which way we’re going to go … we’ve got some headaches in front of us,” he mentioned.
“I’m pretty happy to declare that (Cameron and Cox) both will play.
“What capacity, whether one starts as the sub …. we’ll work through that, but the best version of us over the last 18 months is when they’re both at their best, and we’d like to think that they’ll bring that on Thursday night.”
McRae mentioned he was not involved the Magpies had been “worked out” by different groups after their pink scorching begin to the season which had assured a finals berth by spherical 16.
“I think we’re well aware that every opposition knows how we want to play, and we do the same for them,” he mentioned.
“I also don’t subscribe to the theory that your best is in round 13, and it’s done … tomorrow’s the best day of my life, or at least I’m aiming for it.
“I think we’ve got great momentum in certain parts of our game that we’re keen to put on show.”
The coach himself had struggled to safe tickets for the qualifying remaining, however didn’t assume the equal allocation of tickets between the highest aspect and fourth-placed Demons was unfair on Collingwood.
“I did get online, I bought 10 memberships when I got the job, because I knew my friends and family would want to go, so that’s served me well,” he mentioned.
“I don’t tend to have to worry about tickets week to week, but I couldn’t get some for the final, so if anyone’s out there, let me know, they’re hard to get!
“I don’t subscribe to one gets a better advantage than four if you’re both MCG tenants – last year Geelong didn’t get that luxury – but whether there’s something around that, I haven’t given it that much thought.”
Source: www.news.com.au
