Collingwood coach Craig McRae has admitted Nick Daicos would have been underdone if the younger celebrity had been pressured to return for a semi-final.
But the Magpies do not should rush again the Brownlow Medal contender after successful by to the preliminary closing by beating Melbourne and incomes per week off.
Collingwood misplaced the inside-50 depend by a staggering 32 (69-37) and needed to take care of a fierce Melbourne fightback within the final quarter to prevail in Thursday evening’s qualifying closing by seven factors – 9.6 (60) to 7.11 (53).
Daicos has been sidelined since hurting his knee in an upset loss to Hawthorn in spherical 21 however the 20-year-old has stepped up his coaching this week.
Collingwood will likely be at full power, after the profitable return of captain Darcy Moore in opposition to Melbourne, for a preliminary closing on the MCG, in opposition to Brisbane, Port Adelaide, GWS or St Kilda.
“It gives Nick an extra week to try and prepare; he probably would have come in a bit short next week,” McRae mentioned.
“Probably would have played, he’s progressing really well, but now he gets another week of training and loading and whatever that looks like.
“He mentioned it was the worst two hours of his life watching the sport.
“But he’s a great player. So any time you can welcome back your best players…you saw what happened we bring Darcy Moore and all of a sudden someone else falls in line.
“He’s actually going to be a priceless participant when he comes again in a few weeks.”
Such is Collingwood’s depth, McRae made the tough call to drop John Noble for the clash with the Demons after the running defender played in the Magpies’ 83 previous games.
“It’s exhausting, good gamers are going out of the workforce,” McRae mentioned.
“He’s important getting us to this second, ‘Nobes’.
“Tough decisions need to be made, it comes with a heavy heart.”
Collingwood misplaced two thrillers (to eventual grand finalists Geelong and Sydney) throughout final yr’s finals collection to exit on the preliminary closing stage however used that have to beat the wasteful Demons.
“I spoke before the game about being being grateful for what we have. We’re very lucky to be to in this position, 10 teams would love to be in our position still playing,” McRae mentioned.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
