Collingwood has been marvelled for its statement win over Melbourne on the King’s Birthday stage amid a significant toll of casualties including an injury scare to Nick Daicos.
The Magpies downed a near full strength Demons by 38 points despite missing several key stars including Scott Pendlebury, Jordan De Goey, Jamie Elliott and Brody Mihocek to improve to 7-2-4 and sit half a game behind the third-placed Bombers.
Craig McRae’s side, after a shaky 0-3 start to its premiership defence, has now dropped just one game since March ahead of a meeting with North Melbourne this weekend.
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The reigning premiers were dealt another big injury scare against Melbourne on Monday after Daicos hobbled off the ground in the third term following a knock to his shin, and after briefly returning, was subbed out of the game.
Speaking on Fox Footy’s AFL 360, Collingwood coach Craig McRae downplayed concerns around the third-year superstar’s setback despite pulling him from the game in the fourth quarter while they held a big lead.
“He got a corky in the shin and it made it pretty difficult to run in the end. We thought we were getting close to looking after him and allow him see out the game, (but) he was pretty sore in the end,” McRae said on Fox Footy.
Asked on his initial reaction to Daicos’ setback, McRae said: “There’s been so (many injuries) coming through lately, I just don’t want to hear any of it.
“My first reaction was: ‘Is he OK?’ And the reality is, it’s (Daicos’ injury) not much, but still.”
The Pies’ strong performance despite Daicos (season-low 15 disposals) being well nullified by Demon Alex Neal-Bullen even before exiting the match would be extra pleasing for McRae and company as their lesser names stepped up again.
It led to ample paise from Fox Footy pundits regarding how Collingwood’s ever reliable system again shone through.
“This is why you have to admire this football club. If you’re a Collingwood supporter right now, you are so happy to go and watch them play,” Demons legend Garry Lyon said on On the Couch.
“It doesn’t matter who’s in the black and white jumper, there are non negotiables – you crack in and put pressure on the opposition every single opportunity you get.
“They were insatiable in their appetite to go and execute like that.”
Lyon lauded Neal Daniher Trophy winner Jack Crisp, noting how “someone has to stand up and carry the load” in the midfield with the likes of De Goey, Pendlebury and Tom Mitchell missing.
Trac injured in Demons’ defeat to Pies | 02:15
Triple-premiership winning Lion Jonathan Brown added of Crisp: “Remember he was subbed a few weeks ago? That was masterstroke itself, that was a little sharpen up without kicking him out of the side.”
Another great story from the King’s Birthday clash was the returning Nathan Krueger kicking three goals in his first AFL game since Round 7 last year after overcoming a grim run of injuries.
McRae on AFL 360 highlighted Kreuger simply “hasn’t had any continuity at all,” saying “he’s always going to light it up with his energy” and commended the 24-year old tall for doing his job in filling a key forward void and reaping the rewards.
The same could be said for several more unheralded Magpies who are thriving with added responsibility.
“Collingwood’s forward line of Kreuger, (Harvey) Harrison and (Billy) Frampton, it’s not exactly McKenna, Coventry and Peter Daicos, is it? And they kicked seven goals between them,” chief Herald Sun reporter Mark Robinson said on AFL 360.
“Seriously, this is an incredible football club. It takes the saying ‘play your role’ to a level we’ve not seen for quite some time.
“Collingwood has got something. If you can bottle it, I’m not sure what it’s called, but they keep turning up week after week. They shouldn’t be near Melbourne – not on the talent level – and they played with Melbourne today.”
Fellow AFL 360 co-host Gerard Whateley added: “They’re able to get the right thing at the right time out of (Lachie) Sullivan, Harrison and today out of Kreuger.
“While they are going through this period where they are threadbare quite clearly – and the injury list is broad – able to plug into a predictable, dependable, reliable system.”
Source Agencies
