Collingwood aims to have the wounded star Jordan De Goey ready for their upcoming AFL match against defending champions Brisbane.
However, the Magpies are ready to take a patient approach regarding the disgruntled midfielder's most recent issue.
De Goey was replaced due to tactical considerations during the match against Carlton, however, he will not participate in Friday's Gather Round game against Sydney at Adelaide Oval as he has reported discomfort in his ankle and Achilles tendon.
" It’s relatively small. He has just a slightly cranky ankle," coach Craig McRae stated on Wednesday.
Last year taught us valuable lessons. We won’t be placing Jordy in situations where one problem turns into two, leaving us scrambling.
We made up our minds at the beginning of the week to go ahead with the call and have him ready, preferably for Brisbane.
De Goey will accompany Collingwood to Adelaide followed by Brisbane, intending to compete against the Lions at the Gabba next Thursday.
McRae maintained that De Goey was being handled carefully for the match against Carlton.
"There were no indications of this extent," McRae stated.
He had some minor issues before the match, which led us to think, 'let's take care of him for now'.
So then after the match on Sunday, we realized he was more sore than expected. Hence, we decide to take a longer-term approach with him.
We're optimistic about Brisbane being the target, but uncertainty remains.
The plan remains unchanged; we’ll first head to Adelaide with him, followed by taking him to Brisbane. We will ensure that our entire physiotherapy and high-performance teams are supporting him throughout. Ultimately, our aim is to push him as much as possible leading up to the event in Brisbane.
De Goey experienced a nightmare year in 2024 due to groin and abdominal issues, and he also sat out the beginning of this season because of knee bone contusions.
"I recently had a productive conversation with him during the week, and he expressed some frustration as he feels like he's making progress but then slipping back," McRae mentioned.
Yet again, is it round five already? We still have ample time, and he has put in tremendous effort to reach this point.
His physical condition has changed significantly compared to this time last year, so it’s just a small hurdle, and we’ll focus on the major match ahead.
Dan Houston won’t be present at the matches in Sydney and Brisbane as he has been banned following a heavy hit on Carlton’s Lachie Fogarty.
McRae was not willing to comment on whether Houston, who sat out the beginning of the season due to a suspension he received at Port Adelaide last year, needs to alter his style of play.
"I'm uncertain about his desire for change. Let’s observe how these matters unfold," he stated.
However, I believe that missing your top performers isn’t very enjoyable for either a coach or the squad.
At the end of the season, Brayden Maynard will be a free agent, however, McRae emphasized his focus solely on the impressive performances of this well-regarded defender.
"He emphasized how enthusiastic (to keep him) remains. He tells him every day just how much his love and appreciation for him endure," he mentioned.
I'll let others handle the list management. It’s not something I deal with, but I ensure he feels valued and cherished.