A fan-favourite Hawk is ‘in doubt’ to play against the Cats, while Collingwood will unveil a mid-season draftee in a blockbuster clash.
Elsewhere, a St Kilda forward has copped a cruel blow, while an on-the-rise Eagle is expected to be sidelined this Sunday with a “pretty bad cut
The injury woes continue for the Pies, with versatile forward Beau McCreery set to miss up to the next six weeks with a calf strain. Defender John Noble has been placed in concussion protocols after undergoing a late-game HIA, meaning he’ll miss against Essendon. On Wednesday afternoon, Collingwood announced mid-season draftee and former Hawk Ned Long will make his debut on the big stage for his sixth-ever AFL game. Star pair Josh Daicos (corked calf)
and Brayden Maynard (corked quad) will face fitness tests ahead of Friday night, per AFL Media journalist Josh Gabelich. However, Lachie Schultz (illness) seems a likely chance at return. Jamie Elliott (vascular), Tom Mitchell (foot) and Mason Cox (knee) remain at least a couple of weeks away. The recently omitted Fin Macrae, Tew Jiath and Charlie Dean were Collingwood’s emergencies in Carrara and will put their hands up for recalls this week. Reef McInnes kicked two goals from 14 disposals and laid nine tackles in the VFL, while Jack Bytel (31 disposals) was the major ball-winner and Macrae recorded 26 possessions and a major against the Dons’ reserves.