By Anna Harrington
Bruised and battered Collingwood are hoping for some relief with injury updates to ruckman Darcy Cameron and utility Harry Perryman, as coach Craig McRae takes the positives out of a dramatic draw with Hawthorn.
Cameron (ankle) limped his way through the closing stages of Thursday night’s clash that ended with the Magpies amassing 15.3 (93) to the Hawks’ 13.15 (93).
Perryman (hamstring) came off in the second quarter and looks unlikely to face Geelong next Saturday, while Steele Sidebottom played through a hand injury.
McRae praised Perryman, saying: “He’s a tough lad, this one.
“I said, ‘how is it?’ He goes: ‘pretty good’. I said, ‘nine days’ time, I’m not sure’…”
“We’ll obviously scan it and work through it.”
Sidebottom’s hand looks “pretty swollen”.
“We tried to get him to do a bit of a job on (James) Sicily, and he fought through that for us, was really important for the team,” said McRae.
“Darcy’s got an ankle, so I’m not sure, he’ll get it scanned tomorrow.”
Nick Daicos (hip) had treatment, as did Jamie Elliott (back) but McRae was confident both were just sore.
“We get a bit of a breather now to get their bodies back in check, and it’s a hard game to play at AFL level, backing up four or five days later.
“I think they’re both just generally sore. We see Jamie get kneed right in the back in the middle of the ground, and Nick’s running so hard week after week and getting little knocks. It’s just credit to him to fight out the game.”
Collingwood can call upon rested veterans Scott Pendlebury and Jeremy Howe and likely Beau McCreery, who missed the Hawks clash with general soreness, against Geelong.
With Collingwood up by six points on Thursday, skipper Darcy Moore dropped a mark, then gave away a free kick on Dylan Moore and the Hawk kicked truly after the siren to snatch a draw in front of 76,632 at the MCG.
McRae noted his charges needed to get better in “little moments” but still took positives away, despite Hawthorn dominating inside-50s 62-34 and clearances 39-23.
“We’re playing one of the best teams in the competition,” McRae said.
“Which glass do you want to drink – the half-empty one or the half-full one?
“We’re definitely half-full and top me up, because we’ve got a bit more coming.
“We’re a work in progress. We’re not finished. This is not the end of the season but I think no-one gave us a chance tonight.”
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