As the Australian Football League (AFL) pre-season kicks into high gear, Collingwood coach Craig McRae had a challenging week. Injuries to some of his major cogs have made that a challenge. As pressure mounts, McRae’s priority is doing what he needs to do to keep his team in contention despite that loss.
Dan McStay, probably the most underrated addition to the Collingwood lineup. Unfortunately, due to an injury, he will miss main training for the next two weeks. McStay in particular is expected to make a timely return for the opening round. This is the first sign of hope for the long forlorn team! It’s an even tougher blow for Collingwood with his absence. Captain Toby Greene is out with a glute concern, adding to the depth of the team’s troubles.
In addition to McStay and Greene, Collingwood has had injuries affect two other big names. Both Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe came off with calf strains against Collingwood, placing them in doubt for the coming matches. The absence of these players would limit the team’s ability to play at full speed as they get ready for the regular season.
The challenges are not limited to Collingwood. Around the league, many players alike have faced their own personal and injury-related adversities. Western Bulldogs’ James Harmes has taken indefinite personal leave, while Geelong’s Tyson Stengle is absent due to a personal situation. Melbourne Demons superstar Max Gawn is set to miss at least a month after undergoing surgery on his broken finger.
Bobby Hill from Collingwood has been granted a leave of absence to manage personal issues. This heaps on complicity under racial covenants onto the legal challenges McRae is currently facing. The coach recognizes that these injuries and absences pose a significant hurdle as he prepares his squad for the upcoming season.
In addition, injuries have been especially catastrophic in other teams. Carlton’s Jesse Motlop recently suffered a ruptured ACL, which will require a recovery in the vicinity of 12 months. Likewise, North Melbourne’s Jackson Archer is out for the year after suffering an ACL tear. These highly upsetting incidents highlight the extreme physical toll of the players leading up to the start of the season. Most importantly, they uncover the long-term effects—in how they treat their teams.
