Collingwoods hamstring woes have returned, leading Magpies coach Nathan Buckley to insist the Pies are working diligently to address the issues and “not sweeping them under the carpet”.
Buckleys side lost a dour struggle to Geelong by 21 points at the MCG on Sunday, but the day was made all the worse after out-of-contract forwards Jamie Elliott and Darcy Moore both suffered hamstring injuries for the second time in weeks. The injury-prone Elliott – who hasnt played at senior level this year after suffering a hamstring strain at training last month – left the field early during the Pies VFL game on Sunday, while Moore – who missed four matches earlier this year with a hamstring injury – was sidelined early in the main game.
Testing times: Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley was had to deal with the loss of Darcy Moore and Tom Phillips during their round 8 defeat to Geelong.
Photo: AAP
The Pies were down to just two men on the bench in the second half after the hard-running Tom Phillips was concussed following a tackle from Geelongs Zach Tuohy, with the Magpies head appearing to be struck by the knee of teammate Chris Mayne.
Taylor Adams was also struck down by a hamstring ailment last month, part of a nasty injury run the Pies have endured this year. Buckley said Collingwood were trying to get to the bottom of the problem.
“Every team has injuries,” Buckley said.
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“Weve had a few recurrences. Clearly Jamie today and Darcy today are issues for us. Rest assured were not sweeping them under the carpet. Weve got to find the answer to it. We want access to our best players more often.
“Were not sitting on our hands, not assessing whether we can do things better or what the mechanisms might be. And theyre slightly different with each player.
“But it is significant. We have looked at it. We looked at it as a group about three weeks ago, and well have another look now. We need to keep providing the best opportunity for players, we need to keep getting rehab right so we can get players back, and fit, and standing up to the competition.
“And sometimes theres a bit of luck in it as well, but well look after what were in control of and leave the rest to the gods.”
Buckley said both players would face scans, with timeframes for returns unclear.
"In the end you make decisions on whats best for the player and what their signs are telling us. And we need to look at that and make some shifts or understand what the mechanisms are so that we can improve it.”
Captain Scott Pendlebury was a late withdrawal after failing to recover in time from an ankle concern, but he is expected to take on St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night. Buckley said Phillips was “dusty” after the game, and he will need to get through tests this week to take on the Saints. Ben Reid (Achilles) is unlikely to be available.
Geelong coach Chris Scott said he wasnt sure whether Scott Selwood (back) or Daniel Menzel (groin) would be available to confront Essendon at the MCG next Saturday. Brandan Parfitt (foot) is closing in on a return though, while Lachlan Fogarty should be in the mix after being managed, and Tom Hawkins will be available having served his one-match suspension for umpire contact.
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Daniel is an Age sports reporter.
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