Collingwood has been written off plenty of times in 2026, but with six rounds remaining, the Magpies sit on the edge of the top six with a decent percentage.
However, the club has faced consistent injury struggles this season and Friday night produced more of the same as forward Lachie Schultz went down with an ankle injury and defender Jeremy Howe left the ground early with groin troubles.
Schultz landed awkwardly in a contest during the second quarter and left the field hobbling.
The 28-year-old tried to return to the game but was ruled out by the Collingwood medical staff.
Coach Craig McRae said his side was hoping for the best for the pressure forward.
“Syndesmosis is the early call, which back in the day used to be a really scary word,” McRae said.
“Apparently our high-performance team says it's not as scary as it once was, but we'll have to get scans to work through that.”
Superstar Magpie Nick Daicos received treatment in the last quarter of the match and was positioned as a deep forward for extended periods, raising an alarm that the midfielder was playing under duress.
McRae refused to comment on Daicos' physical health post-match.
"I won't go into detail of Nick's body because that's his and our information," he said.
"But to see what he did in the last few minutes of the game to set up a goal and kick a goal and then run 50m to save goals. He is just finding new ways to inspire all of us. Remarkable player."
Defender Howe left the game late with a groin concern. The 36-year-old has a history with this injury after ripping his groin off the bone last year, but this isn't a similar problem. Howe remains a chance to play next week against Carlton.
The match between Collingwood and North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Friday night wasn't without its fair share of controversy. Including a late Magpies goal, which was denied by the ARC after footage was ruled inconclusive as to whether North Melbourne player Cam Zurhaar had touched the ball on the line.
McRae said upgrading the outdated technology in the game is a problem that must be fixed.
"I've got a strong opinion, I do and I don't know if I can share it, but the technology is not up to scratch and I know that because I have seen technology out there that is way better than what we are using and the AFL have seen it too," he said.
"The decision itself is what it is, but the technology doesn't show the full picture. And we only see what is on the screen, it misses a frame out. It probably looked like it was touched but insignificant evidence?
"We have got technology that is there to be used. I'm not sure why the AFL are resisting using it. I'm not privy to any conversations other than I have seen the footage of what we could be using.
"The AFL have seen it, it's a private company that have produced it. I have seen it myself. The frame by frame capability of this technology, and that's only one version; I'm sure there's more.
"It's a pretty amazing, tight competition with big stakes and grand finals decided by inconclusive footage? I'm not sure that's a world we want to live in 2026."
