Collingwood has confirmed that star midfielder Jordan De Goey will not feature against Fremantle on Friday due to an abdominal strain.
The matchwinner returned on Saturday at the MCG to deliver the four premiership points with a goal in the final two minutes after a fortnight away dealing with a groin injury but has now been dealt a fresh concern.
Fly has confirmed that Jordan De Goey wonโt play in Friday nightโs Round 11 clash due to an abdominal strain ๐ฃ๏ธ pic.twitter.com/jEKWIW5uwd
— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) May 21, 2024
De Goey was also put through concussion testing after a heavy fall early in the last quarter, with worries quickly subsided as the club cleared any delayed concussion symptoms.
However, the fresh injury means another fallen soldier for Craig McRae, who will need to replace Reef McInnes (concussion) and Will Hoskin-Elliot (hamstring) for the trip.
"Jordy won't play," McRae said on Tuesday.
"He's got a fresh injury, he's got an abdominal strain. He got that in the game and played through it and pulled up quite sore from it. He's getting scans now to check out what that means.
"We tried to give it some time just to see how it was going and he obviously didn't get through it (training) and then went off for scans. We'll find out a bit more how deep it it is."
The Pies are likely to welcome back pressure forward Beau McCreery from concussion but will need to get through a full week of training.
Brody Mihocek is also a chance to return from a hamstring injury sustained during Round 8's Anzac Day clash, while fellow forward Jamie Elliot is still a few weeks away.
"Likely that Beau and Brody will play. They got through training," McRae said.
"That was the plan - you get through, you're more likely to play. So we'll probably pick those two.
Past the six month mark in his recovery and back into some contact training ๐ pic.twitter.com/vJgzK1zz7c
— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) May 21, 2024
"It's (the forward line) been a bit of a revolving door.
"I said after the game (forwards coach) Scott Selwood's done an incredible job because it just hasn't looked the same for three or four weeks now and we're managing to find ways to still score."
Former Saint Jack Bytel has also been officially ruled out of any return this weekend as he continues to work through concussion protocols, while midfielder Tom Mitchell has been given more time to get his foot right.
De Goey's withdrawal comes as Collingwood suffers from an injury crisis, with McRae revealing the club has "29 fit players".
Despite the Pies being decimated by injuries, their return to form has shot them up to fifth spot on the ladder, yielding only wins - and a draw - since Round 2.
"We've got 29 fit players this week... I think Richmond has 23 or 24..."
With around 150 players around the comp unavailable, how do we deal with the spate of injuries? Pies coach Craig McRae wonders if the game itself is too long.@TheRunHomeSEN | #AFL pic.twitter.com/QJkz2eONBq
— SEN 1116 (@1116sen) May 20, 2024
Speaking on SEN, the 2023 premiership coach alluded that shortened games could assist in player injury management, especially if the league looks to increase the number of games played, referencing the 2020 COVID-interrupted season.
MORE: McRae references unique season as potential solution to injury crisis
โIs the game too long?โ McRae said.
โI just think there's something to be said about the game which is giving us feedback. 150 players out, that's giving us feedback.
โIn hub life, we played less time and I don't think the game was any less of a product. Clearly, we didn't have the crowds to back that up."
