Massive new blow for Collingwood as club confirms latest setback for key player

Yahoo

5 days ago

Collingwood's hopes of winning the AFL minor premiership have been dealt a blow, with premiership star Beau McCreery suffering another hamstring injury that's set to sideline him for up to three weeks. The Magpies pressure forward returned in last weekend's heartbreaking one-point loss to Fremantle, having been sidelined since round 15 with a previous hamstring injury.
It was the first time McCreery and fellow defensive forward Lachie Schultz had played together since Round 12. But the Pies confirmed that McCreery pulled up sore after the game and is set to miss at least the next two games, in the latest setback for the luckless star.
"Beau McCreery reported hamstring awareness following the game against Fremantle on Sunday," Collingwood's Head of High Performance Jarrod Wade said. "Scans have confirmed that McCreery has sustained a minor hamstring strain. McCreery is expected to miss two to three weeks."
Collingwood will now be without the tough-tackling McCreery for a number of crucial fixtures as they look to hang onto top spot over defending premiers Brisbane, who trail the ladder-leaders by just two points. Coach Craig McRae praised McCreery's influence after his return against Freo, despite the fact it wasn't enough to inspire them to victory against the Dockers.
The 24-year-old had a typically busy game, making an impressive 15 tackles, picking up 15 disposals and earning four free kicks after featuring in attack and the midfield. "Beau's huge for us, isn't (he)?" McRae said about the premiership star in post-match press conference.
"I'm surprised (the media) hasn't mentioned how much we've missed him. Maybe (it was because) we were winning games, but he's so important to us. He can go in centre bounce, he's just electrifying. He's powerful, and 15 tackles is unbelievable for a forward. It was great to have Beau back and what he provides for us."
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Beau McCreery set to be out during tricky period for Pies
McRae's comments illustrate the task facing Collingwood without McCreery in the next few weeks, as they look to wrap up the minor premiership. The Magpies face 16th-placed Richmond at the MCG on Sunday, before a tricky run of three fixtures that looks set to determine which club finishes the season on top.
Three of Collingwood's last four games come against fellow premiership contenders, with a round 21 home game against the Lions (2nd), followed by matches against rivals Hawthorn (5th) and a trip to Adelaide to face the high-flying Crows (3rd). McCreery's absence for any of those fixtures could prove telling, before the Pies round out the regular season with a showdown against Melbourne (13th).
McRae's men will be boosted by the availability of skipper Darcy Moore, who escaped sanction over an incident with Freo's Josh Treacy, that sparked uproar on the weekend. Moore slid into the back of Treacy and collecting the Dockers star with his knees during the dying stages of the one-point loss. Freo were awarded a 50m penalty but the Pies skipper wasn't cited by the match review officer and escaped a charge over the incident.
Collingwood defender Billy Frampton will also return from a calf injury for the match against the Tigers. While teammates Jordan De Goey (concussion protocols) and Dan Houston (abdominal strain) will be assessed by Collingwood's medical staff this week, and could feature in Sunday's game at the MCG.