The old adage that a week is a long time in football is ringing painfully true for AFL coaches, with Collingwood's Craig McRae at the forefront of a mounting pre-season injury crisis.
Magpies' Premiership Defence Stung
Just months after their 2023 triumph, the Magpies' preparations have been severely disrupted. The latest blow came on Wednesday when key forward Dan McStay suffered a hamstring injury at training.
The former Brisbane Lions player will be sidelined from main training for the next couple of weeks, though it's reported he is expected to return in time for the new season's Opening Round.
McStay's setback is part of a worrying trend for the club, becoming the third Collingwood star in a week to succumb to a soft tissue injury. Captain Darcy Moore and defender Jeremy Howe are both nursing calf strains.
Compounding the on-field issues, the club confirmed small forward Bobby Hill has been granted a leave of absence to deal with personal matters.
League-Wide Disruptions Mount
The injury bug and personal absences are not confined to the reigning premiers. The Western Bulldogs' James Harmes and Geelong's Tyson Stengle have both taken indefinite personal leave from their respective clubs.
In a significant blow for the GWS Giants, high-profile recruit Clayton Oliver is set for at least a fortnight on the sidelines with a calf strain, currently confined to rehabilitation on a stationary bike. He joins captain Toby Greene, who is managing a glute issue.
Oliver's former Melbourne captain, Max Gawn, will also be out of action for a period due to a finger injury. Both Gawn and Greene are now in a race against the clock to be fit for next month's State of Origin clash in Perth.
Season-Ending Blows for Young Guns
The most devastating news of the pre-season has come for two young players, with Carlton's Jesse Motlop and North Melbourne's Jackson Archer both ruled out for the entire 2024 campaign. Each suffered a season-ending ACL tear, facing a gruelling 12-month rehabilitation process.
This spate of injuries and absences so close to the start of the new season presents a significant challenge for multiple clubs. Coaches will be forced to adjust training loads and trial new combinations, while the affected players face a frustrating battle to regain fitness ahead of Round 1.
