Collingwood’s injury woes have deepened with Jordan De Goey, Mason Cox, and Joe Richards all ruled out until after the club’s mid-season bye in round 15, while Brody Mihocek won’t return until after the King’s Birthday clash.
The Magpies had 12 players unavailable before their trip to Western Australia and suffered three new injuries in the draw against Fremantle last Friday night.
Mihocek and Cox both exited the game at Optus Stadium early, with recent scans confirming the severity of their injuries.
After missing two games with a hamstring strain, Mihocek will now be out for at least the next two fixtures against the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne, potentially sidelined for up to four weeks with a low-grade hamstring strain.
Cox was subbed out after an awkward landing left his knee trapped, resulting in a grade-two medial collateral ligament injury that will sideline him for the next six weeks.
De Goey will miss the next three to four weeks with an acute abdominal injury. He missed earlier games due to a groin injury, returned against Adelaide in round 10, but was then ruled out of the Dockers’ clash after a new injury.
Richards’ promising start to his AFL career has been halted by a foot issue, with scans revealing a metatarsal fracture that will keep him out until at least round 16.
However, veteran midfielder Scott Pendlebury has been cleared of an arm injury and will be available against the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Friday night.
Jeremy Howe, who has missed the past two games due to an adductor strain, might return this weekend. Young forward Reef McInnes is expected to clear concussion protocols in time to face the Bulldogs, and Jack Bytel will be available if he fully trains on Wednesday.
Collingwood has managed a challenging period by integrating new faces into the team over the past month. Lachie Sullivan, Harvey Harrison, and Richards made significant contributions against Fremantle, while Ed Allan and Wil Parker debuted, and Charlie Dean was recalled.
The Magpies had a VFL bye last weekend but included Ash Johnson, Nathan Kreuger, and Fin Macrae in their 26-man squad. Draftees Harry DeMattia and Tew Jiath could make their senior debuts in June or July, while Jakob Ryan might get another chance after being subbed out of his debut game due to concussion.
