Collingwood’s premiership captain, Darcy Moore, faces a significant stint on the sidelines, potentially missing up to a month of AFL action after scans confirmed a double dose of injuries to his right leg. The news comes as a blow to the Magpies, who secured a crucial victory against GWS at Marvel Stadium on Friday night, a game in which Moore bravely played through evident discomfort.
This latest setback means Moore will be absent for the next three to four weeks, adding to his early-season woes which saw him miss the start of the campaign due to previous soft-tissue issues.
The Extent of the Injuries
Collingwood’s General Manager, Charlie Gardiner, provided an update on Moore’s condition, detailing the nature of his injuries. “We are obviously disappointed for Darcy,” Gardiner stated. “Scans yesterday showed he has sustained a low-grade hamstring strain along with an inflamed bursa behind his knee, which is expected to keep him out for the next three to four weeks.”
Gardiner assured supporters that Moore would remain under the close supervision of the club’s medical and high-performance staff. “Darcy will continue to work closely with our medical and high-performance team as he progresses through his return-to-play timeline.”
A Calculated Risk
Collingwood coach Craig McRae acknowledged that the decision to play Moore in the GWS clash was a calculated one, understanding the inherent risks involved. “We like to be risk takers, you’ve got to be,” McRae explained. “Like ‘let’s go’, I will have a throw at the stumps but within reason. It’s round three.”
He expressed confidence in the club’s medical professionals, adding, “I’d be surprised if our medical team and high performance team would put him out there with big risk.”
McRae accepted the consequences of such decisions. “It is what it is, he got through the game, we will find out the aftermath of that and we will have to work through that.” The coach reiterated his philosophy on risk-taking, a sentiment he wants to foster within the playing group. “But we’ve got to be risk takers. I’m a risk taker and I want our players to be too.”
He further elaborated on the nature of risk in professional sport, stating, “We won’t always get it right, and that’s part of risk taking, you’re not always going to get it right. But if you don’t have a throw at the stumps, you will never run anyone out. So we’re prepared to be that team.”
Upcoming Fixture Concerns
The Magpies are already facing challenges ahead of their traditional Easter Thursday clash against the Brisbane Lions. Adding to their injury concerns, veteran midfielder Scott Pendlebury has been “all but ruled out” with achilles tightness. This news, coupled with Moore’s absence, will test Collingwood’s depth and resilience as they navigate a demanding period of the season. The team will need to rely on its broader playing group to step up in the absence of two key figures.
