The Barometer: who’s in the mix and who’s out of form ahead of Round 11 in the AFL? COLLINGWOOD INJURIES Nathan Brown (shoulder) season Jack Frost (concussion) test Nathan Freeman (hamstring) 1-2 weeks Corey Gault (collarbone) 8-10 weeks Quinten Lynch (leg) 5-6 weeks Adam Oxley (ankle) test Ben Reid (calf) test Matthew Scharenberg (feet) indefinite Ben Sinclair (hamstring) 1-2 weeks ON THE BLOCK: It wasn’t Jarrod Witts’ most memorable afternoon on Saturday. Not only was he thumped in the ruck by Eagles duo Nic Naitanui and Dean Cox, he knocked Elliot Yeo’s two front teeth out! Could the Pies go with Brodie Grundy solo in the ruck with Jesse White providing relieving support? Or is White himself due for a spell after a subpar run of form? Collingwood football director Rodney Eade said Magpies defender Nathan Brown would undergo shoulder surgery and miss the rest of the season. “It stayed out of the socket for quite a while, there’s been a bit of damage… he’ll have an operation later in the week. “He’s (also) got a couple of little ailments which probably need scrape so we’ll get all those done over that convalescing period.” Eade on Reid “He’s available for selection this week but he’ll need to come back through the reserves and unfortunately the reserves have got a bye this week so that just delays his comeback another week. “He’ll be playing in what is AFL Round 12 in the reserves, play then, and probably need a week or two in that level and then hopefully back in the seniors. Eade on Frost Knock in the wrong spot on his head...after the game and he’s pulled up really well today but so fingers crossed he’ll be able to play on Friday. ON THE CUSP: Nathan Buckley would have heard two knocks on his door this weekend. One would have been the Salvos collecting for the Red Shield Appeal, the other would have been Patrick Karnezis. The former Brisbane Lion booted six goals in three quarters to be Collingwood’s most outstanding and damaging player in the VFL on the weekend. He has to be given a go soon. Kyle Martin and Tim Broomhead were again solid in the VFL. BEN WATERWORTH’S FORECAST: With two key defenders sidelined in the second half and a struggling tall forward line, Collingwood’s win over West Coast was one of its bravest and most courageous in recent memory. Nick Maxwell and Alan Toovey stood up under pressure, while the Pies’ midfield, led by Scott Pendlebury and Dayne Beams, willed the side to victory again. But is the midfield’s willingness an unhealthy reliance? We’ll find out in a month when the Pies face Hawthorn. For the time being, Buckley’s brigade has a comfy immediate run: St Kilda, Melbourne and Western Bulldogs. Win, win, win.
Posted on: Mon, 26 May 2014 06:38:14 +0000
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