Collingwood suffers another setback with Steele Sidebottom ruled out for the upcoming clash against Carlton at the MCG on Thursday night. The Magpies coach Craig McRae confirmed Sidebottom’s hip pointer injury from the recent loss to Fremantle, which also sidelines Jordan De Goey due to concussion.
Collingwood’s Injury Challenges
“He got a knock on the hip pointer, so he won’t play,” McRae stated. “There’s quite a lot of bleeding there, and he has limited movement.”
The team eyes replacements including Ed Allan, Wil Parker, William Hayes, and Lachie Sullivan. Despite strong training form, 2023 Norm Smith medallist Bobby Hill remains off-limits as he follows a structured pre-season plan focused on long-term readiness.
“Bobby is on a plan,” McRae explained. “We’re keeping an eye on it long term.”
Collingwood’s forward line struggles persist, ranking near the bottom in goals scored. Jeremy Howe trained up forward, potentially shifting into attack when Darcy Moore recovers from hamstring issues. Small forward Jamie Elliott must step up after managing just five goals in five games. Nick Daicos, nursing a corked calf, appears set for his 100th match, earning high praise from McRae.
“What a player, what a professional,” McRae said. “He has every attribute to be one of the best players of all time.”
Carlton’s Key Returns
Carlton anticipates the return of defenders Jacob Weitering and Harry Dean, both cleared after concussion protocols. “They will both be available,” coach Michael Voss confirmed. “They’ve trained fully this week.”
Captain Patrick Cripps trained effectively despite a taped right hand from the recent defeat to Adelaide.
Voss considers recalling midfielder George Hewett to tag Daicos, a matchup he has handled before.
Reigniting the Rivalry
With Collingwood dominating recent encounters—winning seven of the last eight and 19 of 23 since 2013—Voss urges his side to revive the historic rivalry.
“We need to play a bigger role for any rivalry to take effect,” Voss emphasized. “This becomes an important game for us and our club.”
Despite a tough start with just one win, Voss’s passion endures. “This has been a life-long journey for me,” he shared, recalling childhood memories of Carlton’s 1987 premiership.
