Key Player Updates for Collingwood
Collingwood has made several key player decisions ahead of their upcoming match against Hawthorn. Veteran player Scott Pendlebury will be absent from the game, while captain Darcy Moore is set to return after recovering from a hamstring injury. These changes highlight the team’s strategic approach to managing their roster and ensuring optimal performance in the long term.
Scott Pendlebury’s Absence
Pendlebury’s absence comes as a result of his impressive performance during the Anzac Day clash against Essendon. Coach Craig McRae has indicated that the 38-year-old player will be managed due to the short five-day turnaround between games.
“We had a conversation with him yesterday and he was pretty keen to miss this game, so he’ll be managed,” McRae said. “38-year-olds, five-day breaks, all those things but it’s not reacting to this game, it was planned to some degree.”
McRae emphasized that the decision was made with the player’s well-being in mind, taking into account the physical demands of the sport. The coach also mentioned that there were considerations about how much time Pendlebury would spend on the field, with an eye on avoiding any potential issues in the following week.
Future Plans for Pendlebury
Despite his absence from the current game, Pendlebury is expected to play against Geelong. However, McRae remains cautious about what happens after that. The expectation is that Pendlebury will take a break in the following week against Sydney to prepare for a significant milestone at the MCG against West Coast.
“I’ve had some conversations with the executive team about this early days, and truthfully I said: ‘can you just keep that on the other side of the building because we’re here to perform and can we just get that right?’” McRae added.
He also mentioned that there are plans in place to celebrate Pendlebury’s achievements, highlighting the importance of balancing performance with future goals.
Ned Long as a Potential Replacement
Ned Long is seen as a possible replacement for Pendlebury in the upcoming match. However, McRae did not guarantee his return, stating that decisions were made based on the high transition nature of the Anzac Day game.
“There were some decisions made accordingly and we thought that (Anzac Day) in particular was going to be high transition and this will be a bit of both. It’s hard to leave guys out because it’s a big day, those conversations aren’t easy to have but we’ve got Ned available,” McRae said.
Darcy Moore’s Return
Darcy Moore returns to the senior side for the first time since Round 3, marking a significant step in his recovery from a hamstring injury. His return is a positive sign for the team, especially after an interrupted pre-season and start to the 2026 campaign.
Match Against Hawthorn
The Pies’ match against the Hawks starts a run of three games against benchmark sides. McRae has outlined plans to counter the strengths of these teams, particularly focusing on how they move the ball and defend when in possession.
“Hawthorn is such a good intercepting team, critical to the way they play the game so how we move the ball can make that harder for them and then other parts of the game – how we defend the ground when they do have it,” McRae said.
He acknowledged that Hawthorn is currently the best team in the competition and sees the upcoming game as an opportunity to assess the team’s progress.
Bobby Hill’s Recovery
Meanwhile, McRae remained noncommittal about a timeline for Bobby Hill’s AFL return. He mentioned that the club will continue to review high performance numbers after Hill played 40 per cent game time in the VFL on the weekend. This indicates that the team is taking a cautious approach to ensure Hill’s full recovery before reintroducing him to the senior squad.
