Collingwood plans hit-and-run mission on wounded Dockers
COLLINGWOOD will treat Saturday’s clash with Fremantle as a “hit and run mission” to retrieve four points as it plots its assault on September, while Jeremy Howe and Adam Treloar continue their fight for fitness.
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COLLINGWOOD will treat Saturday’s clash with Fremantle as a “hit-and-run mission” as it plots its assault on September.
Coach Nathan Buckley said he expected the Dockers to be ready to bounce back after last week’s 133-point capitulation to Geelong and his team would be ready for anything.
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“Fremantle will be smarting — you don’t make … this level without an element of pride in your performances, and I dare say there would be a bounce-back from last week,” he said.
“Last rounds of the year can throw up different results and performances from different sides. “We can’t really control what Freo do as much as we can control what we do.”
The match will be Collingwood’s first at Perth Stadium, but it could be there again next month as a potential final at the ground against West Coast looms.
Third-placed Collingwood still has to cement a top-four spot.
“When it gets to the pointy end, the consequences — both positive and negative — become more obvious,” Buckley said.
“But the fact is we’re wanting to play a brand of football we know can improve and can take on the best sides.
“We’ve been working towards that all season and we’ve got to use this round to do the same.”
Buckley said there would be no focus on finals until Sunday.
“We won’t have our whole squad together, so we’re not solidifying a great deal (for finals) other than that we see it as a hit-and-run — get there and get the job done and then come back,” he said.
Star midfielder Adam Treloar is progressing in his recovery from hamstring surgery but may not feature until the second week of the finals, if the Magpies are still alive.
Treloar, 25, who had surgery after injuries to both hamstrings in Round 14, trained with the VFL group yesterday before doing hill runs.
Buckley said a return would be weighed up against the benefit Treloar could provide in a final without recent match practice. “He’s got a few hurdles to jump yet,” he said.
Jeremy Howe completed running drills, and might have played tomorrow if it was a home game.
Sam Murray remains out because of personal issues, but is “potentially” a chance to play again this season. Ben Reid (calf) remains optimistic about returning.
lauren.wood@news.com.au
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Originally published as Collingwood plans hit-and-run mission on wounded Dockers