Mick McGuane urges Collingwood to take a chance on Adam Treloar

COLLINGWOOD premiership hero Mick McGuane says the Magpies should play Adam Treloar against West Coast even though the feeling is the club is unlikely to risk him.

Adam Treloar has missed the past 11 weeks. Picture: AAP

COLLINGWOOD premiership hero Mick McGuane says the Magpies should play Adam Treloar against West Coast on Saturday night, 11 weeks after he had hamstring surgery.

The star midfielder has impressed in training but the feeling is the club is unlikely to risk him in the qualifying final.

McGuane recalled a similar gamble paying off for Hawthorn in the 2014 Grand Final when Cyril Rioli was selected having played only 60 minutes of VFL football after a hamstring tear.

McGuane believes Treloar would be able to manage his loads by pushing forward.

And if the Pies were to win in Perth by playing him, they would get a fortnight’s break before an MCG preliminary final.

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Match fitness would be a key factor for Collingwood’s selection committee but if he is ready to play, McGuane said the Pies should back him in.

“If he signs off on everything from a medical standpoint, I would be playing him for sure,” McGuane said.

“He can definitely add to Collingwood’s advantage. It gives them depth through the midfield, he is an elite ground ball player, he has defensive traits and he has high tackle pressure.

“We know he’s not match hardened to a point but I would be rolling him out.

“West Coast has lost their best ground ball player in (Andrew) Gaff and Collingwood could bring one in. It would add a real advantage for them.”

Adam Treloar has trained impressively. Picture: AAP

AFL history is littered with big risks in finals, St Kilda bringing in defender Steven Baker for the 2010 Grand Final after a Round 13 suspension, while Rioli played a Grand Final after a Round 15 hamstring tendon injury.

“Baker was a defender but he was playing on forwards rolling up and running 14-17km, Cyril came back for Alastair Clarkson and they introduced those players to their team knowing the volume of training they had done.

“It’s where you back in your sports science group and say, “This is what he has done”.

Treloar has even played as a deep forward on rare occasions, using his forward nous and speed off the mark as a match-up nightmare.

“There is a lot of positivity about the diversity Bucks has added to the team,” McGuane said.

“Steele Sidebottom, Pendles (Scott Pendlebury) and Treloar can all spend time forward.

“What he has done is created a lot of planning for opposition coaches. There is less predictability about their forward structure.

“Let’s face it, if you are fit and healthy and in the club’s best players, you just pick them. That’s what I think.”

The Pies will train several times this week, with captain Pendlebury to dispel any doubts about his fitness at a press conference today after a viral issue his wife labelled meningitis.

Jeremy Howe will also train fully and be ready to take on West Coast’s tall marking forwards at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.