AFL 2024: Collingwood ‘building’ despite Jordan De Goey hamstring setback

They’ll need to do it without one of their stars, but Magpies coach Craig McRae has warned rivals his side is starting to “get hot” again.

Collingwood star Jordan De Goey was subbed out of the game in the third term with a suspected high grade hamstring strain. Picture: Dylan Burns / Getty Images

Collingwood coach Craig McRae says the Magpies are “simmering” as a season-defining showdown looms with a badly wounded Sydney next Friday.

The Magpies feared the worst for Jordan De Goey after he was subbed out during the third quarter with a hamstring injury on Saturday night, but McRae said his side was “building” at an ominous time with finals firmly back on the table.

The three-point win over Carlton in Scott Pendlebury’s 400th game brought the Pies within a game of the top eight – and the Blues – with matches against Sydney (SCG), Brisbane (MCG) and Melbourne to come.

“I think we’re building. This is the time you want to get hot, isn’t it? I feel like we’re not quite hot, but we’re simmering,” McRae said after the win.

“Time will tell if it’s too late, but we’re still breathing.”

Jordan De Goey reacts after suffering a hamstring injury during the third quarter of the three-point win over Carlton. Picture: Daniel Pockett / Getty Images

The coach said indications were De Goey would miss at least the “short-to-medium term”, as he finished the game on crutches in his return from an ongoing groin issue.

“It’s a hamstring, high grade. I would’ve thought that’s going to be difficult for him to play in the short to medium-term,” McRae said.

“I’ve just been told it’s high grade, and obviously that’s not great for him.”

Chaired off the ground by longtime teammates Steele Sidebottom and Jeremy Howe, Pendlebury said he “felt the love” from the Collingwood faithful after feeling helpless following Mitch McGovern’s mark before the siren.

“When the siren went I just sort of put my hands in the air – what do we do, we had no control over what was about to happen,” he said.

“I feel like we probably went a bit safe, back into our shell in the last quarter, but for three quarters it really felt like a Collingwood brand of footy.

Pendlebury says he ‘felt the love’ from Collingwood supporters as he was chaired off by Jeremy Howe (left) and Steele Sidebottom (right) after his 400th game. Picture: Dylan Burns / Getty Images

“I thought the effort the boys put in was first-class, and to get that win and keep building momentum is so important for our year.”

The 36-year-old had a team-high 27 disposals and nine clearances along with some crucial contest wins in a seven-possession final term.

He said a rare Thursday off in the lead up to the game had helped him mentally prepare for the occasion after a draining previous day stacked with club and media commitments to mark his milestone.

“I certainly enjoyed the week … we had a little schedule change that we don’t normally have, so it allowed me to have Thursday off after a pretty massive Wednesday,” Pendlebury said.

“Both my kids were at school, Alex had work, I had the house to myself from 9 until about 4, it was sort of the day that I needed.

“My family’s enjoyed the celebration, I certainly enjoyed it, but more importantly I was just excited tonight to come out and play.”