Round 7 AFL injury list: Dan McStay to miss 6-8 weeks with knee injury

Daniel McStay is set to miss up to two months — but has avoided an ACL tear — after injuring his knee in Collingwood’s Anzac Day win over Essendon.

Dan McStay has avoided a dreaded ACL injury but will still be sidelined for the next 6-8 weeks.

The Collingwood key forward had his knee buckle in the Anzac Day win over Essendon on Friday, with recent injury troubles in the back of the club’s mind as he came from the ground.

But coach Craig McRae eased concerns on ABC Radio, confirming McStay had suffered an MCL injury instead.

“Dan’s got a grade three medial strain,” he said.

“It’s about a six-to-eight week injury. No operation required, just some rehab and in a brace for a period of time.

“Around six-to-eight weeks, without being too precise.”

Daniel McStay flies for a mark against Essendon. Picture: Michael Klein

McStay was subbed on Anzac Day with a knee concern.

It is a similar injury to the one that ruled him out of the 2023 grand final, but far less significant to the ACL injury that wiped out the majority of his 2024 campaign.

McRae said on Friday night of skipper Darcy Moore: “My last report is he’s improving, he’s still getting some vertigo signs and he’s on antibiotics.

“It’s a day-to-day at the moment but I think he’s improving, still not enough to train though, hopefully that improves over the next couple of days.”

Adelaide’s Riley Thilthorpe also went down with injury, suffering a compound fracture in his finger during Friday night’s loss to Fremantle.

He suffered the break in a marking contest and came from the ground in considerable pain, spending an extended period of time in the rooms getting attended to.

But he returned and kicked a goal in the late stages of the match.

Despite his return to the field, Thilthorpe will be sent for scans and meet with surgeons to determine the next steps for his recovery, with the Crows expected to know a clearer return-to-play timeline in the coming days.