AFL 2022: Collingwood’s big guns including Jordan De Goey pass final training test for preliminary final

The belief is strong at Collingwood ahead of Saturday’s preliminary final and good news on two injured stars will only help their cause.

Jordan De Goey has been declared fit to face the Swans. Picture: Getty Images

Collingwood defender Darcy Moore has recovered from illness in time to take on Lance Franklin, and star Jordan De Goey is over his shoulder issues as Magpies coach Craig McRae zones in on the “trust” and belief his team has to reach the AFL grand final.

The Magpies completed preparations for Saturday’s preliminary final showdown with Sydney at the SCG and McRae dismissed any lingering fitness concerns, declaring all necessary players were “ready to go”.

McRae, in his first season as coach, has taken Collingwood from 17th in 2021 to being one win away from the grand final.

But while he has drifted towards thinking ahead, the coach said he had pulled himself and his players back into a narrow focus on the job at hand, which is beating the Swans.

“The further you get into your campaign, your attention gets pulled and you get distracted,” McRae said on Thursday.

“I catch myself all the time thinking ‘what if’ and you start thinking forward and what could be.

“That‘s just a natural human behaviour. We just talked about getting it (focus) back.

“It‘s OK to think like that, but let’s just come back to what we know and trust and believe in what we’ve been doing.”

Darcy Moore is raring to go. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

McRae said De Goey had been “protected” from certain elements of training this week to ensure the explosive midfielder, who fought through a shoulder injury to play last week, was ready for the Swans.

“We’re happy with where he’s at. He’s much better than what he was this time last week,” McRae said.

“We‘ve kept him away from little things throughout the week, but he’s done the full week of work this week, so it will be nice to have him out there.”

Jordan De Goey has been ‘protected’ at training. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Collingwood won 11 games in a row on their way to the finals and nearly toppled minor-premiers Geelong first-up before easily accounting for Fremantle.

Both finals were at the MCG, with support in their favour, but McRae was adamant a move to Sydney wouldn’t hamper the chances of his team, which has won so many big moments this season.

“I’ve had great admiration for what the group’s been able to do playing on the big stages and in the big moments,” McRae said.

“We haven‘t played the occasion, we’ve played the game, which has been really pleasing to date.

“Those experiences, hopefully, will stand us in good stead.”

Originally published as AFL 2022: Collingwood’s big guns including Jordan De Goey pass final training test for preliminary final