AFL: Jordan De Goey and Will Hoskin-Elliott in doubt for Collingwood’s clash with Gold Coast due to gastro

Collingwood has several tricky selection calls to make ahead of its round 7 showdown with Gold Coast after illness impacted the preparation of key personnel.

Collingwood’s Jordan De Goey is dealing with a bout of gastro ahead of Sunday’s match against Gold Coast. Picture: Getty Images

Collingwood star Jordan De Goey and fellow Magpie Will Hoskin-Elliott are in doubt for Sunday’s clash with Gold Coast as a debilitating case of gastro sweeps through the club.

Neither player trained on Friday, with coach Craig McRae revealing some of his assistants were also struck down during the week.

De Goey’s been one of Collingwood’s most influential players across the first six rounds but has been laid low in recent days.

The Pies are set to give the pair as long as possible to be ready but Steele Sidebottom’s cramping issues against Geelong in round 3 after he dealt with gastro in the lead-up serves as a warning.

“(De Goey) hasn’t trained the last 24 hours,” McRae said.

Will Hoskin-Elliott is racing the clock to be fit to face the Suns. Picture: Getty Images

“He’s done a little bit himself away from here, but as everything is at the moment – a little bit sensitive around illness – so anyone that’s showing any signs of anything, we keep them out of the place.

“We’ll pick 23 or whatever it is and see what happens from there (but it’s something to monitor), particularly off a six-day break, too.

“We’ll have to wait and see how he’s feeling. Not only him – we’ve got Will the same – so we’ll assess that in the next 24 hours.”

McRae and co. made the significant decision on Friday afternoon to select 197cm rookie Aiden Begg, over veteran American Mason Cox, as Darcy Cameron’s ruck support.

Cameron is set to play the lion’s share of the ruck minutes in the absence of dual All-Australian Brodie Grundy, who may be sidelined for up to three months with a serious knee injury.

Mason Cox and Aiden Begg, both pictured, are competing for the same spot. Picture: Getty Images

Collingwood axed Cox a fortnight ago following an ineffectual four-disposal performance in the narrow loss to Brisbane and he now finds himself behind the untried Begg in the pecking order.

“(Begg)’s certainly pressing. His form in the VFL has been really strong and he’s improved considerably,” he said.

“When I arrived, I thought, ‘Who’s this big kid; I haven’t seen much of him?’ and just to watch him grow in front of our eyes – I never thought we’d be in a position to be considering his name at round 7.

“It shows his growth, and the work that Josh Fraser and the development team’s done has been sensational.”

Grundy’s setback leaves Collingwood’s ruck stocks vulnerable and McRae said he would be in favour of a mid-season trade period, unlike Western Bulldogs counterpart Luke Beveridge.

Brodie Grundy will be out for the next few months with a knee injury. Picture: Getty Images

“I think anything where you can better your list (is worth doing). The fans would love to see that, too. It’s a conversation starter,” he said.

“There’s a balance of it, too ... and clearly the Players’ Association would be interested in the welfare of players, but I think as a collective, players who aren’t getting opportunities at other clubs, can benefit your club.

“Then there’s the excitement of teams maybe trying to get into the finals and I think it could give a real good spectacle to the whole game.”

McRae also hinted that boom father-son draftee Nick Daicos may need to be managed at some stage this season.

Originally published as AFL: Jordan De Goey and Will Hoskin-Elliott in doubt for Collingwood’s clash with Gold Coast due to gastro