Collingwood captain Darcy Moore subbed out with hamstring injury in win over Geelong

Collingwood’s premiership hopes have taken a huge hit with yet another star struck down with injury in consecutive weeks.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 11: Jack Ginnivan of the Magpies shares an embrace with Darcy Moore of the Magpies as Moore is subbed out of the game during the round 22 AFL match between Collingwood Magpies and Geelong Cats at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on August 11, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Collingwood’s premiership hopes have taken a significant blow with captain Darcy Moore subbed out early in their Round 22 clash over Geelong at the MCG.

Despite the Pies’ 16.13 (109) to 15.11 (101) win, coach Craig McRae’s primary concern will be on the fitness of his star fullback and charismatic leader, having already lost Brownlow contender Nick Daicos to a knee injury until at least the second week of finals.

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The relatively menial appearance of Moore’s injury may bode positively for Collingwood – he was not running at anywhere near a full sprint when he pulled up clutching at his left hamstring.

Darcy Moore is down in the rooms and this vision indicates it could be a hamstring injury...#AFLPiesCatspic.twitter.com/AX3qqMQxUJ

— 7AFL (@7AFL) August 11, 2023

He immediately went to the bench, where he would be subbed out for livewire forward Jack Ginnivan, and was not seen with any strapping or ice on the hamstring as is often standard practice.

Collingwood general manager of football Peter Wright was reticent to make an early diagnosis at the main break, describing it as tightness to the media.

“It was hamstring tightness,” Wright told Seven’s Abbie Holmes in the rooms at halftime.

“They went down to try and loosen him up through the back but couldn‘t get him going.

“He’ll be out for, well, this game obviously, but we’ll have scans and see how he goes.”

Moore and Ginnivan shared a warm embrace at the half. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Pressed on Moore’s history of soft tissue and hamstring injuries in particular, having missed 27 games since his debut for the club in 2015 through hamstring injuries alone, Wright remained optimistic that the injury would not be overly serious.

“Yeah, I don’t think so, they said tightness, so that’s what we’re going with at the moment,” he said.

Luke Hodge on Seven’s coverage was less optimistic.

“Turn it up Wrighty, he reckons that was tightness!” Hodge laughed during the main break.

“He’s trying to pull one over our eyes there Richo. That’s a genuine string.”

Former Richmond talisman Matthew Richardson agreed on air, saying that in his experience of hamstring injuries, players tended to instinctively know the severity of the injury.

“Having had hamstring (injuries), when it goes like that and you grab it straight away, I’m not doubting that but …” Richardson said, implying that Wright was himself optimistic that Moore was simply experiencing tightness.

Ginnivan was seen embracing his skipper in a tender moment between teammates at half time.

Collingwood are almost certain of a top-four finish, and as the consensus premiership favourite of the competition, would consider it a significant disappointment to walk away this September without their first taste of silverware in over a decade.

Originally published as Collingwood captain Darcy Moore subbed out with hamstring injury in win over Geelong