Craig McRae admits Jordan De Goey concussion concerns after matchwinning goal against Adelaide

Craig McRae has given a startling insight into Jordan De Goey’s last-quarter concussion scare against Adelaide amid doubts about whether Collingwood’s matchwinner will be ruled out of round 11.

Collingwood coach Craig McRae could not rule out premiership star Jordan De Goey suffering a potential delayed concussion following his matchwinning role in the Magpies’ thrilling four-point win over Adelaide on Saturday.

De Goey left the field early in the final quarter after landing heavily and hitting his back and head on the ground after attempting a big pack mark.

But after coming from the ground to receive some medical attention, and being given the all clear to return to the field, De Goey gave the Magpies back the lead with 1:58 remaining after booting the game-deciding goal from a tight angle in the pocket.

“It was a heavy fall, wasn’t it? Yeah. Potentially. Yeah,” McRae said when asked if De Goey would be monitored over the next 24 hours.

“Anytime there’s something like that, you’ve got to look out for that. But he was important, wasn’t he, at the end, too? Sliding doors moments, really.”

Jordan De Goey celebrates his matchwinning goal. Picture: Michael Klein

However, McRae was not sure if he would be available to face Fremantle in Perth next week.

“I’m clearly not a doctor so I’ll leave that to the experts but that stuff will be taken care of,” McRae said.

De Goey had only just returned to the side after missing a week with a groin injury.

His late goal was set up by a huge smother from Isaac Quaynor in defence which denied Ben Keays the chance to potentially seal the victory for Adelaide and led to the Pies running the ball up the ground through the corridor to De Goey.

Quaynor didn’t have his best game, but McRae lauded his perseverance and his ability to stay focused.

“We want to have our moments … little moments – manage those well,” McRae said.

“Do those enough and then hopefully the scoreboard is a reflection of that and we’ve got a good reputation of managing moments well.

“It’ll be shown on Monday, and then probably highlighted before the next game, and go, ‘Hey, remember this? This is who we are’.”

De Goey, De Game Winner! 🥶

Jordy with a clinical finish to clinch a crucial victory at the 'G! pic.twitter.com/7MQvmlxJvh

— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) May 18, 2024

McRae said that the club’s tackler of the week is given the best car spot at the club, but he might make an exception for Quaynor because of his smother.

“He might park in there as well this week,” McRae smiled.

For the second week in a row, Collingwood fielded a decimated forward line that was missing Brody Mihocek (hamstring), Jamie Elliott (vascular), Beau McCreery (concussion) and Jeremy Howe (groin), as well as Dan McStay (knee).

They then lost Will Hoskin-Elliott (hamstring) and Reef McInnes (concussion) during the game, and McRae was rapt with how his team found a way to kick another winning score.

“It’s a challenging period for us, it really is,” he said.

“We come in with a plan and then plans already going to be stressed and then the plan gets even more stressed and what are we going to do now?

“We found a way to kick 12 goals today, and that shouldn’t be undersold, and nine different goalkickers again. But there’s a stress.”

However, McRae confirmed McCreery would be back to face the Dockers and that Mihocek was a chance too.

Collingwood champion Scott Pendlebury looked anything but a 36-year-old against the Crows, racking up 30 touches (12 contested), six clearances and two goals in his 393rd game, and McRae believes he is the most professional player he has ever come across in his three decades of involvement in the AFL.

“It’s hard to argue against that,” McRae said.

“Longevity is a great success story. You don’t have that longevity without the professionalism.”

Originally published as Craig McRae admits Jordan De Goey concussion concerns after matchwinning goal against Adelaide