Collingwood and Gold Coast to sweat on fitness of key men after Friday night rollercoaster

Jeremy Howe was subbed out and Nick Daicos battled after two seperate incidents on Friday night. Get the latest on the key Collingwood pair, plus Touk Miller and more Carlton pain.

Collingwood will sweat on the fitness of Jeremy Howe ahead of a crunch run of games as star midfielder Nick Daicos walked away uninjured from a tough night on the Gold Coast.

Howe was subbed out at half-time of a rollercoaster loss to the Suns on Friday night but told coach Craig McRae his groin concern was minor.

The Pies flew back to Melbourne on Saturday morning, with the veteran defender to be looked over across the weekend.

Gold Coast is also waiting on injury news as it sends onballer Touk Miller to scans on a hamstring concern.

Ladder leaders Collingwood have a tricky five weeks to come, with games against ninth placed Fremantle, a battling Richmond, reigning premier Brisbane and a blockbuster against Hawthorn, all at the MCG, before a trip to face Adelaide.

Jeremy Howe was subbed out with a groin concern. Picture: Matt Roberts/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Touk Miller will go for scans on his hamstring. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The Pies finish their season against Melbourne.

Howe has again played a vital role as a defensive lieutenant to skipper Darcy Moore this year and would leave a hole for the Pies to fill if he was ruled out for any decent period of time.

Billy Frampton (calf) remains weeks away from a return, while key back back-up Charlie Dean took six marks and gathered 20 disposals in the VFL on Friday.

Daicos had to fight through a double worry in the Suns game, tweaking an ankle early and then copping a big hit from Sun Connor Budarick that appeared to leave him winded.

But the superstar played through, collected 26 disposals and woke up OK on Saturday.

“Nick looked a little bit sore at times tonight and we are trying to move him around where we can get the best out of what he delivered tonight,’ McRae said post-match.

“He will be better for it.”

Nick Daicos played through a double injury niggle. Picture: Matt Roberts/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Young midfielder Ed Allan put his hand up in the VFL win over the Suns on Friday with 27 disposals and eight clearances, after he missed last week’s AFL game due to illness.

Gold Coast was hoping to get Miller in for scans on Saturday, after he was subbed from the win over the Pies.

The durable midfielder doesn’t have a history of hamstring issues but any strain would likely see him miss two crunch games in the next fortnight, against Adelaide on the road next Sunday and a Q Clash against Brisbane in round 20.

“Touk was on fire early too, that was a significant loss for us. We don’t know how bad it is,” Suns coach Damien Hardwick said post-match.

“Hopefully it is on the short-term of the spectrum.”

MORE INJURY BLUES FOR CARLTON

- Glenn McFarlane

Carlton’s Mitch McGovern is doubt for next Saturday’s MCG clash with Melbourne after experiencing hamstring awareness in the dying moments of Thursday’s loss to Brisbane.

McGovern came from the ground as a precaution with only a few minutes remaining, with scans to determine if there is any damage.

The Blues are yet to rule McGovern out and remain hopeful, but small forward Orazio Fantasia’s awful luck with soft tissue injuries continued after he was subbed out of the game.

Fantasia will likely miss two to three weeks after suffering a hamstring injury.

Carlton is staring down the barrel of four straight losses – for the second time this year – heading into the Demons’ clash.

The Blues will hold their breath on Mitch McGovern. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

But under pressure coach Michael Voss is almost certain to have Adam Saad available next week after the half back missed the past two games with concussion.

Jack Silvagni is edging closer to a return from an ongoing groin injury that has sidelined him since the round 16 game against Port Adelaide.

He will push hard this week to return in a Blues’ defence that desperately needs assistance, and will be given every chance to take on the Demons if he can prove his fitness.

Harry McKay integrated back into full training during the week after overcoming his knee issues and is on track for a return within the next fortnight.

He is an outside chance to play against Melbourne, but if that landing strip is too tight, the club expects him to be ready to play against Hawthorn on Thursday week.

Sam Walsh is still two to three weeks away with his stress reaction in his foot.

Zac Williams experienced cramp during Thursday night’s 37-point loss, but is fine.

Originally published as Collingwood and Gold Coast to sweat on fitness of key men after Friday night rollercoaster