Collingwood will be without skipper Darcy Moore as they enter a string of blockbuster games in April.
The Magpies confirmed on Sunday morning that a low-grade hamstring strain suffered during Fridayโs win over GWS Giants would rule the star defender out for the next โthree to four weeksโ.
That stretch includes the Thursday-night game against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba which lead into the Easter weekend, followed by games against Fremantle at home, arch rival Carlton, and, possibly, the Anzac Day clash with Essendon.
Itโs a bitter blow for Moore who was playing his first game for the season on Friday at Marvel Stadium.
Collingwoodโs executive general manager of football Charlie Gardiner said scans taken since Friday nightโs game showed Moore had an inflamed bursa behind his knee.
โWe are obviously disappointed for Darcy. Scans yesterday showed he has sustained a low-grade hamstring strain along with an inflamed bursa behind his knee, which is expected to keep him out for the next three to four weeks,โ Gardiner said.
โDarcy will continue to work closely with our medical and high-performance team as he progresses through his return-to-play timeline.โ
Collingwood beat the Giants on Friday despite Moore being sidelined with what, at the time, was described as โhamstring awarenessโ and his predecessor as captain, Scott Pendlebury, also hobbled with an Achilles strain.
Moore spent long stints off the ground on Friday. Speaking to media after the match, Collingwood coach Craig McRae said Mooreโs return to the field had been cautiously handled.
โItโs hamstring awareness,โ McRae said. โFor those following his rehab back to play, he had this about 10 to 12 days ago โ the same thing โ and we were just, โNo risk, no risk, no riskโ.
โBut we were in the game, and you go, โCan he push through? Can he take some minutes?โ Because itโs important that, in terms of rotations, to see if he could take some minutes without risk.
โNow I say that, but Iโm just backing in the high-performance team. Thatโs not my area, and so we did that.
โBut heโs not right. Heโs not 100 per cent. Has he done a hamstring? Iโm not sure. I donโt think so… but weโll obviously do all the investigations and find out.โ
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.
