IF THERE is a particular edge to Sunday's twilight MCG blockbuster between Collingwood and Essendon, it won't be because Bombers coach James Hird has, reportedly, had his suspicions about the supplements program undertaken by the Magpies in previous years.
Collingwood made that clear on Thursday morning, offering a brief statement in which it dismissed as "totally false" any suggestion of use of illegal substances in its training or the recovery of its players.
According to Collingwood skipper Nick Maxell, the edge is likely to come from the desperate stakes for both clubs. The Pies have yet to lock in a finals berth, while the Bombers are trying to remain in the top four.
"That will give it plenty of spice," he said before training on Thursday.
Maxwell was bemused at talk about the Pies potentially having to play their first final on a Sunday next month when they have yet to win enough games to even make it to September.
"We have to keep winning. We haven’t made the finals yet. We haven’t qualified," he said.
And he is wary of an Essendon side with its backs to the wall. He has seen his club dominate the TV news bulletins and newspaper front pages plenty of times in his decade at Collingwood and knows it can be a galvanizing force.
"We've been in that situation before," he said. "I have great respect for Essendon and its leaders such as James Hird and Jobe Watson. They'll be really tight this week and we'll be up against it."
The Pies expect Ben Reid to overcome an ankle injury in time to line up against the Bombers, with Maxwell saying the extra day of preparation should work in his favour.
But he is also preparing to farewell Reid as a permanent member of the Collingwood backline. Swingmen are the new black in football, and Reid has taken his place among that group.
"I think when you look at our opposition this week, you can see Jake Carlisle and Michael Hurley can go back so its just good to have that extra string to your bow. He's shown he can do it for us.
"It depends on the balance of the side, who we're playing and how they might match up."
Maxwell is part of a Magpie line-up that is in a state of flux. Whereas it was once a settled unit, with himself, Reid, Alan Toovey, Nathan Brown, Ben Johnson, Heath Shaw, Harry O'Brien and Ben Johnson as the staples, against the Bombers on Sunday it will be just himself, Shaw and Brown who will play down back.
The remainder are playing further up the ground or are injured or retired. Lachie Keeffe and Marley Williams are among those to have stepped in, while Brent Macafer and Tyson Goldsack are also seeing action in the back half.
"We have some flexibility. It's challenging because we haven’t played together as much as in the past, but that's part of football," he said.
Maxwell added that ruckman Darren Jolly was expected to return from injury through the VFL this week with a view to returning to the seniors in the next few weeks.
When asked about the Dean Robinson interview on Wednesday night, Maxwell said: "I think it just shows the human element to it all. It's not just a game of footy any more. It shows that emotions are involved and families are involved and as James Hird said last week, it will be good for everyone when it's all finished.
"Its one person's opinion, but everything will come out," he said.
Ashley Browne is a senior writer for AFL Media. You can follow him on Twitter @afl_hashbrowne.
