Centre-half forward Travis Cloke headlines a list of possible inclusions this week, meaning coach Mick Malthouse will likely have some welcome headaches at the selection table ahead of his team’s Queen’s Birthday clash with Melbourne.
Key Magpie Paul Medhurst is also in the running to return after a month out with an ankle injury, while Anthony Rocca (knee), Sean Rusling (cheekbone) and Ben Johnson (leg) all appear set to play after extended stints on the sidelines.
“Those guys that have missed the last three or four weeks are probably available this coming game, so it clears up that injury list a bit,” Collingwood football manager Geoff Walsh told collingwoodfc.com.au.
“We had [Dale] Thomas and [Alan] Didak come in at the weekend and we didn’t get any fresh injuries out of the weekend either, so that was good.”
Walsh said Medhurst’s chances would be helped by an eight-day break ahead of the clash with Melbourne.
“Hopefully we can get some training into him,” he said.
“He might be 50-50 just in terms of his fitness in general.”
Walsh said Cloke, who hasn’t played since injuring his hamstring against St Kilda in round seven, would be fit to play this week. However whether he comes straight back into the senior side is less certain.
“That’s a match committee decision, but he’ll be available to play wherever,” Walsh said.
The Magpies are confident both Rocca and the unlucky Rusling – who broke his cheekbone in his first game back this season after a series of setbacks with a shoulder – will both be available for selection.
Ben Johnson, who broke his leg against Geelong in round three, wanted to play last week but was held back. However he is expected to be passed fit this weekend.
The Magpies have a week off after their clash with the Demons for the AFL’s split round, however their VFL team will play on that weekend. Walsh said that would give the club an opportunity to put more match time into some players’ legs.
Given Sunday’s win and the turning of the tide on the injury front, things are suddenly looking a lot brighter at the Lexus Centre.
The Magpies played arguably their best football of the season on Sunday evening.
Their third-quarter haul of 9.3 against Port Adelaide was their best under Mick Malthouse since they booted 10.6 in the final home and away round of 2006.
With its win over the Power, Collingwood consolidated its position inside the top eight and now sits sixth on the ladder.
In the next three weeks, the Magpies face bottom-of-the-ladder Melbourne, followed by the Sydney Swans (ANZ Stadium) and Fremantle (MCG).
