Click here to watch Guy McKenna's Thursday press conference on CTV
MAGPIE veteran Nathan Buckley will not make a return to competitive action this weekend despite coming through a testing training session on Thursday unscathed.
Assistant coach Guy McKenna says conditioning staff are not convinced that they’ve done enough work with the hamstring to justify his comeback for
Friday night’s game against the Tigers.
While he insists Buckley will definitely play next week, he says the club champion needs to complete about four more training sessions.
It is still uncertain as to whether he’ll make his come back through VFL side Williamstown or go straight back into the senior side.
“From a fitness and conditioning point of view, given his history, we’re certainly going to err on the side of caution and give him another week,” McKenna said.
“Whether he’s right to go now… he in his own mind might think he is. We’re probably hoping that he is… it’s not going to hurt, we just want to be safe that when he comes back next time, he completes a full training week, he’s got every chance of performing at the level he’s expected to be at whether it be at Williamstown or with the senior side.”
McKenna says how the team play against bottom of the ladder Richmond will determine if Buckley is rushed back into the senior side.
“It’s obviously how the 22 go this week. He’ll play next week, whether that’s seniors or Willy [Williamstown], we’ll make that decision next week,” McKenna says.
McKenna admits that it was tense watching Buckley being put through his paces and says that often when you’re looking at him train, “you sort of almost don’t look and just pray that he gets through”.
Despite the coaching staff’s nerves, McKenna says Buckley is showing a sunny disposition throughout the challenges.
“If he was here his smile would be that big. It’s just all progressing towards him playing.
“It’s just one day ticked off closer and that day will come in ten days.
“He’s just ticking those days off and is very excited. Obviously in his own mind, he’s still not across the line because he still hasn’t pulled on the boots yet.”
McKenna insists that Buckley’s injury setbacks have not had an adverse affect on the mood of the playing group.
“I think the boys have conducted themselves very well. I think that’s a very good sign of their mentality and it’s a good sign of Bucks’ leadership.”
In other team news, McKenna says that Brodie Holland is still about two weeks away from making his return and Alan Didak, who was rested for Thursday’s training session due to general soreness, will be assessed tomorrow before a decision on whether he will run out at the MCG.
