They often say a single week can change everything in the AFL, and Collingwood coach Craig McRae would certainly agree at the moment.
Even though the season has not officially begun, the 2023 premiership-winning coach will be eager to see his key players recover quickly after forward Dan McStay became the latest Magpie to be hit by injury.
The former Brisbane Lions player strained his hamstring during a training session on Wednesday.
McStay is expected to miss main training for the next few weeks, but according to 7NEWS reporter Xander McGuire, he should be fit in time for Opening Round.
His injury follows those of Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe, who both suffered calf strains over the past week, making McStay the third Collingwood star to pick up a soft-tissue injury in a short span.
The setback comes only days after the club confirmed that Bobby Hill had been granted personal leave to address private matters.
Across the league, similar situations have emerged, with Western Bulldogs midfielder James Harmes and Geelong forward Tyson Stengle also taking indefinite personal leave from their clubs.
At the same time, new GWS Giants recruit Clayton Oliver has encountered a pre-season hurdle, restricted to a stationary bike due to a calf strain.
The former Melbourne star will be sidelined for at least two weeks and joins Giants captain Toby Greene, who is currently managing a glute injury.
Oliver’s former captain at Melbourne, Max Gawn, is also set to miss time after injuring his finger. Both Gawn and Greene are now racing against time to be fit for next month’s State of Origin clash in Perth.
It has been a brutal week across the AFL, with Carlton’s Jesse Motlop and North Melbourne defender Jackson Archer both ruled out for the season after suffering ACL injuries.
Meanwhile, Western Bulldogs premiership player James Harmes has officially stepped away from pre-season duties, and Australian tennis player Bernard Tomic’s comeback hopes took another hit as he exited Australian Open qualifying.
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