Collingwood's John Noble and Beau McCreery to Miss Essendon Game

Collingwood will face Essendon on Friday night without key players John Noble and Beau McCreery. Here’s what you need to know about their current team status and injury updates.

Key Points

1. Player Absences

• John Noble: Concussion protocols.

• Beau McCreery: Calf strain.

2. Recent Injuries

• Jamie Elliott: Vascular issue.

• Mason Cox: Knee injury.

• Tom Mitchell: Foot injury.

3. Return to Training

• Dan McStay: Back to full training after knee reconstruction.

Detailed Insights

Player Absences

John Noble

• Injury: Concussion.

• Details: Entered AFL’s concussion protocols after a head injury in the fourth quarter against Gold Coast.

• Recent Performance: Played 12 straight games since Easter Thursday fixture against Brisbane.

Beau McCreery

• Injury: Calf strain.

• Details: Substituted out in the third quarter against Gold Coast; expected to be sidelined for some time.

Recent Injuries

Collingwood is also dealing with injuries to several other key players:

• Tom Mitchell: Hasn’t played since Anzac Day due to a lingering plantar fascia issue, which required surgery in June.

Return to Training

Dan McStay

• Status: Returned to full training.

• Injury: Knee reconstruction (December).

• Details: Likely to play in the VFL later this month but no clear return date for AFL games.

Recent Changes and Upcoming Matches

Joe Richards

• Role: Second-year forward.

• Impact: Replaced McCreery against Gold Coast and made an immediate impact with five of his six touches being score involvements.

Upcoming Match: Collingwood vs. Essendon

• Date: Friday night.

• Significance: A crucial game as Collingwood looks to overcome recent injury challenges.

Conclusion

Collingwood is set to face Essendon without key players John Noble and Beau McCreery, adding to their injury woes with several other players already sidelined. Despite these setbacks, the return of Dan McStay to full training brings some positive news. Fans will be eagerly watching how the team adjusts and performs in this crucial match.