A concerned Collingwood is set to be without captain Darcy Moore and champion Scott Pendlebury for the Easter Thursday blockbuster against reigning premiers Brisbane.

Achilles soreness will delay Pendlebury’s pursuit of the all-time AFL games record held by Brent Harvey, with the former skipper forced from the ground in the third term of Collingwood’s decisive 33-point win over the Giants at Marvel Stadium on Friday night.

Watch every match of every round of the Premiership Season LIVE and ad-break free during play on FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

The issue with Moore, who endured an injury-interrupted pre-season, is more mystifying.

While the defender was able to finish the match, he looked in significant trouble late in the first term and Magpies coach Craig McRae confirmed there was a hamstring problem.

But he said Collingwood’s high performance team, in conjunction with Moore, felt he was capable of pushing through against the Giants and he was influential at times in his return.

“It’s hamstring awareness and for those following his rehab back to play, he had this about 10 to 12 days ago. (It is) the same thing and we just (take) no risks,” McRae said.

“But (when) we’re in the game … you go, ‘Can he push through? Can he take some minutes? Because that is important in terms of the rotation … if he could take some minutes without risk. I’m just backing in the high performance team. That’s not my area. So we did that.

“But he’s not right. He’s not 100 per cent. So has he done a hammy? I’m not sure. I don’t think so. It’s what I’ll be told. But we’ll obviously do all the investigation and find out. But I’d say he’s unlikely (because in) six days we will travel to Brisbane. I’d say he’s unlikely.”

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 27: Scott Pendlebury of the Magpies (centre) is seen on the bench during the 2026 AFL Round 03 match between the Collingwood Magpies and the GWS Giants at Marvel Stadium on March 27, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS

Ned Long’s high strike on Oliver | 00:34

Pendlebury, too, will miss against Brisbane, though McRae said this had already been flagged with the six-time all Australian prior to the Achilles issue flaring in the third term.

The Collingwood coach said it is too early to diagnose how acute the issue is and whether the 38-year-old will spend longer on the sidelines.

“I don’t know. We will have to find all this out,” he said.

“Actually, Pendles and I chatted this week and we chatted pre-season (and) he was unlikely to go to this game, and so we’ll probably stick to that plan. (It is a) six day travel into Brisbane and then back to Melbourne (and on) to Gather Round. It was always our plan (for him) not to go to this game, so it probably falls in line with that.”

Josh Daicos, who was typically creative in a match his younger brother Nick turned on its head with a scorching display in the third term, was fine despite a worry with his shoulder.

The Collingwood coach was delighted with the debut of Oscar Steene, who has been on the Magpies list for the past three seasons but delivered with distinction on Friday night.

McRae said the Magpies were aware it was a pivotal year for Steene, who played 18 games at VFL level in 2023 and 2025 but missed the year in between with a significant toe injury.

But they were confident in his ability to have an impact in tandem with Copeland Trophy medallist Darcy Cameron, with his emergence a factor in the decision to delist Mason Cox.

“It was nice to see Oscar Steene get an opportunity and show the footy world he can jump and influence the play. That was a nice result,” he said.

“Honestly, list management makes decisions around finding out about Oscar and making decisions to move Mason Cox on. I had conversations with Oscar really early days: ‘Hey, let’s go mate, we’ve opened a door for you’. That was early in pre-season, so (we have been) pushing, prodding and encouraging.”

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 27: Debutant, Oscar Steene of the Magpies (obscured) celebrates his first league goal with teammates during the 2026 AFL Round 03 match between the Collingwood Magpies and the GWS Giants at Marvel Stadium on March 27, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS

He said the performance of emerging Adelaide ruckman Lachlan McAndrew, who has flourished with a change of ruck rules, furthered their belief Steene could have an impact given his spring and ability as a tap ruckman.

“Then you get to watch the early rounds, we played Adelaide and they pick a guy who can jump at centre bounce and it makes a difference,” he said.

“Now how much? Hit-outs are one thing. Clearances are another. But we’ve got a guy who can jump at centre bounce and get the first hands on the ball and it changes the dynamic for the midfield. Nick (Daicos) and ‘Jordy’ (De Goey) can get on a roll and they’re really good players in that phase.“

Daicos, meanwhile, was exceptional in the third term, with a Champion Data analysis rating it the third best quarter he has produced in his career in terms of its impact.

He was able to move forward and kick two critical goals, with Melbourne great Garry Lyon saying it had the potential reshape the thinking surrounding the Magpies, which were far more efficient in attack after struggling to score in the infancy of the season.

The Daicos surname was in the headlines all week, with the superstar linked to the new Tasmanian team at a time his father Peter is said to be at odds with the club.

But McRae described the Brownlow Medal runner-up as the consummate professional.

“This is the reality of our world. With no disrespect, within our four walls it’s a lot different to the outside world,” he said

“We respect that. You guys create stories and you’ve got to write on it. It’s your world, but our world is a little bit different.

“We’re process driven. We’re high performance. We’re trying to get better every day. We can’t control the narrative around us. We respect that’s part of the job – there’s heroes and villains and wins and losses – but that’s just what we live in.

“When you come into our walls, we’re just getting better. Nick is the best trainer at our club and Josh is not far behind him. They get to work and they were brilliant again. (They) work so hard at their game and they get what they get. They deserve what they get.”