Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos was a shock late out for the club’s clash with Brisbane on Easter Thursday.
The star midfielder arrived at the Gabba with his calf heavily strapped, and he struggled to move freely as he ran around the ground.
The Pies made the call to scratch him at the last possible second, bringing in young on-baller Ed Allan.
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Nick Daicos’ strapped calf. Fox Footy
It’s a massive loss for the Pies, who are already missing veteran pair Scott Pendlebury and Darcy Moore.
Daicos is now sitting up in a corporate box to watch the match unfold.
SEN’s Gerard Whateley meanwhile said “no Pendlebury, no Moore, and now no Daicos, it’s a formidable task (for Collingwood)”.
“It’s a huge out – all eyes were on Nick Daicos in the warm up,” Fox Footy’s Ben Dixon said.
“Was really struggling to run, didn’t look well at all.
“It’s a bit strange they’d bring him up here on a Thursday night. Still no improvement in his ability to run.”
Collingwood has said the injury is a corked calf.
The Lions are also without key players, with Hugh McCluggage, Harris Andrews and Darcy Gardiner among those on the sidelines.
Former Adelaide star Josh Jenkins put the onus on Jordan De Goey to step up and play through the midfield in Daicos’ absence.
The Collingwood outfit without Daicos struggled significantly in the first quarter, giving up six goals and trailing 40-19 at the first break and 62-33 at half time.
Brisbane midfielders Will Ashcroft, Zac Bailey and Lachie Neale all found plenty of the footy, while no Magpie has more than six disposals at the first break.
And that continued into the second half, with Brisbane running away comfortable winners in the end.