![\"Danny](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/14200608ab3621357a740646c1e6f58c8cefb511.png\")
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March 28, 2026 \u2014 1:08am<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n Save this article for later<\/p>\n Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime.<\/p>\n Got it<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Injuries are almost certain to rule captain Darcy Moore and veteran Scott Pendlebury out of Collingwood\u2019s Thursday night clash with the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba.<\/p>\n The veteran stars suffered intriguing ailments during Friday night\u2019s victory over GWS at Marvel Stadium, both spending large periods of the match on the bench.<\/p>\n Moore\u2019s issue was described as \u201chamstring awareness\u201d by Collingwood coach Craig McRae, who then admitted Pendlebury had suffered an Achilles strain.<\/p>\n But this might have been news to Pendlebury. He had earlier dismissed concerns about his leg on Fox Footy, saying he sat out most of the second half as a precaution with a sore ankle.<\/p>\n He said he picked up the injury the week before against Adelaide.<\/p>\n The Magpies will also be sweating on the match review officer\u2019s analysis of the Giants game, following an incident involving Ned Long.<\/p>\n The hard-nosed Collingwood midfielder appeared to flick opponent Clayton Oliver\u2019s face with his hand during the 33-point victory, sending the Giants onballer sprawling to the ground. He is at risk of a week\u2019s suspension.<\/p>\n The talk of the night was Moore. He was continually coming off the ground with a limp only to return full of running.<\/p>\n The key defender was back in the Collingwood side for his first game of the season after recovering from a calf strain, but he could barely kick the ball.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s hamstring awareness,\u201d McRae said. \u201cFor those following his rehab back to play, he had this about 10 to 12 days ago \u2013 the same thing \u2013 and we were just, \u2018No risk, no risk, no risk\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cBut we were in the game, and you go, \u2018Can he push through? Can he take some minutes?\u2019 Because it\u2019s important that, in terms of rotations, to see if he could take some minutes without risk.<\/p>\n \u201cNow I say that, but I\u2019m just backing in the high-performance team. That\u2019s not my area, and so we did that.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cBut he\u2019s not right. He\u2019s not 100 per cent. Has he done a hamstring? I\u2019m not sure. I don\u2019t think so… but we\u2019ll obviously do all the investigations and find out.<\/p>\n \u201cIn six days we travel to Brisbane, so I\u2019d say he\u2019s unlikely next week.\u201d<\/p>\n Pendlebury was due to equal Brent Harvey\u2019s 432-game record on Anzac Day, and break it the following week during an MCG home game against Hawthorn. But that timeline has been pushed back by McRae.<\/p>\n \u201cPendles and I chatted this week, and we chatted pre-season, and he was unlikely to go this game [against the Lions on Thursday], and so we\u2019ll probably stick to that plan,\u201d McRae said.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was always our plan not to go to this game, so it probably falls in line with that.\u201d<\/p>\n McRae said he was unsure of the extent of Pendlebury\u2019s issue.<\/p>\n \u201cThe paint is still wet,\u201d he said. \u201cWe will have to find all this out. You guys will be the first to know when we find out.\u201d<\/p>\n The football world will be watching with interest.<\/p>\n Following their round eight clash with Hawthorn, Collingwood have an away game against Geelong at the MCG, and then head to the SCG to tackle the Swans as possible venues for Pendlebury\u2019s milestone 433rd game (when he\u2019d be one clear of Brent Harvey\u2019s 432).<\/p>\n Despite injury clouds hanging over two of his key players, McRae was full of praise for debutant Oscar Steene.<\/p>\n The Magpies coach made the surprise move of starting the high-leaping Steene in the ruck. He quickly repaid the faith by setting up the side\u2019s second goal with a superb centre-square tap to Nick Daicos.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got a guy that can jump at the centre bounce and get a first hand on the ball and that changes the dynamic for the midfield,\u201d McRae said.<\/p>\n \u201cNick can get on the roll, and Jordy [De Goey] can get on the roll, and they are really good players in that phase.\u201d<\/p>\n Apart from his ruck work, Steene also took a strong grab in the goal square to bring up his first AFL goal. As the ball sailed through the big sticks he was swamped by 17 teammates.<\/p>\n Related Article Collingwood\u2019s defence was miserly. Despite the Giants winning large volumes of possession and peppering their forward 50, the Magpies\u2019 defence held resolute.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re a dangerous team, the Giants, when they get that tsunami handball going, and we tried to be aware of it, but we forced them to contest a bit more in the second half, which we wanted to do,\u201d McRae said.<\/p>\n Nick Daicos dominated the night and was clearly best on ground with 36 disposals and two goals.<\/p>\n His brother Josh was not far behind with 33 possessions, despite leaving the field for a short period in the opening term with a sore shoulder. Tim Membrey led the scoring with four goals.<\/p>\n For Giants coach Adam Kingsley, it was another week of frustration. They led the kicks and handball counts and topped the inside-50 tally 58 to Collingwood\u2019s 50. But they could not score.<\/p>\n In the second half they were carved up in the centre square.<\/p>\n Kingsley said his side did not maximise their entries, nor their opportunities to post a winning score.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s connection,\u201d Kingsley said. \u201cI thought Collingwood defended well in the moments that they needed to, but I think our connection is nowhere near where it needs to be at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Darcy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/5c93f1042d717f296e45e4971a6456eecbd5ce10.jpeg\")
Darcy Moore of the Magpies walks the boundary against the Giants.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Darcy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/4ad836337efe9df74394ea5cacb8d089ac764ac4.jpeg\")
Darcy Moore (left) and Scott Pendlebury (centre) watch on from the bench.AFL Photos<\/p>\n![\"Way](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/3e59571607e7cf83654d59b5205f319f3b11e55f.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Oscar](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/8364cf859acbd7cad64fda76ca7f95c20ef4df7a.jpeg\")
Oscar Steene impressed in the ruck on debut against Kieren Briggs.Paul Rovere<\/p>\n![\"Scott](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774626373_985_c375837ada81aa03997eb0396e2aef79f9ff97d9.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Tim](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/792f15122d26597b409f9df20d4a33352c2b2a8c.jpeg\")
Tim Membrey returned to form up forward for the Pies.Paul Rovere<\/p>\n