Magpies trio to face Hawks
COLLINGWOOD expects to regain injured trio Nick Maxwell, Jarryd Blair and Tyson Goldsack for Friday's qualifying final against Hawthorn, but the Hawks may have lost Brent Guerra for the season.
Guerra limped off in the final quarter of Friday's match against West Coast, scans confirming there was significant bleeding in his left hamstring.
While the long-kicking back pocket player will keep his fingers crossed Hawthorn goes deep into the finals, and will do everything he can to make it back onto the paddock, coach Alastair Clarkson said he was already factoring in September without Guerra.
"It's a significant loss - he's a really experienced member of our back end," Clarkson said. "Hopefully the depth of our squad will be able to cover for him."
The logical choice would appear to be Xavier Ellis.
Clarkson played down injury concerns to star forward Buddy Franklin and emerging goalkicker Jack Gunston.
Meanwhile Pies football manager Geoff Walsh told SEN radio that Goldsack, Maxwell and Blair should be fit to play on Friday, while dumped forward Chris Dawes was "very much" in line for a recall.
