AFL injury update: Collingwood’s McStay to miss grand final

Collingwood has confirmed it will be without Dan McStay for the AFL grand final against Brisbane at the MCG on Saturday.

The Magpies’ forward injured a knee in the third term of the preliminary final victory over GWS, with the former Lion failing to take any further part after the final change.

McStay kicked two goals early in the Magpies one-point victory over the plucky Giants, but “a high grade medial” will keep him out of the grand final against his old side.

“It’s unfortunate to confirm that Dan has sustained a high-grade medial ligament injury during last night’s preliminary final with an expected recovery time of six to eight weeks,” Collingwood’s General Manager of football Graham Wright said.

“Dan has been an important part of our season this year and played an integral role in the last night’s victory against the Giants.

“We are all disappointed for Dan to miss the grand final, but we will all rally around him, and he will continue to be a part of the team’s preparations for the week ahead.”

The Magpies are also unable to consider his logical replacement Ash Johnson with a fractured arm suffered in the VFL elimination final, with the tall options now seemingly Billy Frampton or Nathan Krueger.

Craig McRae’s team are also sweating over the availability of Taylor Adams, after he suffered a hamstring injury in the lead-up to the preliminary final, with the tough midfielder unlikely to be risked.

Other Magpies to come into consideration include sub Jack Ginnivan, who has had an impact after coming on in both the Magpies finals this year, while Reef McInness and Fin Macrae have also played senior football recently.

Brisbane have also got injury concerns of their own with Jack Payne battling to overcome an ankle injury that kept him out of their preliminary final victory over Carlton at the Gabba on Saturday.

Payne is a key cog in the Lions backline, although his replacement Darcy Gardiner did well on Blues’ star Charlie Curnow.

The Lions are also likely to have the option of playing Jack Gunston, with the Hawthorn recruit having recovered from a serious knee injury, although he looks unlikely to be recalled.

Collingwood has eased slightly in the betting, now priced at $1.75 with online bookmakers to defeat the Lions ($2.10), no doubt partly spurred on by the grand final being played at the Magpies’ home ground, the MCG.

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