Magpies confirm at least one change for Gather Round, Hawks cop more blows, Wines & Rampe hamstrung
Collingwood will make at least one change for Round 4, with veteran Steele Sidebottom to return against Hawthorn.
Sidebottom didn’t feature in the Magpies' first win of the season against Brisbane last Thursday, instead ‘managed’ after a slow start to the 2024 season.
But coach Craig McRae, speaking on SEN’s The Run Home, confirmed the 33-year-old would return this week.
“That was always the plan. We somewhat looked at managing him against St Kilda a couple of weeks ago… but he’ll play this week,” McRae said.
Meanwhile, tall target Nathan Kreuger is set to be available for selection after recovering from a hamstring injury.
“(He) has cleared gym and running-based markers, and pending he clears match play at training this week, he will be available for selection,” Pies high-performance boss Jarrod Wade told the club’s website.
McRae’s Magpies are set to come up against an injury-depleted Hawks on Sunday, with Sam Mitchell finding no respite in a growing injury list.
Nick Watson (ankle) and Mitch Lewis (hamstring) both won’t feature after playing on Easter Monday, with the Hawks still missing up to six of its best 22.
With AFL clubs flooding into Adelaide for Gather Round, the Power will be boosted by the return of midfielder Jason Horne-Francis from a minor hamstring injury, but Ollie Wines has succumbed to a soft tissue setback and won't be available.
Meanwhile, Melbourne has revealed defender Marty Hore will go under the knife for a fractured thumb, while Swans co-captain Dane Rampe won’t be available for 3-4 weeks after straining his hamstring on the weekend.
Gather Round gets underway when Adelaide hosts Melbourne on Thursday night.