Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos has been subbed off with a calf injury during the Magpies’ win over Melbourne on King’s Birthday.
Daicos copped an inadvertent knee to his shin from Demon Alex Neal-Bullen in the closing stages of the third term.
He limped from the field in discomfort, but was able to to return to the field in the final quarter.
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However, with the Pies opening up a 40-point lead with 12 minutes remaining, coach Crag McRae decided to take Daicos out of the game.
Daicos was later seen with ice strapped to his lower right leg, but told Channel 7 after the match it was just precautionary.
“Early in the third I had a knock on the inside (of my leg) and later I got a knock on the outside so it turned into a bit of a dead leg,” he said.
“Just precautionary, they said to me ‘try to run it out at the start of the fourth and if we don’t need you, we’ll pull you off’.”
Collingwood have six days until their next match against North Melbourne on Sunday.
It’s the latest in a long list of key injuries for the Magpies with fellow midfielders Scott Pendlebury, Tom Mitchell and Jordan De Goey all sidelined, as well as forwards Jamie Elliott, Mason Cox and Brody Mihocek.
Daicos was well held by Neal-Bullen in a rare quiet game for the ball magnet.
He still gathered 15 possessions and kicked a monster goal in the third quarter, but was well below his best.
Despite the growing injury list, the Magpies ran out convincing 38-point winners to surge up to sixth place on the ladder.
Jack Crisp was awarded best afield after collecting 27 touches, while Josh Daicos and Brayden Maynard were valuable contributors.
Nathan Kreuger kicked a career-high three goals in his first game in more than a year, while Harvey Harrison also chimed in with three.
The Demons had their own injury issues with superstar Christian Petracca subbed out and later taken to hospital following a brutal knock to the ribs.
Demons fans booed Maynard every time he was involved in play, but the hard-nosed defender was among the Magpies’ best.
The last time these teams played, Maynard had a heavy collision with Angus Brayshaw at the start of the qualifying final that eventually ended the Melbourne player’s career.
Asked if he fed off the crowd, Maynard told Channel Seven post-match: “We all do, don’t we … it’s all part of the game.”
As much as the reigning premiers were again much greater than the sum of their parts, Melbourne’s field kicking was horrible and their delivery into attack often gave their forwards no realistic chance.
It is instructive that Melbourne had two more scoring shots, but never looked like being able to kick a winning score.
In the wake of last week’s 92-point obliteration from Fremantle, Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin had spoken about the need to find clarity and unity in how they play.
But the Demons, who have exited the past two finals series in straight sets, again lacked cohesion and they are outside the top eight with a 7-7 record going into their mid-season bye.
They have too many players down on form, star midfielder Clayton Oliver chief among them, with Crisp dominating their duel to be best afield.
Petracca had started the game well, but was crunched in a marking contest just before quarter-time.
He was in agony, clutching his left side, as trainers helped him to the rooms.
Petracca returned to the game in the second term, but clearly was restricted and was subbed out early in the third quarter.
The first term set the tone — Melbourne dominated inside-50s 15-9, but their forward play was poor and they sprayed 0.4, with two other shots going out of bounds on the full.
Meanwhile, recalled big man Kreuger kicked the first of his three goals and the Magpies had a 15-point lead at quarter-time.
Melbourne key forward Jacob van Rooyen kicked two goals early in the second term to keep it tight, but repeated turnovers cost them, and a goal on the half-time siren to Will Hoskin-Elliott had Collingwood up by 27 points.
Kysaiah Pickett was a rare shining light for the Demons in the midfield and up forward, while van Rooyen finished with three goals.
– With AAP