Collingwood President Eddie McGuire is confident "things can turn quickly" as the Magpies prepare to take on Carlton on Friday night.
The Magpies have lost their first two games of the season to Hawthorn (34 points) and Greater Western Sydney (16 points) and will face Carlton, which is also 0-2 on the win-loss ledger, at the MCG on Friday night.
A lengthy injury list that includes some of the club's most high-profile players has not helped the Magpies' cause, but McGuire refused to use that as an excuse.
McGuire joined Bombers great Kevin Sheedy at the MCG on Wednesday to officially unveil the teams' guernseys for the highly-anticipated ANZAC Day clash in round five, and said it was premature to start speculating about different outcomes.
“These things can turn quickly and what we have to do, and what I've learnt watching Kevin (Sheedy) over the years is (you can't) be distracted, (you've got to) keep your eye on the ball and do what's important for the club, and I have no doubt that's what Nathan Buckley is doing for Collingwood,” McGuire said.
Press Conference: Watch Nathan Buckley address the media ahead of Friday's game against Carlton.
Injuries to key personnel, most notably Daniel Wells, Jamie Elliott, Jordan De Goey and Alex Fasolo – all of whom are all yet to play a senior game this season – have hit Collingwood hard in 2018.
Ben Reid was a late withdrawal with a hip complaint against the Giants, while Darcy Moore suffered a hamstring injury against GWS and Tim Broomhead broke his leg in gruesome fashion when he collided with the goal post on Saturday.
“It's been upsetting for all of us who have had a hard run with injury,” McGuire said.
“But again, bad luck, that's the game. We'll get stuck into it and no excuses and we don't ask for sympathy here at Collingwood – we rarely get it anyway– and we're not going to start now.”
In partnership with RSL Victoria, the Bombers and Magpies will be promoting the 2018 ANZAC Appeal to raise funds for veterans who have served Australia.
Essendon great Kevin Sheedy, CEO Xavier Campbell, RSL Victoria State President Dr Robert Webster, Collingwood CEO Mark Anderson and President Eddie McGuire display the 2018 ANZAC Day jumpers outside the MCG.
'Things can turn quickly'
Collingwood President Eddie McGuire is confident "things can turn quickly" as the Magpies prepare to take on Carlton on Friday night.