Selection puzzle remains
The fate of four injured players remains uncertain after training at the MCG
MYSTERY surrounds the make-up of Collingwood's team to tackle Geelong in Saturday night's preliminary final after the Magpies trained at the MCG on Wednesday morning.
Ruckman Josh Fraser, (knee), midfielder Scott Pendlebury (broken leg), emerging onballer Dayne Beams (calf) and veteran forward Anthony Rocca (ankle) all joined their teammates in the brief hit-out and seem set to come into calculations for the match against the Cats.
However, while assistant coach Blake Caracella said Fraser was moving well and would be a chance to return, the experienced Pie appeared the most proppy.
He also had his right knee heavily bandaged and had some extra taping applied during the session.
Beams had his right calf strapped but appeared to move freely, while Rocca also had a bounce in his step.
Pendlebury's presence came as a shock to most of the assembled media, who were allowed to watch the first 20 minutes of the Pies' brief session.
The Collingwood left-footer broke a fibula bone against St Kilda and had surgery about 10 days ago.
While difficult to assess just how close he might come to making a miracle recovery – the young gun was also wearing his customary leggings for training which would have hidden any strapping underneath – he didn't seem too restricted when running and kicking.
Before training assistant coach Blake Caracella was unsure of the quartet's selection chances, although he cast doubt on Pendlebury being able to play less than two weeks after breaking his injury.
"He would be an outside chance to play ... fingers crossed that he may be right, but he's a long shot," Caracella said.
"A broken bone normally takes six weeks to heal and play, so you can only cross your fingers."
Rocca, who injured his ankle against the Saints, looked okay although Caracella suggested the veteran wouldn't return to face the Cats.
"We know Mick's horses for courses [policy] depending who we play," he said.
"He's probably not going to play this week, but in the grand final … depends who we play."
Caracella said the team had played well after half time last week, making the match committee's task at selection a tough one.
However he did hint that out-of-form forward Paul Medhurst's history of good performances against Geelong was likely to help him maintain his place in the team.
Caracella admitted the goalkicker wasn't at his best.
"He hasn't been great, there's no doubt," he said.
"He was All-Australian last year and he hasn't quite been up to that standard this year but if you look at the stats I think he's kicked three goals or 4.12 or 4.13 over the last so many weeks.
"So he's been having shots but not kicking goals … if you look at the game last time against Geelong, he played really well [and] kicked three goals, so he'll be a chance to play."