COLLINGWOOD URGED TO BRING BACK TRELOAR NOW

COLLINGWOOD premiership hero Mick McGuane says the Pies should back in their fitness staff and play Adam Treloar against West Coast 11 weeks after hamstring surgery.

The star midfielder has peeled off a series of impressive training sessions, but the feeling is the Pies are less likely to take the risk.

McGuane says Hawthorn took a similar risk in the 2014 grand final by playing Cyril Rioli, who had played only 60 minutes of VFL football since a similar hamstring-tendon tear.

Collingwood 1990 premiership player McGuane believes Treloar has enough forward craft to be able to manage his midfield loads by pushing forward and adding another dimension to the Pies’ strong midfield.

Collingwood might believe he needs more training but, if it won with him, the Pies would get a fortnight’s break before an MCG preliminary final.

Match fitness would be a key factor for Collingwood’s selection committee but, if he is ready to play, McGuane said the Pies should back him in.

“If he signs off on everything from a medical standpoint, I would be playing him for sure,” McGuane said.

“He can definitely add to Collingwood’s advantage. It gives them depth through the midfield, he is an elite groundball player, he has defensive traits and he has high tackle pressure. We know he’s not match-hardened to a point but I would be rolling him out.

“West Coast has lost their best ground ball player in [Andrew] Gaff and Collingwood could bring one in. It would add a real advantage for them.”

Treloar has even played as a deep forward on rare occasions for the Pies, using his forward nous and speed off the mark as a match-up nightmare.

The Pies will train several times this week, with captain Scott Pendlebury to dispel any doubts about his fitness at a press conference today after a viral issue.