Pies are hoping for many Moore years
COLLINGWOOD vice captain Taylor Adams is confident Darcy Moore will re- sign with the Pies despite a season decimated by hamstring issues.
The Pies star has repeatedly broken down this year and seems destined to miss this year’s Grand Final eight weeks after his most recent sprain.
That injury was only deemed at the lower end of the scale but coach Nathan Buckley admits Moore is yet to gain enough trust in his body to declare himself fit to play.
The father- son recruit has been closely linked to Sydney, WEST Coast Eagles defender Tom Barrass will have the unenviable task of trying to stop big Texan Mason Cox in Saturday’s AFL grand final.
Thankfully for Barrass he will be able to call upon Jeremy McGovern and Will Schofield as well.
Magpie Cox was the story of the AFL preliminary final weekend as he stunned Richmond to advance Collingwood to the grand final.
Cox kicked three goals and had eight contested marks. West Coast overcame Collingwood in a tight qualifying final and that time, Barrass held Cox to four kicks, two marks and no score.
This time around Barrass hopes to keep Cox in check by using his length to try to stop him from getting a clear run at the ball.
“Because he’s so tall and has such long arms, he can reach the ball at the highest point but it’s about working together as a back line to put having not yet signed a twoyear deal offered to him in January by the Pies. Adams said he felt Moore was engaged and happy at the club, believing he will stay.
“It’s been a disappointing year for Darcy … he has put absolutely everything into getting his body right and unfortunately for him its failed,’’ Adams said.
“We would love for him to stay and sign on and I am still really confident he will.
“I think he wants to be part of this footy club and his family has a history at this club. yourselves in positions to impact the footy,” Barrass said.
Part of Barrass’ confidence in getting the job done against Cox is he’ll have the support of fellow defenders McGovern and Schofield.
“I think it’s a real benefit having those two by my side,” Barrass said.
“They’ve taught me a lot and they have different aspects to each of them.”
Barrass, 22, will play his 51st AFL game in Saturday’s grand final and he is willing to dream of what winning a flag would be like while not forgetting Brad Sheppard, Nic Naitanui and Andrew Gaff who won’t be there.
“It’s quite saddening to see some of those boys miss out on playing in a grand final but it happens every year.
“It will be sad for them if we do happen to win the grand final which is the plan, but they aren’t going to be the first people to ever go through that situation.”
“He’s a very well respected contributor to our team when he’s playing and he makes us a much better footy club when he’s out there.”
The Pies are one of many Victorian clubs closely linked to Gold Coast co- captain Steven May, but the Suns would only give him up for a significant draft return.
He is also very well paid, so letting Moore go and replacing him with May would be costly.
At his best Moore looks a natural centre half back and at only 22 he has a decade of football ahead of him.
Sydney has just re- signed Jake Lloyd for four seasons but will move on Dan Hannebery and Gary Rohan, freeing up some cap space for a player of the worth of Moore.
Defender Tom Langdon said he felt for the long list of injured defenders who would miss this week’s Grand Final.
“There will be seven backs out there on the weekend but there are plenty more out there like Shaz ( Matthew Scharenberg) and Dunny ( Lynden Dunn) and Darcy who have made big contributions to our team this year,” Langdon said.
“It’s going to be hard for them and I feel for those guys but they have been tremendous this year and have all contributed to where we are now.”