De Goey absence not a worry for Thomas

Star Whitfield to miss clash with the Magpies after appendix op

AFL: Collingwood’s Josh Thomas believes the loss of fellow forward Jordan De Goey will make his Magpies more “unpredictable” in Saturday’s preliminary final.

De Goey will miss the clash with GWS Giants with a hamstring injury, but he remains an outside chance of playing in the grand final should the Magpies advance.

The 23-year-old also missed themagpies’ final four games of the home-and-away season, in which his sidewon four consecutive games.

He is the Magpies’ X-factor, but Thomas said he was confident his side could keep winning without him.

“He’s such an individually brilliant player and one of the best forwards in the comp,” Thomas said.

“We’re so lucky to have him, BAD TIMING: Giants star Lachie Whitfield underwent surgery yesterday in Sydney. AFL: GWS Giants say an accidental knee Lachie Whitfield copped to the back from Brisbane star Eric Hipwood is not necessarily linked to the shock appendicitis diagnosis which has sensationally ruled him out of Saturday’s preliminary final.

The star halfback was undergoing surgery yesterday morning, with the next 48 hours critical in determining how sore he would be leading into a grand final, should the Giants qualify.

However, coach Leon Cameron declared “nothing would hold him back” from a decider.

It’s been a nightmare 24 hours for but at the same time I think with the way we play we just don’t’ rely on one player.

“And that’s’ what has worked for us in the front half for the past 12 to 18 months.

“If he gets up it’s going to be a massive bonus, but I feel likewe sort of have different avenues and it will make us a little bit more unpredictable with Jamie (Elliott) coming back as well who wasn’t there last year.” GWS, with Toby Greene’s suspension being controversially upheld and Whitfield being rushed to hospital almost simultaneously.

Whitfield was complaining of soreness on Monday following a nasty but accidental knee he received in the win over the Lions.

“Obviously Lachie got hit pretty hard last week in the game, in a fair knock. That’s just the way it is,” Cameron said.

“In terms of trying to say did that lead towards his appendix, I think our doctor said no. I couldn’t tell you.”

Cameron said there was no denying the club was rocked by the extraordinary loss of Whitfield, one of the most influential players in the competition.

The preliminary final will be just the second game the Magpies have played in a month, courtesy of the pre-finals bye and then the week off for winning the qualifying final.

Since it was introduced in 2016, teams that have had the extra week’s break have an overall 50-50 record in the preliminary final.

It’s been a new challenge for themagpies this year, but Tho

“He’swoken “He’swoken up thismorning this morning and he’s going to have his appendix out at about 11am today,” he said.

“Unfortunately for Lachie going to play this week.

“We’re not going to sit here and deny that we’re flat that he’s not playing. I’m not going to say he’s happy about this. It is what it is. These things happen. Is it at the wrong time? Yes it is, but he’s old enough and big enough to know his health’s more important than any game of footy.

“We get that done this morning, he’ll recover and he’ll put his hand up if we’re good enough to progress.”

GWS will go back to the tribunal tonight to appeal Greene’s one-match he’s not mas was confident his side would be ready for the Giants.

“It’s really weird,” he said. “Last year we lost the first final so we had to play an extra week, which some might say is better. I don’tknow. It’s anewset of circumstances for us but I think we’ve handled it really well.

“I feel like we’re ready to go and I think we’ll hit the ground running come Saturday.”

— Nick Smart suspension. They’re confident Whitfield will be no worse than one week.

But the question is can GWS progress without at least one – but possibly two – of their best players.

“We hope so (Whitfield can play grand final). And we’re confident it will be,” Cameron said.

“Clearly the recovery from today to Saturday is too short, so he can’t play this weekend. But we’ll be doing everything in our power to win on Saturday so it gives Lachie an opportunity to play next weekend.

“But Lachie himself will be doing everything in his power to recover really well and put himself in the frame next Saturday if we progress through.”