COLLINGWOOD SWEATS OVER FOUR SICK MAGPIES

FOUR Collingwood footballers are hoping to beat the flu in time to face Richmond at the MCG on Saturday as coach Craig McRae doubles down on the Magpies’ strict treatment of Jack Ginnivan.

None of Taylor Adams, Brayden Maynard, Nick Daicos or Reef McInnes was at Collingwood’s main training session on Thursday.

But McRae still plans to have them all in his side, including first-year sensation Daicos, who the rookie coach hinted last week may need a break at some stage

The Magpies selected Jordan De Goey and Will Hoskin-Elliott for last week’s victory over Gold Coast after they battled gastro in the lead-up and did the same with Steele Sidebottom earlier in the season.

“We’ve got the man flu still going. It’s gone through us last week and there’s a little bit of carry-over this week,” McRae said.

Much of the external focus on Collingwood this week again centred on bleachedblond livewire Ginnivan, who was hauled in front of the club’s leaders after a postAnzac Day drinking session.

Ginnivan has kicked 14 goals in six games, but McRae said: “He’s a kid who’s just finding his feet in AFL.”