Buckley puts heat on Jaidyn
Mihocek making quick return
COLLINGWOOD will welcome back key forward Brody Mihocek for Sunday’s clash with traditional rival Carlton at the Gabba.
But the Magpies have been coy on 2018 Rising Star winner Jaidyn Stephenson, who has missed the past two games after being dumped.
Coach Nathan Buckley said Mihocek — Collingwood’s leading goalkicker in 2020 — was “right to go” but stopped short of declaring whether Stephenson had earned a recall.
“He’s around the mark,” Buckley said on Friday.
“We know the form he displayed before he went out was nowhere near his best and it wasn’t helping us perform at our best.
“And, put bluntly, that’s where selection kicks in and takes place. If it’s this week, he’ll be up and about. If it’s a week or two away, he’s got to continue to work at that.”
Mihocek missed the win over North Melbourne with concussion.
It remains to be seen whether big man Mason Cox has kept his place, although Buckley acknowledged he had a big impact in the final quarter against the Kangaroos.
Magpie Levi Greenwood made a successful return from injury against North Melbourne and looms as a potential match-up for Blues superstar Patrick Cripps, although, Buckley stopped short of anointing Greenwood as the player to try to limit him.
“We know that Cripps has obviously been an elite player for a number of years now,” he said. “We’ll be aware of him and we will have plans around how we have to handle a player such as him, but we’ve always believed in our capacity to impose our team style.”
The Magpies coach said his side’s offence had “ebbed and flowed” this year and called for better connection in the front half.
“There’s still a big chunk of improvement in us,” Buckley said.
“Our challenge is to find and maintain some consistency in the way we’re playing.
“We’ve had a really good preparation and we’re looking forward to Sunday as much as we’d look forward to any game this year.
“And it’s not necessarily about the opponent but it’s about the significance of the match itself.”