Magpies shrug off the talk of injuries

THE common narrative around Collingwood centres on their injury list and its potential to impact the club’s first finals campaign since 2013.

But Magpies coach Nathan Buckley isn’t fazed as he prepares to unveil former basketballer Jack Madgen against Sydney on Saturday.

Buckley said he and his players had a “strong belief” the next man in would be very capable of doing the job.

Madgen, 25, was picked up as a rookie by the Pies after a basketball career which included four years at US college Delta State University.

He comes in for injured defender Jeremy Howe, who has failed to recover from a concussion suffered in last week’s loss to Richmond.

The Pies injury list grew by two in the game, with defender Matt Scharenberg also lost for the season after he went down with a third ACL injury.

But Buckley said he and his players backed their “system” to continue to stand- up despite the team’s revolving door.

“Everyone is talking about that. It’s not something we are discussing internally,” Buckley said of the injury- talk.

“We’ve had guys perform well at VFL level and who have displayed the capacity to come in and do what’s required.

“The proof will be in our performances, I suppose. But we’ve got a strong belief, the players have a strong belief.

“We know we are going to be tested this weekend but we hope and believe and expect it will stand up again.

“We know we are coming up against a team with its back against the wall, this is a mustwin game for us as well.

“It’s a battle we are looking forward to.”