McRae opens up on Mitchell’s ‘grumbling’ ankle injury, flags selection changes after Pies’ 0-2 start

Collingwood coach Craig McRae says Tom Mitchell has been battling a “grumbling” ankle injury despite being managed in the team’s 33-point loss to Sydney as the reigning premiers fell to 0-2 to start 2024.

The Magpies’ flag defence is off to a shaky start after convincing losses by a combined 65 points to both Sydney teams to see Collingwood hold the worst percentage of all eight teams that have played.

Naturally, there’s been selection intrigue that comes with it.

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It largely centres around the non-selection of Mitchell after he was subbed out of the club’s Opening Round loss to GWS following a quiet showing before being “managed” this week yet named an emergency.

Speaking after the Pies’ defeat to the Swans at the MCG on Friday night, McRae said they hoped extra time off would hold Mitchell in better stead long term.

“We were reluctant to say out injured, because if he had to play tonight, he would’ve played. We kept him on standby just in case there was a late withdrawal,” McRae said of Mitchell.

“But he’s been managing an ankle (injury) since the Richmond (pre-season) game, he’s been grumbling. He gets up to play (last week) and it’s been grumbling all week.

“We thought let’s give him this game off, get it right and then it won’t be an issue for the rest of the year. That’s my understanding of how it looks.

“But if he had to play tonight, we probably would’ve (managed him) next week, so we’ll work through that. Ideally, the few days off from playing will get this ankle a bit better than what it is right now.”

Mitchell isn’t the only Magpie off to a slow start this season, with Ash Johnson held goalless after two games with a combined five disposals including getting subbed out of Friday night’s game nearing three-quarter time.

McRae all but confirmed Johnson, who’s struggled to capitalise on a big opportunity up forward with Dan McStay sidelined, would be dropped for next week’s clash with St Kilda.

“We want to be a coaching panel that back players in. We said that openly to Ash, we back him in and give him a chance. (But) It looks like it’s going to be hard for him to keep his spot in the team now,” McRae said.

“But that doesn’t mean he’s out forever. It might be one or two weeks, I don’t know, just go back and be the Ash we love.

“Jump at the ball, take your marks, finish your goals, work for others — the things that are right in front of him.

“He’s a good representation of what’s right in front of us — get back to work and be the best version of yourself and go and

show everyone else.”

In more promising signs, however, Pies young gun Finlay Macrae impressed upon coming on as the sub for the Johnson on Friday night, providing a spark in the midfield with eight disposals and two tackles in limited game time.

It came after Macrae was left out of Collingwood’s Opening Round side despite a strong-pre-season, but the 22-year old made an impression on his coach against Sydney.

“I liked what I saw, I think everyone would’ve liked what they saw,” McRae said of Macrae.

“We’ve got to find players that are hungry and ready to take us to our next levels. That’s reality.”

McRae hinted his side would look different for next Thursday’s night’s meeting with the Saints at the MCG.

“I do think so (we’ll make some changes),” the Collingwood coach added.

“We’ve had two six-day breaks and we’ve got another one, so that’s three games in 12 days. We’ve got some guys we’ve got to get some freshness in.

“I’m not sure what that looks like yet so I don’t want to overstate it or who it is.”