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Liverpool vs Arsenal LIVE from 3amCan a hampered Collingwood hold up in September?
Jaiden Sciberras • August 31st, 2025 6:30 pm
It goes without saying that Collingwood’s injury concerns have them on the back foot approaching September action.
Throughout 2025, the Pies were the team to beat, 10 points clear atop the table at Round 17 before the crisis commenced, losing five of their last seven to grasp a top four spot by a fingernail.
Now, entering their first Qualifying Final against Adelaide this coming Thursday, the Pies are set to be without a number of key players in what presents as a major threat to their premiership hopes.
“I was out at Collingwood yesterday,” Gabelich told SEN Crunch Time.
“Jeremy Howe did a lot of running but he won’t be there for the first two weeks of September.
“Beau McCreery is the one that’s racing the clock at the Pies. He didn’t train yesterday, been relay sore since having his foot trotted on in Round 24.
“Bobby Hill moved really well yesterday, but the expectation right now is that he won’t play in that first final. Jeremy Howe is the big one – how they replace him given how important he’s been this year.
“He has missed a lot of footy in the back end of the year and it has coincided with a period where they have really struggled.”
Given their expected absentees, Kane Cornes doesn’t believe that the Pies’ defensive unit will be able to stand up against the Crows’ elite forward half.
“The Adelaide forward line is looming,” Cornes said.
“(Jeremy Howe) has been almost their most important player with (Nick) Daicos, structurally what he gives you from an intercepting point of view.
“I think it’s very unrealistic to be that reliant on a 35-year-old. They’re that reliant on five or six of those 30-plus (aged players), which is an issue for them. To me, it feels like too much. There’s too many of them at one period of time.
“Long season, and those battle scars are coming home at the most important time of the year. Who is there that can hold up? I’m not sure (Billy) Frampton, (Darcy) Moore and someone like (Charlie) Dean is going to get it done in Adelaide.”
Looking back on their Round 23 matchup, the Pies dominated territory without the likes of Jeremy Howe, however failed to capitalise on their front half peppering, losing by three points at Adelaide Oval.
“71 inside 50’s they had last time out,” Sam Edmund said.
“Repeat that again and surely the planets would align in a way that would have them winning that game.
“Bobby Hill is a big out, but if Beau McCreery doesn’t get up, that’s a seismic blow given their speed and ground coverage and all the things that make Collingwood… Collingwood.”
The first final is set for Thursday the 4th of September at Adelaide Oval, with the winner progressing directly through to the Preliminary Final.
A loss, and the Magpies will face off against the winner of the Elimination Final between GWS and Hawthorn.
