Scott Pendlebury will miss Collingwood’s cutthroat wildcard final next week and could well have played his final match in black and white.
The Magpies revealed on Saturday that the VFL/AFL games-record holder had suffered a hamstring strain in the club’s loss to the Brisbane Lions at the MCG on Friday night, ruling him out for “two to three weeks”.
In a further blow to Collingwood, rugged defender Brayden Maynard strained the MCL in his left knee during a Saturday-morning training session and will also likely miss several weeks.
The Pendlebury injury will leave coach Craig McRae lamenting a decision to play his veteran leader in a match that ultimately had no bearing on their ladder position. Many felt he should have rested the former skipper.
“These are obviously disappointing setbacks for both Scott and Brayden,” Magpies head of football Charlie Gardiner said on Saturday afternoon.
“Scott experienced tightness in the back of his knee during last night’s game. Scans earlier today confirmed a hamstring strain, and we expect Scott to be sidelined for two to three weeks.
“Brayden unfortunately left the track early this morning during a training session, with scans confirming he sustained a grade one MCL strain. This is the same knee but unrelated to his earlier injury.
“These are unfortunate setbacks, especially at this time of year but Scott and Brayden are absolute professionals and will do all they can to get back as quickly as possible.”