AFL 2023: Training injury rules Taylor Adams out of preliminary final

Collingwood has been dealt a major blow with Taylor Adams ruled out of the preliminary final after he suffered a hamstring strain at training on Friday.

The Magpies vice-captain will miss out on the penultimate game of the season for the second year in a row, after he suffered a serious groin injury in the 2022 qualifying final loss to Geelong.

The mishap puts the 29-year-old in serious doubt for the Grand Final should Collingwood beat Port Adelaide or GWS, and will force coach Craig McRae to reshuffle his magnets after Adams fulfilled an important midfield-forward hybrid role this season.

Adams led the Magpies for goal assists in 2023 with 25, eight more than the next best teammate, and has averaged 18 disposals, four clearances and four inside 50s per game.

Collingwood will miss Adams in the preliminary final, who has played an important role rotating between half-forward and midfield this season. Picture: Michael Klein.

Collingwood football boss Graham Wright said on Saturday that scans had revealed a low-grade hamstring strain for the Pies hard nut.

“Taylor has been an integral part of our midfield this season, and while it’s disappointing for him and the team that he won’t be available for the upcoming preliminary final, the positive is that it is only a minor strain,” Wright said.

“Our medical staff are working closely with Taylor who will immediately commence rehabilitation on his left hamstring.”

Nick Daicos will likely replace Adams in what could be a reprieve for Magpies duo Pat Lipinski and Darcy Cameron, who were perceived to be under the pump at selection.

Adams’ injury also means qualifying final sub Jack Ginnivan is more likely to retain his spot in the Magpies’ 23.

‘Done everything possible’: Daicos nears return

Josh Daicos has his “fingers crossed” brother Nick will be able to take the field in next week’s preliminary final after a difficult period training alone.

The Brownlow Medal contender was again put through a solo running session on Wednesday as he pushes through his recovery from a hairline fracture in his knee.

The isolation on the track had been “tough” for the star but he wasn’t tiring of the extra sessions as he approaches a return, Josh Daicos said.

“He’s actually not (sick of it), he’s pumped to be back running after a few weeks of not having it – I think he really took for granted just how good it is to be healthy and to be a part of the group,” Daicos told reporters on Thursday.

“He’s done everything possible to put himself in the position to play, so fingers crossed he’s playing next week.

“It’s definitely been tough for him, he loves being part of the group … but I think the Melbourne weather’s turned it on for him a little bit and made it a little bit easier for him to get out there early and running … and he’s running really strongly at the moment.”

Daicos said his fellow All-Australians Nick and captain Darcy Moore, who currently has his hand in a cast to manage a wrist tendon issue, would benefit from the earlier Friday night preliminary final should the Magpies advance to the decider.

“Darcy is going really well, it’s an injury he has been managing for a while now and obviously hasn’t affected his play with the way he’s been performing,” he said.

“The extra day obviously would all help us recover from the preliminary final.”

He said Collingwood players would watch the semi-finals closely this week, with a group to attend Friday night’s Demons-Blues clash at the MCG before checking out next week’s opponents in either Port Adelaide or GWS on TV.

Daicos says captain Darcy Moore will be unaffected by the wrist tendon issue he is managing in next week’s preliminary final. Picture: Dylan Burns / Getty Images

“It’s been a great week, obviously we spent the first couple of days really enjoying that win against Melbourne,” Daicos said.

“It gave us the chance to have a week off, reset … we’ll watch some football this weekend, see who we’re playing and get ready for what will be a really big prelim game.

“We’ll be going as spectators just purely to enjoy it. We might pick up a couple of things but it will be a really cool night.”

Daicos said he was not concerned after recording his lowest possession count of the season in the qualifying final, managing only 14 disposals and one tackle on the wing.

“It was so much fun, I might not have had the impact individually but as a team we were awesome,” he said.

He said teammates welcomed the tribunal’s decision to clear Brayden Maynard after the first-quarter collision that left Angus Brayshaw unconscious for two minutes.

“We know that Brayden’s a really fair player, and we were quite happy with the decision knowing that his intentions were always pure,” Daicos said.

“It was tough … our thoughts are with Angus, and we hope he has a really speedy recovery.”

SOURCE: NEWS.COM