Jordan de Goey and Tom Mitchell in fresh AFL blow amid 'devastating' double setback for Lions
The Collingwood stars have been ruled out of Sunday’s clash against West Coast
Collingwood stars Jordan de Goey and Tom Mitchell have been ruled out of the Magpies' clash with the West Coast Eagles on Sunday. De Goey was forced to sit out of Collingwood's win over Carlton on Friday with a groin issue and will spend at least another week on the sidelines.
He has been unable to train since the Magpies' draw with Essendon on Anzac Day due to groin soreness. His omission is a massive blow for Collingwood who have got their season back on track in recent weeks after having their worst start to a season in 25 years. They currently sit ninth, two points outside of the top eight.
The Magpies said de Goey won't be back running until the "back end of next week", putting him in doubt for their match against Adelaide at the MCG in round 10. Premiership midfielder Mitchell will also miss his second match in a row, this time due to appendicitis.
Mitchell is understood to not require surgery and is expected to return against the Crows. The midfield dynamo has been suffering ongoing foot issues that ruled him out of last week's match against Carlton.
Mitchell was subbed out of Collingwood's Anzac Day draw, with coach Craig McRae saying the former Sydney and Hawthorn player has been dealing with a plantar fasciitis issue. "He's been struggling with it a bit. At the opportune time, like now, we're trying to get him ready to play and he couldn't get through (the session)," McRae said last week.
Brisbane suffers brutal double injury blow
Meanwhile, Brisbane have confirmed a major double injury blow, with Darcy Gardiner and Lincoln McCarthy picking up season-ending ACL injuries in their win over the Gold Coast Suns on Sunday night. Lions football boss Danny Daly said it was "devastating news" for the club.
"Linc (McCarthy) and Diz (Gardiner) are quality players and quality people who we know will do all that they can to overcome these injuries," Daly said.
"We as a club will continue to all wrap our arms around them and their families as we support them in whatever way we can during their recovery." The injuries to Gardiner and McCarthy mean five Brisbane players have suffered an ACL injury either in games or at training since Will Ashcroft ruptured his ACL in round 18 last season, with Keidean Coleman and recruit Tom Doedee also victims to ACL injuries this season.
Important lockdown defender Brandon Starcevich will also miss at least four weeks after injuring his calf in the warm-up against the Suns adding to the mounting injury tally at Brisbane. Defenders Noah Answerth (concussion) and Brandon Starcevich (calf, four-five weeks) are also sidelined for the Lions. But despite the injury crisis, midfielder Hugh McCluggage says the playing group is staying strong for one another.
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"It is tough to try and put your emotions to the side, particularly when we're such a close group and we've been through it so many times," midfielder Hugh McCluggage told reporters on Tuesday.
"There's definitely a part of you that is really disappointed for them but you just have to keep going out there and get your job done. The boys that actually got injured were remarkable, how stoic they were ... if you look at Linc and Darcy, they put on a brave face and got around all the boys."
