Magpie heartbreak: Forward out for GF due to knee injury
The seriousness of Magpies forward Dan McStay’s knee injury has been revealed by scans.
Dan McStay of Collingwood has been ruled out of the Toyota AFL Grand Final owing to a knee injury.
McStay was taken off the field in the Magpies’ exciting one-point victory over Greater Western Sydney on Friday night, and scans on Saturday revealed a high-grade medial collateral ligament tear, putting him out of the Grand Final.
It’s a devastating loss for McStay, who joined the Magpies from Brisbane earlier this season and has scored 20 goals in 14 games.
“It’s unfortunate to confirm that Dan suffered a high-grade medial ligament injury in last night’s preliminary final, with a six to eight-week recovery time,” Collingwood general manager of football Graham Wright said.
“Dan has been an important part of our season this year, and he was crucial in last night’s victory over the Giants.”
“We are all disappointed for Dan to miss the Grand Final, but we will all rally around him, and he will continue to be a part of the team’s preparations for the week ahead.”
Before being replaced, McStay had kicked two majors from five disposals against the Giants.
On Saturday, he walked with crutches to the hospital for scans.
“It’s pretty scary so close to playing in a granny and it might have been taken away from me, so we will wait and see,” he added.
“Obviously for myself, it’s a bit of mixed emotions but I’m just incredibly proud of the boys and the way they played last night and the way they were able to shut the game down.”
While Collingwood welcomed back Nick Daicos for the preliminary final, Taylor Adams (hamstring) was unable to compete and will have to race against the clock to be fit for the Grand Final.
Tom Mitchell had precautionary scans on a stiff back but is likely to play in the Grand Final.
In the decider, the Magpies will face the winner of Saturday’s match between Brisbane and Carlton.
