Collingwood small forward Bobby Hil has been absent from training this week as he tends to an ill wife and kids at home, potentially placing him in some doubt for Monday’s King’s Birthday affair against Melbourne.
Hill wasn’t at training on Tuesday but did do drills away from the main group.
Magpies coach Craig McRae said Hill will face the Demons at this stage, with the club hopeful he’ll avoid any illness.
“His wife and kids are sick, and he’s home looking after them,” McRae said. “We’ll give him the compassion to do that.
“One of our welfare team members trained with him this afternoon.
“So we’re hoping he plays his 100th game this weekend at this stage. Barring him getting sick, that’ll be the case.”
Collingwood will make at least two changes for Round 13, having lost Patrick Lipinski (concussion) and Lachie Schultz (hamstring) to injury.
The Magpies could welcome back key forward Dan McStay for his first game in six weeks following a knee injury.
McStay will need to prove his fitness at training across the Magpies’ final two sessions in the build-up to Monday’s blockbuster with the ex-Lion a “big chance” to return.
“There’s a big chance Dan will be available,” McRae said.
“We’re not quite ready to announce that, he’s still got a little bit to go. We train Friday and then again Sunday.
“His magnet is getting really close to being considered, but there’s a couple of little things to tick off before we get there.”
A win over Melbourne would see Collingwood reach their mid-season bye on top of the ladder, holding an 11-2 record at the break.
Having carried strong momentum into the bye rounds, McRae is hopeful his players return with “their cup full”.
“It’s difficult to sort of get too far ahead of yourself, but I did plant some seeds before, because we go separate ways with our AFL and VFL from this moment on,” McRae added.
“I wanted to make sure that when we get back from the bye, at the appropriate time, the players come back with their cup full.
“Because going into the bye, we’ve got some good momentum, and we’ve got a big game this week, we need to get through against an opposition in good form.
“But at the appropriate time, we’ll make sure to come back with the right energy for the second half of the year.”
The Magpies will face the Demons at 3:20 pm (AEST) on Monday at the MCG.
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