Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley and Director of Football Geoff Walsh have all but put the thick, red, permanent line through the names of Andrew Krakouer and Brent Macaffer.
Both were sidelined during the preseason with ACL injuries. However, the football department at the Westpac Centre recently received some heartening and at the same time, surprising news.
Specialists have cleared both players of their knee troubles, and both are ready to join their teammates in full-contact training.
Despite Buckley and co. playing down the likeliness of the Krak and Caff making a miraculous return to AFL football this season, the speculation and guessing games continue.
And with this news coming through on Wednesday, the media is again asking the question: Will they play this season?
As a passionate Collingwood supporter and lover of sporting comebacks and feel-good stories, I have questioned my stance on this issue.
I feel as though I should be excited at the prospect of these two donning the jumper this season and bolstering our already potent forward line leading into the finals.
However, I am here to argue the contrary.
Put an end to this once and for all. Andrew Krakouer and Brent Macaffer should not play in 2012.
To start with, the average ACL sees approximately nine-months on the sidelines – Krakouer and Macaffer have been out for only six.
I am in no way, shape or form questioning the power of modern medicine and rehabilitation techniques. It’s a credit to everyone involved in being able to get these boys back in such a short amount of time.
However, it’s a situation that just doesn’t sit right with me.
Secondly, there are seven rounds to go in this season’s home and away fixture. If Collingwood proceeds as far as most are expecting them to, the Pies have ten games remaining.
Neither player has been included in the squad to take on the Hawks this weekend.
Both Krakouer and Macaffer would need at least two weeks of solid full-contact training under their belts before they are even considered for selection in Collingwood’s VFL side. It would be valid to assume then, a steady and cautious comeback through the twos for at least two to three games.
Barring any hiccups, this gives both players a window of opportunity in rounds 22 and 23 to prove to the Collingwood coaching staff and faithful, they are A, completely and utterly injury free, B, match fit, C, in form, and D, have shown enough for Bucks and co. to ask questions at the selection table.
Thirdly, even if by some miracle they are able to tick all these boxes, it would take a massive call by team selectors to include them in the two remaining crucial games of season 2012. One in Perth against an imposing West Coast Eagles outfit, and an always gruelling match-up again the Bombers. The outcomes of both games could determine the final four.
Then do you risk them for finals?
If they do all the right things up until then, they will no doubt be underdone and could get found out in the heat of the battle.
Then there’s the question of, do you put them both in?
Both Krakouer and Macaffer are forward type players, and can play a significant part in the Collingwood team on their given day. Macaffer, despite being a premiership player, would find himself outside Collingwood’s best 22 at the moment.
Krakouer is a match winner; he adds pace, agility and sheer brilliance in and around goal.
Despite his absence this season, the Krak comfortably slots in to the Pies best 22.
Krak over Caff, but this is purely conjecture.
If it came down to it, who do you omit?
Ben Sinclair? Alex Fasolo? Jamie Elliot? You have arguably the future of Collingwood right there. They are already proving themselves worthy on the big stage and are proven goal kickers. It would be an extremely tough call to drop any of those players, to make way for elder statesman, with very little game time and preparation.
In the case of an injury ridden end to season 2012, then and only then would you consider playing Andrew Krakouer and Brent Macaffer. It would be detrimental to Collingwood’s structure and finals hopes if, by some inexplicable reason, Bucks gives them the call up.
Wrap them in cotton wool, book their end of season holiday and tell them to come back in November, fit and firing for season 2013.
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