Collingwood midfielder Adam Treloar expects to take a major step next week as he pushes for an AFL finals recall.
While Magpies coach Nathan Buckley remains unsure when the star onballer might return from the hamstring injuries he suffered in round 14, Treloar is upbeat.
If Treloar can make a successful comeback next month, it would be a massive boost for the Magpies in their first finals series since 2013.
“Next week, I know I will be pretty much straight into the full swing of things,” he told a club podcast.
“I’d imagine the week before the finals we’d have a pretty big match simulation in the bye week.
“I’m sure I will be involved in that.”
But before the Magpies can think about the finals and Treloar’s return, they must confirm their top-four finish.
Collingwood are third and will start strong favourites in Saturday’s Optus Stadium clash with Fremantle.
They will field an unchanged side – a welcome development, given their bad run of injuries this season.
The Dockers are coming off the biggest losing margin in their history, a 133-point walloping from Geelong.
Buckley expects Fremantle to rally from last week’s disaster.
“You don’t make it to this level without an element of pride in your performances,” he said.
“I dare say there would be a bounce back from last week.”
Buckley added the key is that Collingwood stay focused on what they want to achieve in their last match before the finals.
“We just need to make sure we’re ready to go,” he said.
“This isn’t a game we’re going to manage through, this is a game that we need to attack and win.”
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