Collingwood skipper Nick Maxwell says allegations – strongly denied by the club – that the Magpies used illegal sports supplements wouldn’t affect their AFL clash with under-siege Essendon on Sunday.
The Magpies were drawn into the ongoing saga this week, first by former Essendon sports scientist Stephen Dank and then high performance manager Dean Robinson, who claimed Essendon coach James Hird believed Collingwood were using undetectable supplements.
The Magpies issued a statement on Thursday morning dismissing the allegation as “totally false”.
Maxwell didn’t want to comment on the claim and said it wouldn’t add any extra spice to their match.
“The accusations won’t, the fact that Collingwood are playing Essendon and both teams are fighting for positions in the finals, that will give it plenty of spice,” he said.
Maxwell expected the Bombers to be galvanised by the ongoing doping investigation by ASADA and its ramifications, with club chairman David Evans the latest casualty.
“I’ve been in a position in this club plenty of times when you feel like your backs are against the wall, like Essendon are.
“You feel like the whole world’s against you and what it does is that it brings the group closer together and makes the group tighter and more often than not we’ve come out and performed when we’ve been in that situation.
“I’ve got huge respect for the Essendon footy club and the leadership there in Hird and (Jobe) Watson and I know that they’ll be really tight this week.
“I know that Essendon will be a huge challenge but we’re up for it.”
Meanwhile Maxwell revealed that veteran ruckman Darren Jolly won’t play at the MCG, making his return from a knee injury through the VFL.
That means the Magpies are likely to again go with young ruck duo Jarrod Witts and Brodie Grundy against Bombers star Paddy Ryder.
“He’ll (Jolly) get his fitness back and as of next week or the week when he’s physically to go then I’m sure he’ll be straight back in,” Maxwell said.
“These kids have come in and done a sensational job.”
Swingman Ben Reid has recovered from a ankle injury suffered late in their 40-point win over Greater Western Sydney and is expected to play.