The return of All-Australian defender Harry O’Brien has given Collingwood a boost after their shock loss to Gold Coast, according to premiership teammate Tyson Goldsack.
O’Brien will return against Greater Wester Sydney at the MCG on Saturday after missing three weeks to deal with a range of personal issues.
Utility Goldsack described the return of O’Brien as “awesome” and said the team, which lost by seven points to the Suns, had missed him.
Collingwood are out to avoid successive losses for the first time this season.
“He’s been missed as he brings a lot to the team so it will be good to see him back out there and get his run and enthusiasm back,” Goldsack said on Friday .
He felt his teammate was again ready to play a role as the Magpies try to find some winning momentum ahead of the finals.
“We love the bloke so it was sad to see him go through that and in such a public way,” Goldsack said.
“The last couple of weeks he’s been building back to where he was.
“He’s back to full spirits now.
“There’s probably still a few things for him to resolve but he’s looking good.”
The club’s first pick from last year’s national draft, ruckman Brodie Grundy, will make his senior debut and Goldsack predicted he would make an impact against the winless Giants.
“He’ll have a crack and he’ll make a contest and play well. He is an exciting player,” Goldsack said.
The Magpies had 11 more inside 50s that the Suns but still fell short and Goldsack said they had focused on goal-kicking this week in training.
They are two games clear inside the eight but have a tough month ahead with matches against Essendon, Sydney and Hawthorn.
“We were getting the ball going forward, our inside 50s were there, we just couldn’t convert,” he said.
“If we can get our conversion rate going forward and clean up our execution than we’ll be right back up there.”