AFL: Magpies skipper Darcy Moore in doubt with infection

Collingwood captain Darcy Moore is in a race to the line to face the Giants at the MCG on Sunday as he battles a nasty skin infection on his elbow.

The crucial defender could join teammate Billy Frampton on the sidelines in a major blow for the Magpies, who would be left without an obvious match up for in-form GWS forward Jesse Hogan.

The 28-year-old is playing his best football since he left the Demons, booting 16 goals in eight matches this season and averaging an elite 3.1 marks inside 50 per game.

McRae said the Magpies skipper would need to do more to prove his fitness, but he remained hopeful Moore would take the field on Sunday.

“Unfortunately, Darcy got an infection in his elbow earlier in the week. It almost looked like a spider bite but it’s not, it’s a little scratch that just got infected,” he said.

“It got infected quite badly … he’s going to need to do a little bit more in the next 24 hours to be fit and available, but we’re anticipating that will be the case.

“He’s taking the antibiotics, again, there’s progression which is suggesting he may be available.”

McRae said Frampton, who had been playing an important role in the ruck but was also a key defensive option, would miss after an unlucky training mishap on Tuesday.

“It was the last minute at training the other day, he just tweaked his groin,” McRae said

“It’s a bit of a curse on our big guys at the moment – he’s been going so well for us, but he’ll miss a couple of weeks, it’s unfortunate for the lad.”

Aiden Begg was in the frame to play his fourth AFL game on Sunday, but McRae said the Magpies would be careful with him after he recently overcame a back injury.

“I love setting young people up to succeed, that’s always been my mantra – he’s played one game in seven weeks, so we just need to weigh up whether that’s enough load to then put him in the hustle and bustle of the MCG,” he said.

McRae said reliable defender John Noble was battling a corked thigh but expected to be fine to play, while he said it was likely Jack Ginnivan would return to the starting 22 this week after a strong substitute performance against the Swans.

“We were really excited for Jack’s game, he came on and impacted really well,” McRae said.

“I think right now we’ve probably got our 23-24 mix which we might rotate the sub a little bit in the next few weeks. It all depends on injury of course, but I don’t think he’ll be the sub this week.”