McRae said De Goey looked fitter now than even earlier this year when he was in top form.
“Jordy has been training really well. We’re very comfortable with where Jordy is at. I said it earlier in the week, he probably hit and played last week,” McRae said.
“He’s had a mini pre-season, if you will, in three weeks, which at this time of year can be a real benefit. Hopefully this will turn into good form for him and we’ll get the benefit of it.”
De Goey’s off-field problems, including the fallout from a trip to Bali during the club’s relegation round, have led to speculation the Magpies will trade him after the season. Out of contract and a restricted free agent, De Goey’s behavior since being given time off on his return from Bali has been excellent. The Pies withdrew a contract offer after the trip to Bali, but St Kilda have publicly expressed an interest in De Goey since then.
“I don’t tend to know what it’s like outside these walls too often or too much, but in here he smiles and gets to work. You look at his actions, that’s all you can look at and judge and his actions have been very strong,” McRae said.
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Ruckman Brodie Grundy, who has been dealing with a long-term knee injury, will have to complete training on Friday but is closing in on a return for his first game since round six. He was close to playing last weekend, but the Magpies’ VFL side had the bye. The Pies take on Southport this weekend.
McRae said he would likely return via the VFL, but fellow senior Mason Cox (virus symptoms) missed training on Wednesday. If Cox doesn’t play Saturday, Grundy could return through the seniors.
“He came through today. He’s better prepared to play AFL footy, whether it’s minutes in the VFL this week, time will tell, but we’re pleased with his progression,” McRae said.
McRae said he was happy the AFL had ruled Jack Ginnivan should have been awarded a free header for a high tackle on Essendon’s Mason Redman on Sunday. He spoke directly with the league’s Director of Football Operations Brad Scott on Monday.
McRae said Ginnivan’s focus this week, on the back of more headlines, had been strong.
“I was really pleased with Jack, his training today was probably the best he’s trained all year. It’s all about getting back to work,” McRae said.
“We can’t control a lot of things in life, and you want to talk a lot about him. We want to protect him a lot. We want to take care of him and understand that he’s a football player first, and part of that is preparing well. he has prepared very well this week.”
Tough defender Brayden Maynard was ruled out of the thrilling win over the Bombers with a shoulder “sting” and was on light duty at training on Wednesday.
The fourth-placed Magpies are only the fourth team in history to win eight games by fewer than 12 points in a season. No team has ever won nine games by fewer than 12 points, and McRae called for another close matchup against a power unit nearly out of finals contention.
“There is a belief in the group, there is no doubt. you guys [media] we can see it on weekends, we can see it all week. There’s a belief in the way we’re preparing for any situation we’re faced with that we’re capable of getting over the line,” McRae said.
‘Don’t let it happen again’: McGrath backs Firemen to learn from devastating loss of Pies
Hurting Essendon star Andrew McGrath is determined to ensure the dramatic events of the Bombers’ extraordinary loss to Collingwood never happen again.
The Magpies defeated the Bombers via a siren after Jamie Elliott’s goal on Sunday. After trailing by 37 points at quarter-time, Essendon rallied to take a 20-point lead into the final quarter.
But the valiant Magpies again kicked the final four goals of a classic contest, including Elliott’s instantly iconic match-winner.
The post-game analysis has shifted to how the Bombers allowed Collingwood to cross the wing with 45 seconds to play. It came after young Essendon forward Harrison Jones hit the post with a saved shot from a fierce tackle on Magpies star Jeremy Howe.
“I think the way we reviewed it, we’ll learn from it and hopefully it won’t happen again,” McGrath said Wednesday.
“We probably all had a moment in that play where we weren’t playing our part exactly right.
“I think there are so many moments in a game, you can’t single out just Harry for missing that goal.
“My dialogue with him was that he gave us a chance to win the game, if he hadn’t made that tackle, they might go up and score anyway.
“I think on reflection and throughout our review we all had moments in that last quarter that we would like to take back, probably every player can put their hand up and say that.”
Despite the crushing defeat, Essendon is finishing the season strongly after a disastrous start that prompted club president Paul Brasher to call for an internal review of the Firemen’s football department.
Essendon (6-12, 14th) had already upset top-six sides the Sydney Swans and Brisbane Lions over the past month before coming up short against the volatile Magpies, who have won nine games in a row.
McGrath has full confidence in manager Ben Rutten’s ability to fire the squad for the start of the 2023 season.
“[Rutten] I was devastated by the result,” McGrath said. “I think his dialogue and his feeling was that we did really well, we just didn’t nail it in the 120th minute.
“We all feel hurt and disappointed.
“To come back from where we were and let it slip at the end is devastating for players, fans and coaches.
“In difficult times you are forced to learn and adapt and become a different version of ourselves.”
Emerging defender Mason Redman spent Sunday night in hospital after being substituted against Collingwood with internal bruising.
Redman is recovering from the incident but is a major doubt to face North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
AAP
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