Collingwood coach Craig McRae has confirmed key defender Nathan Murphy will miss next Tuesday’s Anzac Day match after he was concussed during the Pies’ round five win over St Kilda.
Murphy went down in an off-the-ball incident with Saints forward Anthony Caminiti in the closing stages of the Pies’ six-point victory on Sunday night.
The footage, while unclear, appears to show Caminiti strike Murphy in the head in response to Murphy first hitting the draftee in the chest, triggering some push and shove between the pair.
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Murphy dropped his body before impact and was taken high.
With a history of concussion, the 23-year-old was immediately assessed by the club doctor.
While addressing the media, McRae confirmed that Murphy would sit out the Anzac Day clash under the league’s concussion guidelines.
“I haven’t seen the incident,” he said post-match.
Caminiti in strife for Murphy hit
“But he’s obviously been concussed somehow and we’ll get to work on what that looks like … He’ll be out next week.”
In coming from the field, Murphy fired off some choice words in the direction of St Kilda.
McRae explained that while he was on the bench when Murphy came to the sideline, he was unsure of exactly what was said.
“Whether Murph was concussed and not sure what he was saying, I’ve got no idea,” he said.
“He came off and he said something, I don’t know the details of that, but he obviously was upset about something.”
The Pies could also be without forward Dan McStay for the historic match after he sustained a finger injury.
“It looks like he’s done a tendon in the finger,” McRae said.
Scans will determine whether the recruit will require surgery.
Meanwhile, Essendon skipper Zach Merrett is facing a one-match suspension for rough conduct towards Melbourne’s Thomas Sparrow.
The incident was graded careless conduct of medium impact and high contact, as Merrett threw Sparrow into the turf in a tackle.
While Sparrow was not injured in the incident and was able to take his awarded free kick, the match review officer elevated the grading based on the potential to cause harm.
The Bombers announced on Monday that they will appeal the ban at the tribunal.
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