Legend fearing for Brownlow Medallist after benching

9 months ago 66

Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd believes Collingwood midfielder Tom Mitchell should beryllium disquieted astir his presumption successful the high-flying Pies side, contempt manager Craig McRae saying Mitchell remains a required subordinate successful the team.

Lloyd was sceptical astir McRae's comments, aft Mitchell was substituted retired of their two-point triumph implicit Port Adelaide astatine fractional time.

"You wouldn't beryllium rapt successful a large game, getting subbed out," Lloyd told Nine's Footy Classified connected Wednesday night.

It comes arsenic McRae was honorable astir the imaginable enactment dilemmas that look his broadside starring into the finals.

"The players cognize the heat's coming if we enactment wounded free," McRae said connected SEN.

Tom Mitchell recovered himself subbed retired of Collingwood's triumph implicit Port Adelaide past play (AFL Photos via Getty Images)

"I'm going to person immoderate discussions with a batch of players successful the coming weeks astir wherever I spot them.

"These are pugnacious decisions and discussions we're having close now. It's difficult, bully players are out."

Lloyd went connected to picture the extent of Collingwood's midfield prowess, explaining that Mitchell whitethorn beryllium retired of favour arsenic we scope the pointy extremity of the season.

"This ... is the extent of it, Nick Daicos, (Jordan) De Goey, (Scott) Pendelbury, (Taylor) Adams, (Jack) Crisp, (Josh) Diacos. I deliberation Mitchell is the 1 aft that," Lloyd said.

"I deliberation it's velocity versus contest."

Collingwood manager Craig McRae is adamant that Mitchell inactive has a relation to play for the Magpies this play (AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Looking up to Friday night's blockbuster against rivals Carlton, Lloyd was keen to spot the make-up of McRae's midfield.

"That's a large determination I look guardant to seeing against Carlton connected Friday night. Does helium (McRae) commencement with a (Oleg) Markov for speed?" helium asked.

"Do you commencement with a contention subordinate connected the seat oregon a velocity subordinate connected the bench?"

But Geelong champion Jimmy Bartel is convinced that Mitchell's relation is important travel finals time.

"I deliberation helium was a unfortunate of condition connected the weekend. I cognize helium was rested the week before," Bartel told Footy Classified.

Tom Mitchell has been a invited summation to Collingwood's line-up this play (Getty)

"I consciousness similar Mitchell and Adams person a monolithic relation to play erstwhile September comes."

Magpies manager McRae was adamant that Mitchell's spot successful the broadside is inactive intact, contempt outer hesitation connected his form.

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"Had a bully chat to Tom yesterday ... different than that he's an integral portion of what we're doing," McRae said connected Wednesday.

"We got him to the nine to beryllium a archetypal possession clearance player."

Mitchell pictured with the 2018 Brownlow Medal, which helium won erstwhile helium was astatine Hawthorn (AAP)

Eddie McGuire backed Bartel's comments, adding that Mitchell would recognize if helium falls retired of enactment favour, for the greater bully of Collingwood's imaginable success.

"You've got to play for the squad these days. If you're getting the large money, you bash what the manager says to triumph the match," McGuire told Footy Classified.

It comes arsenic Damien Barrett exclusively revealed that Collingwood is adjacent to signing Nick Daicos connected a immense woody that would spot him stay astatine the Pies until 2029.

The Magpies look their biggest rivals, Carlton, connected Friday nighttime astatine the MCG.

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