Injury-ravaged Magpies keen to rebound

Ahead of Collingwood's trip to Western Sydney on Saturday, coach Nathan Buckley says the club can learn how to handle match-day injuries from GWS.

Ahead of Collingwood's trip to Western Sydney this weekend, it seems the most storied club in the AFL is already learning from the new boys.

Collingwood's injury train wreck Saturday night was matched by GWS on the same ground less than 24 hours later.

The Magpies lost Jamie Elliott, Scott Pendlebury, Travis Cloke, Ben Reid and Dayne Beams on a night of horror.

On Sunday, GWS captains Callan Ward and Phil Davis were out before half-time, with forward Jonathon Patton needing another knee reconstruction after a second-quarter fall.

The difference was the Magpies slumped to a ten-goal loss to Brisbane, while the Giants surged to a ten-goal win over Melbourne.

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said the Giants showed "a real grit" to overcome their losses and march on.

"It was a really good bit of perspective to see GWS go about their business and get the injuries and be able to perform," he said.

"Our performance was in our control as well and clearly we could have done better."

"We're under no illusions about the side we're facing and the quality of their youth.

Buckley foreshadowed several changes - with a very different looking forward line.

"We'll see some changes and some fresh faces," Buckley said.

"A couple more players will get their chance to put their hand up and be a part of what we're going to do in the future."

Corey Gault is likely to make his senior debut, with Patrick Karnezis set to play his first AFL match for the Magpies since an off-season move from Brisbane.

Jesse White should also be recalled after strong VFL form.

While Cloke, Reid and Beams are done for 2014, Pendlebury is just "a chance" to play and Alan Toovey will also miss with adductor soreness.

Heritier Lumumba also didn't train after carrying a corked thigh into the Lions game but will aim to prove his fitness, with Pendlebury, on Thursday.

Buckley insisted there was no problem with the club's injury management.

"Our soft tissue profile is better this year from last year," he said.

"We've had some impact injuries ... it's just the wrong blokes at the wrong times."


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