A mystery illness which hospitalised Collingwood's Scott Pendlebury has helped convert him as a fan of the AFL's pre-finals bye.
The Magpies captain still doesn't know what hit him for six last week and is just glad he's recovered to be fit for Saturday's qualifying final against West Coast.
"I couldn't train last week. Did a bit of work on the weekend and I'm feeling much better now ... absolutely I'll be flying over," he said.
Pendlebury said he wasn't the first victim to the bug in his household.
"Before the Fremantle game my young fella was a bit sick and it went through the house like wildfire," he said.
"Playing a game of footy compounded it and flying back not sleeping much.
"I was in hospital Tuesday just to make sure everything was good and it wasn't anything too sinister. I got out of there pretty quickly.
"If it was this weekend I'd be spewing.
"Four seasons without playing finals and I missed one because I was a bit crook.
"I'm good now and can't wait."
Pendlebury is likely to be lining up alongside teammate Travis Varcoe at Optus Stadium.
Varcoe's sister Margaret passed away last week after an injury suffered in a footy match in South Australia.
Will Hoskin-Elliott said the 30-year-old was preparing to play on Saturday.
"I spoke to Trav today and he said he's coping well ... I think he'll play," he said.
Pendlebury said the club would rally around Varcoe and his family.
"We wrap our hands around him. We love the bloke. We really care for him and his family," he said.
"If he plays this weekend that's fantastic. If he doesn't play we know why. It's a game of football.
"Trav's got bigger things with his family he needs to deal with.
"Trav's been around long enough now that if he thinks he's right to play no doubt he'll play and if he thinks he needs some time he'll take some time.
"We understand that and support him."
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