“We’re a work in progress – we’re not finished,” he said.

“We’ll find little opportunities to play a different mix; we might play a bit taller or a bit smaller. We’ll see what that looks like. That’s certainly something we’ll discuss at match committee this week.

“I will say, we’ll pick a team that we think will win on that day. We’re not having an eye for the future just now. We’ll concentrate on this week, this week’s Carlton, and we’ll find the best 23 to take them on.”

Josh Daicos, Bobby Hill and Isaac Quaynor did not train on Wednesday due to illness, but McRae said they were all expected to be fine for Friday night.

As for commentary that the Magpies need to play a better forward-half game to win the premiership, McRae disputed the raw statistics.

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Fox Footy analyst Leigh Montagna said last week that Collingwood ranked first in the competition for scores from their back half, but 11th for scores from their forward half, qualifying his commentary by saying 18 of the past 20 premiers have won the flag by being top six from forward-half scores.

Montagna doubled-down on Sunday night after Port Adelaide dominated the territory game for large chunks of Saturday’s blockbuster, but McRae said he was not concerned with the statistic.

“I’ve seen the narrative around that, the historic nature of front-half premierships versus we’re bucking a trend if you like,” he said.

“It’s interesting. If you break it down, there are so many different variables to that. The game is played whether you lose clearance or centre bounce, but what about the games when we’ve played without a ruck, or without key forwards?

“We’ve played three or four games without a ruck, so you don’t kick it down the line, and you can’t get territory, so I think if you look deeper, there’s more to that stat.

“We bounce really well from the back half, it’s a great strength of us. Would we like to get more territory and to hold it in? I think we’re pretty good at that. We’ve just got to make sure we get a balance of both.“
- Damien Ractliffe

Saints forwards eye return as AFL finals race heats up

Max King could return to AFL action as soon as next week as St Kilda seek to cement their top-eight spot in a tough run home.

King has missed two matches with a shoulder injury that coach Ross Lyon initially thought would end his star forward’s season.

The 23-year-old had an arthroscopy on the troublesome shoulder, avoiding a reconstruction, and was subsequently expected to be sidelined for four weeks.

But Lyon said King has since taken steps forward on the training track.

The 202-centimetre spearhead won’t play against Hawthorn on Sunday but is pushing to make a direct return to the senior side against Carlton in round 21.

“He’s an outside chance for next week,” Lyon told reporters on Wednesday.

“He’s progressing really well ... he’s doing a bit of joining in early (with) football stuff.”

In a further boost to the sixth-placed Saints’ finals hopes, fellow tall forward Tim Membrey is also nearing an AFL return.

The experienced goal-kicker, who last played in round nine, will make his comeback from a knee injury in the reserves this week.

“He’s had long-term rehab, (but) he’s progressing beautifully,” Lyon said.

“It’s been significant not having him and Max nearly all year, and we’ve been really a tender age in our front half.

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“We’re excited where Tim’s got himself to ... he’s worked really hard.”

Membrey and King combined for 86 goals under former coach Brett Ratten last year but injuries have prevented them from featuring in the same team this season.

“If we can get them back at the pointy end, that would be nice,” Lyon said.

Zaine Cordy (concussion) and Jack Hayes (hamstring) are available for selection against Hawthorn as St Kilda look to build on last week’s scrappy eight-point win over North Melbourne.

The Saints will start favourites but Lyon is wary of an “elite” Hawks midfield, led by James Worpel and rising star Jai Newcombe.

On paper, there are even tougher tests ahead for St Kilda in the run home.

The Saints face fellow finals hopefuls Carlton, Richmond and Geelong, as well as genuine flag contenders Brisbane, over the final month of the home-and-away season.
- AAP

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