‘It’s a real weapon’: Daicos to make surprise switch as McRae declares stars fit
However, star recruit Dan Houston (suspended), premiership gun Jordan De Goey (knee bruising) and Mason Cox (finger) will miss the trip north.
McRae said tackling-machine Perryman, the former Giants’ defender who signed a six-year deal with the Magpies, provides versatility.
Former Giant Harry Perryman has impressed with his on-field intensity over summer.Credit: Eddie Jim
“We thought we would bring Harry in to play a little bit of midfield because he is such a good transitional runner, and just over the pre-season, prepping him for that, stoppage craft, knowing he can go back and play those defensive roles for us,” McRae said.
De Goey trained strongly on Friday and is expected to be fit for round one or two. But McRae said the Pies had learnt from last year when they selected some players who were “fit to play but not fit to perform”.
“He is making a case for next week … but we’ll wait and see,” McRae said.
Moore had interrupted pre-seasons through 2023 and 2024, but McRae said the skipper was ready to return to his best. The athletic defender, and intercept marking king, struggled, at times, through a draining ’24 campaign.
“There is an energy in him. We catch up regularly. We are excited for presenting a better version of Darcy, in particular, a lot fitter,” McRae said.
Seeking redemption after missing the finals – on percentage – last season, McRae said the Magpies were optimistic about the season ahead. But he stressed this year was not about recapturing past glories.
“I am not really keen to recapture anything. I am keen to create a whole new version of us, and a whole different feel and a whole different energy from different players,” McRae said.
As Essendon did earlier this week, the Magpies trained, at times, with a wet ball in preparation for the expected soggy conditions at the Sydney Showgrounds as a result of Cyclone Alfred.
McRae said the Magpies would take an extended squad to Sydney before determining their best options.
“We probably spent 20 or 30 minutes of match committee [talking] about who plays if it’s really wet, what’s coming. The unknown is hard to plan for, other than to play for wet weather. I have seen different forecasts,” McRae said.
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“We would like to think our game style doesn’t really matter if it’s wet or dry. Some positional changes (will be) made.”
The Magpies will have their captain’s run in Melbourne on Saturday before flying north.
The Giants will be without injured trio Jesse Hogan, Tom Green and Jake Stringer.
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