AFL 2025: Collingwood coach Craig McRae on Tom Mitchell and the selection squeeze
Mitchell last week returned for his first senior game in 14 months after injury and seven consecutive weeks in the reserves.
The Brownlow Medal winner's absence had opened the door for young midfielder Ned Long and their potency in the same side has been widely speculated.
Long attended the most centre bounces of any Magpie in last week's win over Carlton, while Mitchell gathered his team's third-highest number of disposals.
McRae confirmed that Mitchell would take on Gold Coast on Friday and hinted at an adjustment of roles for some of his midfielders.
'Tom recovered really well, we were excited for his first game back after 14 months and he'll play again this week,' he said.
'He looks really hungry to get involved in a game like this.
'I think we've got flexibility in our team to do multiple things, reality is they're all somewhat similar.
'But we've got flexibility for a couple of those to play a few different roles – let's just wait and see on that one.'
Collingwood is set to welcome back small forward Lachie Schultz after a stint on the sidelines with a hamstring issue and illness.
'He trained really well today, he was ill last week and it was really the only reason he didn't play,' McRae said.
'He'll play this week, no one is in doubt, it's (illness) probably been two weeks now and it was worse last week, to be honest.
'We used a bit of the old times, don't come in if you're sick. It's not a bad policy.'
The Magpies are 10 points clear on top the ladder and face an improved Suns on the road this Friday night.
McRae said Collingwood needed to be mindful of Gold Coast's contest work at stoppages.
'I think any team in the eight right now is a challenge for all teams, Gold Coast are really hard to play against,' he said.
'Their contest is strong, their inside is strong, we're looking to getting up there with our Magpie army. They travel everywhere around Australia to watch us play.
'That's what happens when you play them all in the first 10 weeks, every week is the same, we approach it like no other.
'We just want to attack them with what we can, take away some of their strengths, and I'm sure they're trying to do the same to us.'
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