AFL INJURY NEWS: Jordan De Goey and Tom Mitchell ruled out for Collingwood-Carlton blockbuster

Collingwood star Jordan De Goey has been ruled out of the Magpies’ blockbuster showdown with Carlton at the MCG due to groin soreness.

The 28-year-old could be sidelined for an extended period, not just Friday night’s rivalry match in front of potentially more than 90,000 fans.

Fellow premiership midfielder Tom Mitchell will also miss the clash with the Blues with a foot issue.

De Goey didn’t feature in Collingwood’s main training on Wednesday, while Mitchell failed to complete the session.

“He’s got tight groins so we’re just going to back him off a little bit and hopefully get those things settled down,” Collingwood coach Craig McRae said.

“Who knows when he’s available, ideally next week.

“The reality is it (the injury) has come reasonably quickly, so my expertise, which is none, suggests that ... if it comes on quickly, it may go away quickly.”

Mitchell was subbed out of Collingwood’s Anzac Day draw, with McRae saying the former Sydney and Hawthorn player has been dealing with the plantar fasciitis issue.

“He’s been struggling with it a bit. At the opportune time, like now, we’re trying to get him ready to play and he couldn’t get through (the session),” McRae said.

The coach threw up names such as premiership player Oleg Markov, VFL on-baller Fin Macrae, last week’s sub Harvey Harrison and uncapped Lachie Sullivan as potential replacements for De Goey and Mitchell.

The Magpies will face three consecutive six-day breaks after facing Carlton, potentially leading to more rest for the club’s over-30 crew.

Dual premiership veteran Steele Sidebottom struggled early against the Bombers, failing to register a possession until the second quarter.

“(He’s) not been at a level that we’ve all come to expect from Steele - that’s real,” McRae said.

“But he’s still running incredible patterns for us.

“The ball hasn’t sort of landed in his hands, in the last game if you want to just take that one for reference.

“We’d like to think Steele’s got more in him in terms of getting the ball in hands, but he’s a valuable player.”