“We’ll have to work through that and see but he’s unlikely to play next week I would have thought,” said McRae.
While the Magpies have injury and scoring issues to work through after managing just six goals for the game, the Swans are flying him after moving to second on the ladder and escaping injury free.
A win against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium next Sunday could well see the Swans finishing second to claim a double chance and a home final at the SCG.
McRae said the Swans were the toughest defensive side the Magpies had faced this season and were particularly difficult to play in Sydney on the small ground, which creates more congested play.
“I thought I thought their defense was outstanding,” McRae said. “The way we move the ball, the spaces of the MCG allow us to spread the field then use the shape the corridor. This ground didn’t allow us to do that, but they didn’t allow us as well.
“We showed some stuff at half-time that we had opportunities to move the ball differently, which would have supported the forwards.
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“But both the McCartin brothers [Paddy and Tom] were really, really strong in the air and I thought that backline was dominant today, taking nothing away from the Swans.
McRae dismissed suggestions that it may have been an advantage for the Swans mentally to lose a game after such a long winning streak, claiming that every Tuesday when they turn up to training it was impossible to tell whether the players had won or lost.
“We didn’t turn up here to have a loss that we had to have, we don’t live in that space. We’re here to get better and this is part of our journey, our story. We’ve we’ve had a great run and put us in a terrific position.
“We’re a chance next week to get the job done and finish in the top four. If you said that at the beginning of the year. I think most people would have thought that wasn’t going to be the case.
“But we’re gonna get back to work on Tuesday and then set aside sights on that.”
Matt Kennedy is out for the rest of the season with a Lisfranc injury.Credit:AFL Pictures
Carlton, meanwhile, will be without tough midfielder Matt Kennedy for their must-win clash against the Pies after he was ruled out for the season with a Lisfranc injury following scans earlier in the week.
The 25-year-old was having his best season for the Blues before breaking his jaw when convicted against Adelaide two weeks ago and joins midfielder George Hewett on the sidelines for the rest of the year with the recruit suffering a back injury.
The Blues may also be without young midfielder Adam Cerra after he was a late withdrawal from the clash against Melbourne on Saturday due to an adductor injury, while Zac Williams is pushing to be included for the final round.
Collingwood are without Taylor Adams until the finals after he suffered a groin injury in the win against Port Adelaide.
The final-round match between the two arch rivals shapes as the biggest clash between the clubs for more than a decade, with a top-four spot and a finals spot up for grabs.
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