Collingwood has made some tough selection calls, and still has one to decide, ahead of Saturday's huge preliminary final against the Lions.
One of those surrounded 2023 Norm Smith medallist Bobby Hill, who claimed that honour in the grand final against Brisbane.
The livewire small forward has had a difficult back half of the season dealing with personal issues, but had returned to training and showed good signs in recent weeks as he pushed for a first senior appearance since round 21, which was also against the Lions.
Coach Craig McRae confirmed on Thursday the 25-year-old Hill had fallen just short in his late bid for selection.
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"Bobby won't play," McRae told reporters before training. "We made a decision on that, so he won't play this week.
"It was really difficult. I told him before training based on a lot of little things. It's the reality with where he's at right now with his preparation.
"Credit to him he trained really, really well, which shows how far he's come in the last period.
"He is working hard to come back in. This is not permanent, but this week he won't play."
McRae did keep the door ajar for Hill if the Pies make it through to the grand final.
"I don’t want to take away hope from the young lad," McRae added.
There was better news for Brody Mihocek, who has been racing the clock to return from a dislocated toe in the qualifying final victory over Adelaide.
"Brody will play," McRae declared. "It's hard to keep him out of the team.
"He trained well this week and will be fit and available."
The final decision for the Collingwood match committee involves veteran defender Jeremy Howe, who has endured a shocking run over the back half of the season.
Struck down with concussion and then a torn adductor, Howe has been subbed out of his past four games, yet remains a critical part of the Collingwood machine when fit.
McRae said the match committee will crunch the numbers on the 35-year-old Howe, who got through Thursday's training unscathed, before making a decision.