"But I think if you didn't honour a mate of yours and you weren't able to go and pay your respects,in many ways you're undermining the very thing that's going to give you a chance of winning finals and that's the bond between mates."
Several Collingwood players have admitted it could be advantageous to be playing outside Victoria to temporarily set aside their grief since McCarthy's death in a fall from a Las Vegas building nearly a fortnight ago.
The Magpies also have an excellent record when travelling - and they also have an 11-match winning streak against Sydney.
"I don't think there's any secret formula to what we do (travelling) - we just go over there,"Collingwood ruckman Darren Jolly said earlier this week.
"Getting out of Melbourne,whether it makes us a bit closer game day - but our record away from Melbourne's pretty good.
"The funeral will be an emotional time for the boys,then we get to go away and spend some time with each other,and take it in to Friday."