Collingwood weighing up preliminary final selection shock with Ben Reid in mix to play first game since Round 14
Collingwood is toying with recalling forgotten swingman Ben Reid for his first game since Round 14 for its preliminary final against GWS Giants. Meanwhile, Jordan De Goey is back in town as he bids for a possible grand final return.
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Injury-hit Collingwood forward Ben Reid will attempt to prove his fitness this week in a desperate bid to be picked for Saturday’spreliminary final.
The Magpies face their biggest selection call of the year when they consider pulling the trigger on Reid or swinging Jordan Roughead forward for the cutthroat clash against GWS Giants.
Reid, 30, hurt his hamstring in July, prompting fears the 149-gamer’s career was over.
But the left-footer has trained solidly over the past two weeks and put in a strong showing in some match simulation at the club on Friday, to re-enter the selection frame.
The Pies need a second marking target to replace Jordan De Goey, who returned home to Melbourne yesterday after a whirlwind trip to Germany to see a world-leading soft-tissue specialist.
De Goey, who saw Dr Hans Wilhelm Muller Wohlfahrt, posted a picture on his Instagram account last week saying he had completed his “first run”.
The Pies maintain slim hopes he can recover in time for the grand final if they can overcome Greater Western Sydney on Saturday at the MCG.
Football manager Geoff Walsh yesterday said De Goey would consult with club doctors today about the next step in his recovery.
“He got back this morning and we will see what happens,” Walsh said.
“The medical staff will have a look at the full report and they will go from there.”
Reid has played well in his seven appearances this year but hurt his calf in the Round 15 loss to North Melbourne and then “nicked” his hamstring the following month.
Walsh said Reid would try to push his case at training this week.
“Over the past two or three weeks he has completed a strong block of training,” Walsh said.
“And he was up and going and doing all right in the match simulation, so physically he’s OK.”
The big question is whether he can be picked for a final without any recent match fitness and whether his injury-plagued leg scan be trusted to last 120 minutes.
But the Pies will consider bolstering their attacking marking options to counter the aerial brilliance and marking power of gun GWS defenders Nick Haynes and Phil Davis.
Haynes and Davis were immense in the cutthroat semi-final win over Brisbane reeling in nine intercept marks between them to defy the Lions’ continual forward thrusts late.
While the Reid decision could be seen as a massive gamble, the more conservative call is to swing Roughead into attack and recall Matthew Scharenberg to fill a void in the back half.
But the Pies may be reluctant to go down that path considering they will already lean on Roughead to stop gun GWS forwards Jeremy Cameron, Jeremy Finlayson and Harry Himmelberg.
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Former Bulldog Roughead has been a crucial addition for the Pies down back as part of a bargain trade move.
Reid’s fitness mission will be the biggest talking point for Collingwood this week as the Pies attempt to win through to a second successive Grand Final appearance.
Last month veteran teammate Tyson Goldsack said Reid’s comeback was on the cards.
“Reidy has been training really hard and he’s looking likely to come back, so watch this space,” Goldsack said.
Collingwood will have to make two changes for the preliminary final with James Aish a chance to replace ACL victim Levi Greenwood.
Aish hasn’t played since hurting his shoulder in the Giants’ 47-pomt win over Collingwood in Round 18.
Reid is out of contract at season’s end and is in a battle to extend his career past this season.
The All-Australian and premiership swingman wants to play on and will have talks on another deal at season’s end.
Originally published as Collingwood weighing up preliminary final selection shock with Ben Reid in mix to play first game since Round 14
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