Collingwood to regain injured pair Steele Sidebottom and Jordan De Goey for qualifying final

Steele Sidebottom opens up on how he has overcome a painful testicle injury and unpleasant recovery for Collingwood’s qualifying final.

Collingwood star Steele Sidebottom admits he might wear an “extra pair of jocks” but says he will not be impacted by his repaired ruptured testicle in Friday night’s qualifying final against Geelong.

Sidebottom, who missed the Magpies’ Round 23 clash with Essendon, underwent surgery a fortnight ago but said he is “good to go” against the Cats after training on Monday.

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“I won’t wear a box, it would probably be a bit uncomfortable,” Sidebottom said.

“But I think come Friday, I mean even now sitting here I feel like I could probably play now.

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“It will be two weeks on Wednesday (since surgery) so it’s been a fair stint but I’ll be fine.

“I might just wear a couple of pairs of jocks just to hold it up, but I’ll be good to go.”

The injury has not been a pleasant experience for the 2010 premiership player, but Sidebottom said it had not been as bad as many would might have thought.

“Before I had surgery it was pretty painful,” he said.

“After surgery because they wrapped them up and kept them nice and tight and sitting up, that was probably the most uncomfortable bit about it.

“I wasn’t in a whole heap of pain afterwards, but moving around and trying to be careful and whatever was a bit annoying.

“Overall it was definitely bearable, but look, I don’t think I want to do it again but it wasn’t too bad.”

Steele Sidebottom says he’ll be fine to play after recovering from a ruptured testicle. Picture: Michael Klein

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Sidebottom looms as one of a number of big-name Magpie inclusions for Friday night, with Jordan De Goey and Jaidyn Stephenson also set to come in.

The Magpies veteran said his side would be primed for the first final.

”It is why we play footy, to play finals footy,” he said.

“To be sitting where we are right now is exciting and I know the guys can’t wait for Friday night.

“A lot of work goes in during the season and you do all the hard work to get to know and to give yourself the best chance in finals.”

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DE GOEY: I’M READY TO GO

Jordan De Goey warns he is ready to explode into September after a six-week break that has him feeling fitter than at any time this season.

The Collingwood star was sidelined with a hamstring injury but has been able to do key running sessions.

De Goey said he had been able to build his match fitness through the Magpies’ brutal “Super Saturday” training sessions.

The dynamic forward kicked 12 goals four finals last year and looms large in the qualifying final against Geelong at the MCG on Friday.

“I feel really good. I am probably fitter than what I was in the middle of the year. The hammy feels good,” he said.

“It’s the best I have felt all year, really. I was carrying a few things at the start of the year and just to have six weeks off really refreshes the body and I’m ready to go.

Magpies forward Jordan de Goey is ready to return. Picture: AAP

“It (the recovery) was just really slow going. Because it was around near the tendon it’s not something where you want to push too hard, too early ... we had time so we took it.

“The past two weeks we have built as we should and ticked off my speed so no issues.

“The (coaches) love a Super Saturday. I hate them, but we got them done which was good

“They are about 10km and there are only about four guys out there. The coaches love it, especially ‘Banger’ (Robert) Harvey but not so much the players.”

De Goey has been able to fly under the radar this year after his extraordinary 2018 season, where he was caught drink-driving, became a Pies sensation and eventually re-signed after a contract saga.

Originally published as Collingwood to regain injured pair Steele Sidebottom and Jordan De Goey for qualifying final