Collingwood champion Scott Pendlebury notices shift in Magpies’ pre-season to prevent concussions

Collingwood is adapting to the AFL’s concussion focus, with champion Scott Pendlebury revealing what the Magpies have done.

Collingwood has made alterations to its pre-season and even removed some drills to limit the risk of concussion amid injury carnage across almost every club in the lead-up to the start of the season.

Magpies champion Scott Pendlebury, in his 20th pre-season, said he had noticed a shift in preparation and the introduction of techniques to avoid head knocks.

It comes after Victorian State Coroner John Cain’s recommendation last pre-season for clubs to cut contact training after his findings on the death of former Richmond player Shane Tuck.

“I have found for us there’s been a lot less contact, some of the drills we’ve taken out as well to avoid those,” Pendlebury said.

“I don’t think we’ve had too many knocks throughout pre-season. There’s always going to be a couple here and there, but I feel like we’ve done a good job to minimise those.”

Collingwood champion Scott Pendlebury says the Magpies are modifying training to prevent concussions. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Pendlebury said the adjustment was more about method and remained confident the Magpies’ less physical pre-season would have no effect on their push for finals.

“I think it’s more the technique behind it, not just kicking footys up and telling everyone to fly from eight different directions of the pack,” he said.

“It’s more the technique side of the game we can work on a lot to learn to protect ourselves in those situations – we’ve done a power of work out on the field and indoors to make sure we’re as prepared as possible.

“The AFL is generally doing as much as they can, I feel, to protect the players and it’s always going to get better and better.”

Defender Isaac Quaynor echoed Pendlebury’s comments, saying the Pies have honed in on the fundamentals of the physical side to the game.

“I think Scotty has hit it on the head, we’ve done a really good job on honing in on the fundamentals and the skills of a lot of the physical parts of the game,” he said.

Isaac Quaynor confirmed Collingwood is focusing on the ‘fundamentals’ of its new training program. Picture: Michael Klein

Last month, the AFL confirmed it had been working with clubs to “understand the levels of contact training being undertaken”.

“Player health and safety and the reduction of concussion and head impact injuries is at the forefront of decision making at the AFL,” an AFL spokesperson said.

“We are currently working closely with clubs to understand the levels of contact training being undertaken throughout the year. The gathering of this information is still ongoing.”

Originally published as Collingwood champion Scott Pendlebury notices shift in Magpies’ pre-season to prevent concussions