Collingwood track watch: All the form and injury news from Pies training
Jordan De Goey sent a shudder through Collingwood’s camp after limping off the track with a calf complaint and there’s relief not only for him, but another superstar Magpie.
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Collingwood star Jordan De Goey has been cleared of any damage after leaving the training track early with an injury scare on Wednesday morning.
Just days after stepping up his workload, De Goey exited a drill grabbing at his left calf and quickly followed a trainer inside the Magpies’ headquarters.
However, a Collingwood spokesperson said De Goey’s departure from the track was purely precautionary and scans immediately after the incident had cleared him of any injury.
De Goey had taken part in some match simulation last Friday as he looked to ramp up his preparations following an interrupted off-season.
The 28-year-old travelled to Doha late last year for treatment on groin and abdominal issues, after groin and hamstring injuries had restricted the midfielder-forward to just 13 matches last season.
DON’T WORRY ABOUT DAICOS
The sight of Nick Daicos on the sidelines earlier this month concerned more than a few Collingwood fans.
The Magpies said at the time that Daicos was battling a “mild” case of plantar fasciitis – not what you want to hear about your team’s best player.
However, there doesn’t look like being anything to worry about anymore.
Daicos was darting around teammates and winning the ball at will during match simulation on Wednesday.
The word out of Collingwood is that he is now completely fine and will be out there in Opening Round.
The 22-year-old took part in the whole session, only briefly leaving the main group to do some extra sprint work on the sidelines.
Daicos’ brother, Josh, is also back in full training after a recent calf issue.
REFRESHED FORWARD LINE TAKING SHAPE
Expect recruit Tim Membrey to play a key role in attack for the Magpies this year after being picked up for nothing as a delisted free agent.
The 30-year-old has impressed on the track over summer, working hard up and down the ground from half-forward.
The former St Kilda forward kicked 30 goals from 19 games last season.
Membrey is set to join Brody Mihocek and Dan McStay as key targets in attack.
Mihocek and McStay did not play a single game together last year due to injuries.
Jamie Elliott also looks fit and firing after managing just 15 games in 2024.
UNTRIED DEMATTIA PUSHING FOR DEBUT
It is not just Harry DeMattia’s hair that is catching the eye this pre-season, with the second-year Magpie playing a more prominent onball role at training.
Taken at pick 25 in the 2023 national draft, DeMattia cut his teeth at VFL level in the second half of last year after missing the start of the season with a finger injury.
But the speedster is pushing for an early-season AFL debut and is doing all the right things on the track to achieve that.
DeMattia inked a two-year contract extension in December, tying him to the club until at least the end of 2027.
HEALTHY AND HAPPY
While some clubs have plenty of players in the rehabilitation group at the moment, the Magpies are in a good spot.
Forward Harvey Harrison did some work on his own for most of the session, while midfielder Tom Mitchell (foot) was unsighted and faces a delayed start to the year.
But big man Mason Cox was back after travelling to the United States for personal reasons last week and all of the big names are ramping up their training.
Collingwood will play its first match simulation against opposition when it faces the Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Lions on February 20.
FATHER-SON ON TRACK
The Magpies’ rich history of father-son’s looks set to continue this year, with Tom McGuane expected to have his name read out in November’s national draft.
The ball-winning midfielder has spent time training with the Magpies over the past two months and again impressed on Wednesday.
The Western Jets product trained strongly throughout the session and participated in match simulation, during which he snappeda lovely goal after cleanly picking up a ground ball.
McGuane featured in the under-17 Futures game last September and attended Vic Metro’s summer training camp last week.
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