Collingwood’s Darcy Moore says he is perfectly poised to hit Round 1 at full fitness

HE’S had an interrupted pre-season but after a solid performance against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday, Darcy Moore is ready to be unleashed for Round 1. But which other Pies will be with him?

Darcy Moore is firming to play Round 1. Picture: AAP Images

DARCY Moore says he is perfectly poised to hit Round 1 at full fitness after Collingwood’s impressive win over the Western Bulldogs on Saturday.

The Pies emerged with positives across the ground from the win after a JLT loss to GWS Nathan Buckley admitted had been “pretty poor”.

Moore (achilles), Jeremy Howe (calf) and fellow intercept defender Tom Langdon were all exceptional across half back.

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And while Buckley wouldn’t lock in Sam Murray for a Round 1 debut, he pushed his case given Round 1 opponent Hawthorn’s dangerous small forwards.

The Pies were vastly improved in their forward pressure, their defence of the Dogs’ ball movement and their ability to defend the Bulldogs inside 50s.

Moore not only played well in defence in the 33-point win over the Bulldogs, he got through unscathed after a limited summer.

Darcy Moore takes a strong mark in the JLT Series win against the Western Bulldogs. Picture: Getty Images

He said the Pies would play an intraclub game on Friday before the Saturday March 24 Round 1 clash, confident he had done enough work.

“It’s a tough juggling act at times, we are professional athletes and have to get our bodies right and then we have also got to learn to play with blokes and get the time on the field,’’ Moore said.

“So it’s always a balancing act but I am lucky with the rehab team, I was able to get on top of my injury almost a month ago.

“So I have probably had three or four weeks of really consistent training with the boys and it allowed me to get the footy stuff in which I was missing before.

“It was a bit of a jigsaw adding all the pieces and (the Dogs win) was a big piece and I passed it and it was fine. I am ready and excited.”

He told the Pies website next week’s hitout would give rehabbing players a chance to push for Round 1, with Alex Fasolo yet to play a JLT Series game.

He has played two VFL games after shoulder surgery and yet, despite 29 goals last year, does not seem a Round 1 certainty.

Buckley said Fasolo was ready to go “if his form warrants it”.

Brodie Grundy might yet miss Round 1 after his clumsy bump on Dogs forward Tory Dickson after the Dog had disposed of the ball.

He will hope new MRP boss Michael Christian assesses the late hit as careless, low impact and to the head, which would warrant a fine.

If the hit is seen as intentional, low impact and to the head, he would miss Round 1 with a one-week suspension.

Nathan Buckley talks to his players on Saturday. Picture: Michael Klein

Buckley was thrilled with how Collingwood’s forward line operated, given the Pies continue to play two talls including four-goal contributor Mason Cox.

“Late last year he (Cox) took some steps not just at AFL level but VFL level. He went from almost gloving them to taking them,’’ Buckley said.

“That was one of the reasons why we were rapt he decided to stay with us when he was being courted by a few other clubs.

“It’s why we have manipulated our structure to get him and Grundy in together.

“The two talls is yet to be proven but when you see a day when the big fellas are used at times but surpassed at other times, there is a good balance to that.”