AFL round 9 teams: Collingwood rules four key players out of clash with Fremantle

Collingwood will be without almost 1000 games of experience when it heads west to take on Fremantle off a five-day break. See full round 9 team news here.

Collingwood will strategically manage three of its best players for its Thursday night clash with Fremantle while another will be briefly sidelined through injury.

The Magpies, coming off a five-day break with the longest trip in football, will be without Scott Pendlebury, Brody Mihocek, Brayden Maynard and Jordan De Goey.

Mihocek is the only player to be out through injury this week after succumbing to abdominal pain he has played through for weeks.

Collingwood coach Craig McRae said leaving 948 games worth of experience on the sidelines was a “somewhat deliberate” plan conjured ahead of the season.

“’Checkers’ (Mihocek) has got a bit of an abdominal strain which will keep him out, hopefully only for one week, we’ll wait and see,” he said.

“The other three will be managed; we planned this to be honest a long time ago. We saw the draw come out and we thought ‘let’s be strategic in this’.

“(Maynard) has had something (foot) ongoing all season and we’ve managed him through that. We saw this opportunity a long way out.

“He could arguably play but we’re going to set himself back further and further if we keep pushing this.”

Brayden Maynard and Scott Pendlebury won’t play against Fremantle. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Collingwood hopes De Goey will return after just one week, but the dynamic Magpie spent just five minutes at training on Tuesday.

McRae urged patience with De Goey, insisting the premiership star would come good in coming weeks.

“We’re sort of one step forward, one step back with Jordy at the moment, we’d like to be going a bit faster than what we are with him,” he said.

“We’ve got to have patience, we’re asking our Collingwood faithful to have patience because the plan is to get him going in coming weeks.

“His groins are fine, it’s sort of managing loads and how much can he do around training and playing.

“He’s literally only just started getting consistency with training and playing in the same week, which is hard to do in this league.”

"They play a big role in my development."

We chat to young forward Charlie West following his three goal haul in last night's win over the Bombers: https://t.co/PK7ptGHXRopic.twitter.com/Uz621GC65d

— Collingwood FC VFL (@CollingwoodVFL) April 27, 2025

The Magpies withdrew Jeremy Howe, Oleg Markov, Lachie Sullivan, Ed Allan and Charlie West from the VFL last week in preparation for their quick turnaround.

McRae said Collingwood fans had plenty to look forward to if West was to make his AFL debut against the Dockers.

“(West) is definitely in the mix, we’ll take him to Perth. For as long as I have been a coach, setting people up to be successful has always been my philosophy,” he said.

“He hasn’t trained over the weekend, we managed him for this game potentially and he hasn’t trained. He trained today (and did) well, so it’ll just be ‘is he going to be at 100 per cent to show what he’s got as an 18-year-old in AFL footy for the first time?’

“Charlie is an 18-year-old, a big lad, I reckon he’s the old-fashioned full forward, like an Allen Jakovich, big barrel chested coming out and taking contested marks.

“He’s been averaging four goals a game at VFL for most weeks, he’s got sticky hands. We’re excited for what he can be, again he’s 18, most key forwards don’t come good until mid-20s, but we’re excited by what he can do.”

STEWART MAKES CASE TO RETURN FROM INJURY

Dan Batten, Geelong Advertiser

Geelong star Tom Stewart ran laps and completed sprint run throughs away from the main group at the Cats’ light Tuesday session as he pushes to return for his side’s clash with GWS on Sunday,

Stewart has been dealing with a posterior cruciate ligament concern since round two and the Cats opted to rest him for their epic win over Collingwood.

The five-time All-Australian had strapping around his knee and didn’t take part in drills at GMHBA Stadium, while Gryan Miers trained with the main group after missing the last two matches with concussion.

Tom Stewart ran laps and completed sprint run throughs away from the main group at Geelong's light session on Tuesday. Rhys Stanley also did some light running in a positive sign after his hamstring injury.

Story: https://t.co/7D3T5POPbl@[e-mail]/XxYqXnUgCD

— Dan Batten (@danbatten_) May 6, 2025

Tom Stewart runs laps at training as he pushes to return to the Geelong side. Picture: Alison Wynd

Coach Chris Scott speaking to Tom Stewart at Cats training. Picture: Alison Wynd

Miers also completed Geelong’s main session last Thursday with ease in a non-contact cap.

Geelong coach Chris Scott said post-match that Jack Henry was a “chance” to return against GWS on Sunday but he was part of the rehab group early in the session.

Henry also made up some of the numbers for the ‘B’ side in a light match simulation drill.

Ruckman Rhys Stanley was subbed out at quarter time on Saturday night with a hamstring injury but the 34-year-old completed light running off to the side.

Geelong tall Sam De Koning said Stewart and Henry were “tracking well” but he was unsure of timelines for the defensive pair or Stanley.

“It’s been good to see them out there running and working on their bodies and trying to get fit and ready to put their hand up for selection,” De Koning said.

“So they look like they’re moving well and I’m not too sure on the timeframes of either of them, but they’ve been looking good and been happy around the club and supporting the boys.”

In-form captain Patrick Dangerfield was off to the side for some of the session but the Cats often manage his training load.

The Cats revealed on Sunday that Lawson Humphries entered concussion protocols post-game after receiving a further head injury assessment.

In a positive sign of progress, injury-riddled trio Cam Guthrie (Achilles), Toby Conway (back) and Jack Martin (management) also took part in match simulation.

Geelong will release it’s official injury update at 5pm on Tuesday.