AFL 2023: All the latest training, injury and selection news at Collingwood

Jack Ginnivan sent a scare through the Collingwood camp but there was plenty to like as the Pies had their first foray into practice match conditions. Read the full wrap and check out the PICTURE GALLERY

Scott Pendlebury battles with Josh Carmichael during the Collingwood scratch match. Picture: Michael Klein

Collingwood‘s Jack Ginnivan had his day end on half-time after he suffered a gashed leg that at one stage looked like a serious injury.

He was in the hands of trainers for five minutes and appeared to be favouring his knee, eventually limping into the Collingwood rooms in some pain.

The Pies said he suffered only a cut leg and would be available for coming scratch matches, a relief given their medical issues seem to be easing at the right time.

After 40.19 last season, he is a crucial cog in the Magpies’ forward line.

Collingwood star Jack Ginnivan is tackled by Jack Crisp at Olympic Park. Pictures: Michael Klein

But it didn’t end pretty for the small forward with Jack Ginnivan getting Jack Crisp’s boot in the face.

CENTRE SQUARE OPTIONS FOR THE PIES

Good luck guessing which centre square formation the Pies will run with at any time this year.

The depth is insanely good in that position.

At one stage Tom Mitchell, Steele Sidebottom and Taylor Adams matched up against Scott Pendlebury, Jack Crisp and Nick Daicos.

With Jordan De Goey, Brayden Maynard, Josh Daicos, Jamie Elliott and Pat Lipinski all likely to see centre square action the options are endless.

Mitchell was his usual prolific self at the bottom of packs while De Goey was sharp and damaging as he moved forward to find space and goal early.

Dan McStay bobbed up for three first half goals — hitting up Josh Daicos on that early lead and taking one of his pair of pack marks on Darcy Moore — showing his best will be exceptional for the Pies.

Darcy Cameron (hamstring) did fitness work on the sidelines and Mason Cox had the better of summer rookie Oscar Steen, kicking a mid-air goal early then soaring for a strong pack mark in the opposite goalsquare moments later.

Jordan De Goey looked sharp for the Pies through the midfield. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

NEW RECRUITS

Bobby Hill will quickly become a fan favourite as he showed his bag of tricks with a clever baulk then darting run into the corridor to hit Ash Johnson laces-out.

He was on the end of an eight-handball chain from the centre square to kick an early goal, and gives the Pies forward line some breakneck pace.

Speaking of that commodity, both black and white teams were desperate to chain-handball out of stoppages moving the ball at warp speed as they take their attacking game to a new level.

Club champions Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom enjoy the lighter side of the session. Picture: Michael Klein

Ed Allan found some early touches. Picture: Getty Images

ROUND 1 POTENTIAL?

Joe Richards is an old-fashioned Collingwood six footer at 177cm but has burst and a brilliant backstory as a Wangaratta schoolteacher plucked at pick 48 by the Pies.

He had some quality touches off half back and while Oleg Markov will hope to push his claims hard in coming weeks, Richards did his chances no harm.

Ed Allan is a hard-running wingman taken at pick 19 and he too found early touches manned up against Steele Sidebottom on the wing.

Originally published as AFL 2023: All the latest training, injury and selection news at Collingwood