Collingwood star Jamie Elliott’s AFL career appears in major doubt

Collingwood great Nathan Buckley has given an alarming update on Jamie Elliott, with the star forward’s career now in doubt.

Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley has given a frightening update on star Pie Jamie Elliott’s condition amid concerns over the small forward’s playing future.

Elliott featured in 24 matches for the Pies last year, kicking a career-high 39 goals to help the club win the premiership.

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He took a stunning mark of the year contender on Anzac Day in round seven, but the 31-year-old has been sidelined since round eight, missing the club’s last four matches as he deals with a vascular issue.

Collingwood initially put a two-to-four week time frame on his return, but that has been shelved with the club now unsure on when he could return to action.

Buckley, who coached Elliott from the time both joined the Pies in 2012 through 2021, provided some details on what the 187-game veteran is going through.

Jamie Elliott's career appears to be in serious trouble. Photos: Getty Images

“The only thing I know about his injury is that he was coming off for a couple of weeks midway through a second quarter and couldn’t feel his foot,” Buckley said on SEN.

“He’d take his boot off and (his foot) was black.

“That’s a concern, you know something’s not right. They were able to find the vascular issue, which is basically blood flow into and out of his foot.”

Elliott has dealt with a number of injury problems across his career, battling hamstring tendinitis early on and missing whole seasons in 2016 (back) and 2018 (ankle).

He also missed nine games in the 2021 campaign after fracturing his leg and Buckley questioned whether Elliott had the desire to fight back another time.

“He has had long-term injuries at different stages of his career and he’s withstood a great deal, he’s gone through that and become a premiership player,” he said.

Elliott’s talents were on full display in this year’s Anzac Day draw with the Bombers. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“He missed seasons on end at times at different stages.

“He’s been here before and he’s dug himself out, of it. That would be the only concern, ‘(thinking) is this something I can dig myself out of’.

“Only time will tell with that, they need a bit more time than they’ve had.”

AFL reporter Tom Morris also spoke about Elliott’s situation on Channel 9’s Footy Furnace on Sunday night and raised doubts about his playing future.

“Collingwood are playing their cards very close to their chest, but there are people around Jamie Elliott at the moment who are doubtful whether he’ll be able to play football in the short-term, the mid-term or even again at all,” Morris said.

“They hope this is not the case, he’s contracted to the end of next year, but there are doubts around this vascular issue that appears to be affecting him.

Buckley coached Elliott throughout his decade leading the Magpies. (AAP Image/Scott Barbour) NO ARCHIVING

“He’s certainly one to watch, we hope Jamie Elliott can get back, but now I guess the narrative has changed.

“A few weeks ago we expected him back in maybe two, three, four weeks, now there’s really no idea when he’s going to be able to get back at all and whether he’s able to get back this season.

“It’s a concern for Collingwood, they definitely need their best players out there and he’s certainly one of them.”

After a slow start to their premiership defence, the Pies had won six games along with two draws prior to last Friday night’s defeat to the Western Bulldogs.

Sitting just outside the eight on percentage, Collingwood next face the Demons in the King’s Birthday clash at the MCG on Monday.

Originally published as Collingwood star Jamie Elliott’s AFL career appears in major doubt