Collingwood’s Jeremy Howe says no bigger test for AFL reboot than against reigning premier

Tasmanian AFL player Jeremy Howe is looking forward to tackling the reigning premiers as Collingwood prepares to take on Richmond when the competition restarts next week.

JEREMY Howe says Collinwood’s defenders remained so connected through coronavirus isolation it will be straight back to business as one of the AFL’s most ruthless backlines when the season resumes next week.

The Pies had a “dress rehearsal” last Thursday for their first game back and Howe knows the backline will be under fire against a forward line boasting premiership Tigers Tom Lynch, Jack Riewoldt, Dustin Martin and Jason Castagna when they meet Richmond in the AFL season reboot at the MCG on Thursday night.

Jeremy Howe marks the ball during a training session last month. Picture: AAP/MICHAEL DODGE

After one round, Collingwood is second on the ladder and Richmond sixth, but the 29-year-old Tasmanian expects both sides to pick up where they left off in their traditional rivalry.

“We’ve got a really good handle on the way Richmond plays and I dare say they know how we play and generally we match up well against each other, so we are expecting a good contest,” Howe said.

“We’re looking forward to getting back into it and what better way than against the reigning premier.

“Let’s get into it.”

MORE SPORT: OLD SCHOLARS BLOW AS POWERHOUSE PULLS PIN

Collingwood’s backline maintained its strong bond throughout the break.

“We’ve had some good continuity with the boys down the backline and we’ve managed to generate a good connection down there,” Howe said.

“When we went into isolation I tried to train with someone new every session. You could only train in pairs but it was enough to see a face, have a bit of a yarn and get the work in.

“As a club we stayed in touch on Zoom calls, and as a backline we did that as well.

“So when we came back, the connection as there from the word go — we were able to pick up where we left off.”