Daniel Wells takes first steps towards Collingwood recall as Tom Boyd boots five for Footscray

COLLINGWOOD’S big weekend just got better with star Pie Daniel Wells returning to the field, while Bulldog Tom Boyd impressed. VFL SCORES

Conditions weren’t ideal for Daniel Wells‘ return to footy. Pic: Michael Klein

COLLINGWOOD midfielder Daniel Wells has taken his first steps towards an AFL return but looms as a highly unlikely selection for Anzac Day.

After a pre-season hampered by achilles soreness, Wells played limited game time for Collingwood’s VFL side on Saturday but appeared a long way off full fitness and touch.

With rain bucketing down for much of the first half at Olympic Park, the silky Wells had few chances to show off his skill in a scrappy and contested game against Port Melbourne but barely broke out of a jog for much of the match.

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With senior coach Nathan Buckley watching on from the stands, the 33-year-old spent time playing both deep forward and onball but was unable to have any real impact in either position.

Daniel Wells in the pouring rain — and the VFL. Pic: Michael Klein

Collingwood VFL coach Jared Rivers said while conditions were not ideal, Wells would continue to build his training loads and fitness in coming weeks.

“It’s tough, especially for the forwards, to get involved in a game like (that),” Rivers said.
“It was just good to see him get through. I think he got through well and I think he played 65, 70 per cent.”

Alex Fasolo also had limited impact on the match, scrapping two behinds in the first term before a kicking a nice goal on the run from 50m in the final quarter.

Chris Mayne was solid in his new role on a wing and floated forward to kick one set shot goal in the third quarter.

Tom Boyd in action for Footscray last year. Pic: Michael Klein

MEANWHILE, big Bulldog Tom Boyd has announced he may be ready for a return to the AFL after starring in Footscray’s VFL win over Coburg.

Boyd, who hasn’t played senior football since Round 13 last year after battling form and a mental health issue, was goalless to halftime before booting three in the third term and two in the last as the Bulldogs belted Coburg.

In other matches, Box Hill was too strong for Frankston while Essendon went down to Williamstown — despite Shaun McKernan’s three goals.

VFL SCORES

COLLINGWOOD 7.5 (47)

PORT MELBOURNE 9.9 (63)

GOALS: Collingwood: G. Borthwick, C. Lane, J. Blair, S. McLarty, C. Mayne, J. Blair, R. Wills

Port Melbourne: J. Lisle 5, B. Pearson 2, S. Lange, A. Anastasio

BEST: Collingwood: F. Appleby, E. Le Grice, M. Chippendale, J. Daicos, A. Gallucci, J. Blair

Port Melbourne: J. Lisle, I. Conway, L. Cook, H. Hooper, L. Waddell, M. Rivett

FOOTSCRAY 17.11 (113)

COBURG 4.8 (32)

GOALS: Footscray: T. Boyd 5, L. Nash 3, T. Campbell 2, M. Goodyear 2, P. Lipinski 2, A. Monfries 2, J. Prudden

Coburg: H. Kerbatieh, J. Fox, T. Wallis, B. Cannolo

BEST: Footscray T. Boyd, J. Prudden, L. Webb, B. Lynch, L. Young, T. Campbell

Coburg: R. Exon, S. Gregory, L. Dickson, S. Lowson, N. Blair

WILLIAMSTOWN 10.17 (77)

ESSENDON 6.9 (45)

GOALS: Williamstown: N. Meese 2, J. Thorpe 2, L. George, J. Dorgan, W. Wheeler, B. Cavarra, L. Masters, C. Buykx-Smith

Essendon: S. McKernan 3, B. McNiece, M. Leuenberger, D. Younan

BEST: Williamstown: W. Wheeler, M. Gibbons, J. Jones, L. Schultz, C. Buykx-Smith, N. Meese

Essendon: K. Mutch, A. Heppell, P. Ambrose, B. Zerk-Thatcher, D. Clarke, J. Ridley

FRANKSTON 9.10 (64)

BOX HILL HAWKS 14.19 (103)

Originally published as Daniel Wells takes first steps towards Collingwood recall as Tom Boyd boots five for Footscray