Big deal for hurt Howe
JEREMY Howe has joined Collingwood’s growing injury list with the high-flying AFL defender on a modified training program with a sore calf.
But in a boost for Howe and the Pies, the club yesterday announced that he had signed a new three-year deal.
Club medical staff are carefully managing several injured players in the lead up to the pre-season competition.
Darcy Moore, who will be redeployed as a defender this season, is also sitting out full training with an achilles complaint.
The pair join Jamie Elliott (ankle), Levi Greenwood (knee) and Alex Fasolo (shoulder), who all had surgery before Christmas and remain on the comeback trail.
“We’ve got a few (injured) and ideally we’d love them to be out there, but I think everyone is progressing quite well,” Howe said yesterday.
“With Darcy going into a new role you’d like him to be in full training but he’s progressing well.
“I’m still modified with my calf ... I’m still trying to build the blocks up to try to get back to full training.
“The match sim stuff has ramped right up so I need to get back into it as soon as I can.”
Howe reported a “grumbly” calf after the Pies’ recent training camp on the Gold Coast, with the decision made to back off his workload.
Despite the setback, the 27year-old is still set to appear in the pre-season competition.
The contract extension comes as Howe embarks on his third season with Collingwood since his switch from Melbourne, where he played 100 games in five seasons.
“I’m super stoked to get the opportunity to stay for a further four years,” he said.
“I came here with the clear intention to play that wing-forward role.
“Obviously it turned out a little bit differently, but I’ve really enjoyed the last two seasons with the Pies.
“I still had a year left but to get an extension was a good show of faith from the club.”