Out-of-form Fasolo on the outer at Pies
ALEX Fasolo is destined to start Round 1 out of the Collingwood senior team based on modest pre-season form.
The livewire forward put together some terrific football last year in the same season he courageously spoke publicly about his depression battle.
But Fasolo is yet to find form in two VFL games despite being back in full training from shoulder surgery for the past month. He failed to make an impact in last week’s VFL game and is behind several mid-sized forwards for selection in the Round 1 clash against Hawthorn.
The Pies have no doubt once he discovers confidence in his body he will soon find the form that saw him win Collingwood’s goalkicking award in 2016. Coach Nathan Buckley has so far preferred Jaidyn Stephenson, pressure forward Cal Brown and Ben Crocker in JLT clashes alongside regulars such as Travis Varcoe, Will Hoskin-Elliott and midfielder/forward Josh Thomas.
Fasolo will join Jamie Elliott, Daniel Wells and James Aish in match simulation tomorrow, with Elliott and Wells ruled out of Round 1 but back in full training.
Fasolo, 25, needed surgery in December after a previous injury to his shoulder did not heal through rest, putting back his pre-season.
Last year he kicked 17 goals in the final 10 games of the year as the Pies roared home with four wins and a draw in the final seven games.
Buckley said of Fasolo’s recovery on Sunday after the win over the Bulldogs: “Faz has played a couple of games now and is ready to go if his form warrants.”
Fasolo is a restricted free agent this year, but despite interest from West Coast last year the Pies quickly shut down any trade rumours.
Collingwood’s top three goalkickers last year were Elliott (34), Fasolo (29) and Darcy Moore, with Moore set to play at centre half-back. Yet Buckley would have been thrilled with his side’s ability to force forward-half turnovers against the Dogs, with two Hoskin-Elliott bone-crunching tackles highlights.
Callum Brown, who played five games in his debut season, has shown he can play midfield and also as a hardtackling small forward.
Stephenson, the club’s first-round pick last year, was quieter in the second JLT game after playing AFLX and the first JLT clash and will have to wait to see if he gains a Round 1 debut.