Reid pushing for Pies
INJURY- HIT Collingwood forward Ben Reid will attempt to prove his fitness this week in a desperate bid to be picked for Saturday’s preliminary final.
The Magpies face their biggest selection call of the year when they consider pulling the trigger on Reid or swinging Jordan Roughead forward for the clash against GWS Giants.
Reid, 30, hurt his hamstring in July, prompting fears the 149-gamer’s career was over.
But the left-footer has trained solidly over the past two weeks and put in a strong showing in some match simulation at the club on Friday to re-enter the selection frame.
The Pies need a second marking target to replace Jordan De Goey, who returned home to Melbourne yesterday after a whirlwind trip to Germany to see a world-leading soft-tissue specialist. De Goey, who saw Dr Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt, posted a picture on his Instagram account last week saying he had completed his “first run”.
The Pies maintain slim hopes he can recover in time for the grand final if they can overcome GWS on Saturday at the MCG.
Football manager Geoff Walsh yesterday said De Goey would consult club doctors today about the next step in his recovery.
“He got back this morning and we will see what happens,” Walsh said.
“The medical staff will have a look at the full report and they will go from there.”
Reid has played well in his seven appearances this year MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2019 but hurt his calf in the Round 15 loss to North Melbourne and then “nicked” his hamstring the following month.
Walsh said Reid would try to push his case at training this week. “Over the past two or three weeks, he has completed a strong block of training,” Walsh said. “And he was up and going and doing all right in the match simulation, so physically he’s OK.”
The big question is whether he can be picked for a final without any recent match fitness and whether his legs can be trusted to last 120 minutes.
But the Pies will consider bolstering their attacking marking options to counter the aerial brilliance of GWS defenders Nick Haynes and Phil Davis. Haynes and Davis were immense in the cut-throat semi-final win over Brisbane.