Magpies to start AFL season in good shape
JORDAN De Goey, Jamie Elliott and Jaidyn Stephenson are set to light up Collingwood’s forward line as they open their AFL season against Geelong on Friday night.
De Goey has overcome a foot injury and Stephenson trained strongly on Wednesday after overcoming a groin issue. It will be Elliott’s first AFL game in more than a year.
De Goey will play forward early in the season after his foot sprain limited his training.
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said Elliott’s long battle with a hamstring injury had matured him, with the results shown in his big pre-season.
“He’s a little bit older, a little bit wiser, a little bit more mature and understanding and appreciative of the opportunities that come along, so I think he’s well placed mentally and emotionally to handle this next phase of his footy career, and physically he’s in great shape,” Buckley said.
Key defender Darcy Moore, whose 2018 season ended prematurely because of a hamstring injury, would be another important inclusion for the MCG clash.
“He clearly would’ve been frustrated with the way last year went for him and the disappointment of not being able to put his hand up at the pointy end,” Buckley said.
“He’s really committed to improving himself as a footballer, getting himself as fit as he possibly can be, and ready to take that next step into the early rounds.”
Buckley said he’d also been impressed by the contribution of ex-Western Bulldog Jordan Roughead and hinted he could have a role against Geelong.
That might mean there’s no room for Tyson Goldsack, who returned for the Magpies’ finals campaign after recovering from a serious knee injury. “Roughy has been awesome,” Buckley said.
“He hasn’t put a foot wrong and should be rewarded as a result.” Buckley said he was still to make a call on whether he had room in a talent- laden midfield to send Levi Greenwood to tag Cats skipper Joel Selwood. AAP