Collingwood star Jordan De Goey will miss the club’s trial match against Hawthorn on Friday as he nurses a broken rib ahead of Round 1.
De Goey returned to the club last month after a tumultuous off-season which saw him briefly stood down by Collingwood due to an off-field incident in the US.
Collingwood assistant coach Hayden Skipworth revealed that the 25-year-old had broken his rib during a training session.
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“Unfortunately he got a broken rib a week or two ago at training,” Skipworth told reporters today.
“He has had a really good (training) block pre that and now it’s really focusing on his conditioning and his footy stuff.”
Despite the pre-season injury blow, De Goey is still expected to line up for Collingwood when it faces St Kilda in the season-opener on March 18. He trained away from the main group today.
“We put him through the paces today, another big (training session) on Friday and then hopefully he will be straight back in for the GWS game the week after,” Skipworth said.
“If all goes well with his rehab … that is the plan to get him back for that game.
“We have got a big one (training session) Friday, it will be non-contact and then next week will be building his contact progression throughout the week.”
De Goey will not be the only big name absent for Collingwood’s trial match, with high-flying defender Jeremy Howe also sidelined with a minor groin injury. Like De Goey, Howe is also expected to be fit for Round 1.
“He probably could have played on but because it’s a safety motto really at this time of year, we pulled him out,” Skipworth said of Howe’s status.
“He will miss this week and then we will reassess next week.”