AFL Stars on Track for Season Opener, But Some Clouds Remain
As the AFL season looms, key figures from premiership contenders Collingwood and Geelong are providing updates on their fitness and availability for Round 1. While star defenders Darcy Moore and Patrick Dangerfield are confident in their own readiness, and Dangerfield is optimistic about Jeremy Cameron’s prospects, the path to full strength isn’t entirely clear for all.
Magpies’ Defensive Stalwart Building Momentum
Collingwood captain Darcy Moore, a towering presence in defence, has been diligently working his way back into peak condition after a minor calf strain sustained in January. The 29-year-old, who missed some training, has recently ramped up his workload and is feeling positive about his progress.
“Going really well,” Moore stated regarding his recovery. “Yeah, had a minor sort of calf niggle in January so I’ve been on a bit of a modified training program, building up. But had a really big last couple of weeks with training loads and stuff. So feeling really great and body feels ready to go.”
While Moore’s personal readiness appears strong, his participation in Collingwood’s upcoming practice match against North Melbourne on Sunday remains uncertain. The club’s high-performance team is carefully mapping out his training loads in the lead-up to the season proper.
“Not sure yet,” Moore replied when questioned about the practice match. “Haven’t made plans for this week or next week. But looking pretty good. Still a couple of weeks to go (until opening round) and got to map out loads and that sort of stuff with the high performance team. But it’s looking pretty good.”
Howe’s Opening Round Status Uncertain
The outlook for veteran Magpies defender Jeremy Howe, who suffered a similar calf issue in January, is less definitive. At 35, Howe’s availability for Collingwood’s Round 1 clash against St Kilda at the MCG on March 8 is considered “touch-and-go.” However, Moore was quick to allay any significant concerns.
“He’s in a similar position. Yeah, potentially touch-and-go for the first game,” Moore explained. “But, again, not exactly sure what the timeline (is). But he’s definitely not far away. Like, definitely a minor injury.”
Bobby Hill’s Personal Leave Continues
A notable absentee from the Magpies’ preparations is livewire forward Bobby Hill. Hill has been away from the club for an extended period, taking personal leave. Moore emphasised that the focus remains on Hill’s well-being, with no pressure or timelines being imposed on his return.
“The latest is really that nothing’s changed,” Moore said. “Like, he’s clearly taken an extended period of leave. The focus for him and us is his wellbeing. So we’re not putting any timelines or pressure on him.”
Dangerfield Confident in Cameron’s Return
Across town, Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield is expressing strong confidence in the availability of their prolific goalkicking sensation, Jeremy Cameron, for their season opener against Gold Coast on Friday, March 6. Cameron, who endured a broken arm in last year’s Grand Final loss and subsequently a minor quad strain, will miss the Cats’ practice match against Carlton on Wednesday.
“He’s on track,” Dangerfield confirmed. “Obviously he’s had a hiccup with his quad. He would have played in that game (on Wednesday) if it wasn’t for the quad. But all signs at the moment, his full training today, point towards there being no issue around opening round. So he’ll be ready to go.”
Bruhn Cleared, Stengle’s Gradual Return
Geelong’s midfield will be bolstered by the confirmed fitness of Tanner Bruhn, who is set to play in both Wednesday’s practice match and the opening round. Bruhn had a minor procedure to remove a cyst from his neck, which saw him miss a scratch match against Hawthorn.
Meanwhile, Tyson Stengle is continuing his pre-season build-up after taking personal leave. Dangerfield indicated that Stengle’s reintegration will be a gradual process, with the club prioritising his sustainable return to play.
“Tyson’s going well. It’s still a progressive build-up for us,” Dangerfield commented. “We want to make sure by the time he’s ready to play, it’s sustainable. So we’re really mindful of the challenges that he’s had over the pre-season. So we’ll slowly work towards reintegration and playing and that sort of thing. But it’s a work in progress.”
