Darcy Moore’s Battle to Return This Season
Darcy Moore, the Collingwood captain, is currently facing a challenging road to recovery as he deals with persistent soft-tissue injuries. The key defender has returned to Magpies training this week, following a recent trip to the United States where he focused on building strength and consulting with specialists.
Moore recently suffered another hamstring injury during Scott Pendlebury’s record-breaking game against West Coast on May 23. This marks his fourth soft-tissue injury of the season, and he is also recovering from an inflamed bursa in his knee. Despite these setbacks, Moore remains hopeful of playing again this year, though Collingwood coach Craig McRae acknowledges that it might not be realistic.
“Potentially. I don’t know if that’s reality, but he’s progressing the right direction to suggest he will, but I’m not sure when,” McRae said regarding Moore’s chances of returning in 2026. “There’s still a long way to go. Pleasing he did a good running session (on Thursday) so good to get a block under him.”
The US trip provided Moore with valuable feedback on certain areas of his movement and mechanics. McRae explained that this has allowed Moore to make some minor adjustments, which take time to implement effectively.
Brayden Maynard’s Road to Recovery
Meanwhile, rugged defender Brayden Maynard is aiming to return in the next fortnight despite suffering a shoulder dislocation. The vice-captain will miss Saturday’s clash with Richmond at the MCG. However, McRae expressed cautious optimism about Maynard’s potential return.
“At this stage he’s bullish that he can play next week, but he’s bullish to play this week,” McRae said. “These shoulders that pop in and out… they need to strengthen. Some of them can hold, but in reality, most at some stage get stressed, and then you go in for a full reconstruction.”
McRae added that the team is taking calculated risks with Maynard, involving players like Will Hayes and Noah Howes in the VFL program. These three have similar injuries, but the coaching staff will eventually need to push them to see if their shoulders can withstand the intensity required at the AFL level.
Collingwood’s Performance and Future Prospects
Collingwood currently sit 11th on the ladder after a scrappy win against Port Adelaide. Star duo Nick Daicos and Jordan De Goey were the standout performers in that match. Pendlebury is set to return for the upcoming game against the Tigers, having missed the previous match due to illness.
McRae has expressed growing encouragement regarding the younger, inexperienced players trying to force their way into the AFL side to complement the veterans. He noted that while there hasn’t always been enough pressure from the lower ranks, recent performances in the VFL have shown improvement.
“There’s times that I don’t think there is (selection pressure), there’s not enough pushing from underneath,” McRae said. “But in the last couple of weeks, our VFL footy has been at a much better level and players are starting to play above VFL level, which is what we need.”
He emphasized the importance of rewarding young players with opportunities to prove themselves and push their way into the team. “We probably haven’t had it at a level we would like in recent times,” McRae concluded.
