Magpie rookie Josh Smith appears set for a stint on the sidelines after injuring his right ankle in Collingwood’s eight point NAB Challenge win over Geelong.
Smith landed awkwardly on the wing in the second quarter before being helped to the interchange bench by trainers.
The 21-year-old didn’t return to the game after what was encouraging opening in the midfield.
“He rolled over his ankle,” coach Nathan Buckley told the media post match.
“The early prognosis is that he’ll miss some time. But we’ll get the scans and have a look,” Buckley said.
A product of the Redlands Football Club in Queensland, Smith made the most of an impressive pre-season campaign and was named in Collingwood’s 29-man squad for the NAB Challenge opener.
He started on the wing in his first taste of senior action and had eight impressive disposals in the early stages of the game.
It was enough to impress Buckley, who lamented the loss of the rookie post game.
“He showed really early that he was capable. He played that wing role really well,” Buckley said.
“It’s disappointing for him, but he’ll get himself right and then go again.”
Collingwood’s only other injury concern for the night appeared to be an arm injury suffered by third-year player Tim Broomhead.
Broomhead held his arm as he went to the bench in the second half, however he returned to the field and appeared comfortable in the latter stages of the game.
Ankle concerns for Magpie rookie
Nathan Buckley expects to be without rookie Josh Smith in the coming weeks after the wingman injured his ankle in Collingwood eight-point NAB Challenge victory.