Brodie Grundy is free of his neck brace and training once again as he recovers from the neck injury which has kept him sidelined since Queen’s Birthday.
Grundy cut a lone figure in the Westpac Centre gym on Friday as his teammates returned from a brave effort in Perth against Fremantle.
He trained without a neck brace for the first time, with Director of Football Neil Balme confirming on Tuesday that he may be available for selection as early as this weekend.
View Collingwood's updated injury list now.
While Balme stressed the Magpies wouldn’t rush into selecting Grundy, he believes the ruckmen can now return to a normal routine.
“He’s got rid of the brace, he’s trained a couple of times already and is in very good shape,” Balme told Collingwood Media’s ‘Blackmores Injury Update’.
“Naturally we’ll be pretty conservative with him but there’s some chance he’d be available for this weekend.”
In the VFL Ben Sinclair, Levi Greenwood and Darcy Moore all impressed in a variety of roles.
Sinclair played three quarters in his first game back from a hamstring, while Greenwood and Moore played full games in the midfield and at full forward respectively.
“Sinclair returned and did very well. He played a good three quarters with that hamstring so he’s very close to being fully available again,” Balme said.
Mason Cox was absent from the thrilling two-point victory at Victoria Park on Saturday, however Balme says there is no related injury.
“Cox was rested on the weekend in the VFL and didn’t play. He’ll certainly be available for this weekend,” he said.
Balme said Nathan Freeman would return to the VFL within weeks after having hamstring surgery in May.
The highly-talented 20-year-old is yet to play a senior game for the Magpies and will look to add to the four VFL games he’s played this year.
“Freeman’s hamstring is going pretty well,” Balme said.
“He’s running pretty well, he’s getting back into the phase where he’s very close to playing again. Within the next week or two I’m sure he’ll play.”
Balme reaffirmed his stance that Brent Macaffer will play this year, declaring the midfielder has been having “a run and a kick” as he recovers from a knee injury.
A complete update from Balme on Collingwood’s entire injury list is available in this week’s edition of ‘Blackmores Injury Update’.