Jolly good signs for opener
Darren Jolly says he will line up in the Magpies' opening AFL clash next week despite a stint in hospital.
Jolly was hospitalised after suffering a hit in his back in last Friday's practice-match loss to Geelong at Simmonds Stadium.
"I just copped a knock in the back, of all places, in the last quarter, which was purely an accident", Jolly said.??"I went into hospital as a precaution, just to make sure the lungs are okay.??"It's all good now."??However, Jolly admitted he had had an easier week following the incident "to settle down".
"I'm very confident (of playing in round one). I've dealt with injuries in the past and this is no different," he said.
"I'll make sure I look after it this week and be ready to go for next week."
Collingwood recruited former Adelaide, Western Bulldogs and Lions ruckman Ben Hudson as a ruck coach only to later recruit him in the rookie draft to shore up their playing stocks.
Jolly said he was happy that Hudson would play a role on-field at various times.
"I knew when Huddo was coming he was probably going to play a few games, which is great," Jolly said.
"Huddo brings great experience to our group. Obviously he's played at three different clubs now and the way he goes about training and playing, his attitude towards things is fantastic.
"I'm not going to play every game and I don't think every player will play every game so there's opportunities there for him," he said.
Meanwhile, Jolly said star midfielder Dale Thomas was in doubt for the first round against North Melbourne on Sunday week but backman Ben Reid should play.
"I think maybe Reidy might be ready to go but I'm dubious about Daisy (Thomas)", he said.
"He's confident he'll be ready for round one and he's back training but I think he has to prove to the coaches that he can really get up and go and be tackled."
Thomas has been involved in controversy recently after saying he might not stay at Collingwood if he gets a more attractive offer under the free agency rules.
"Internally, we don't really worry about it," Jolly said.
"Daisy, to his credit, is coming off an injury so he wants to prove to the club that he wants a good contract and he will start to play some good footy before he starts talking about it.
"None of the guys have a problem with it at all - we know where he stands."