Collingwood defender re-aggravates calf injury, defensive mix-up looms
Jeremy Howe has re-injured a calf that has troubled him through the pre-season, the setback sidelining him from the next practice matches and creating fresh selection headaches for Collingwood ahead of the 2026 campaign. Captain Darcy Moore is also on a modified program while managing his own calf concerns, leaving the club to weigh up inexperienced options in key defensive posts.
Howe setback clouds pre-season preparations
Howe had returned to full training after sustaining a calf problem at training about a month ago, but the issue flared up again this week. The injury is being treated as minor, yet it will keep him out of the club’s scheduled practice matches against GWS and North Melbourne over the coming fortnight. With the Opening Round still a focus, the club has not ruled him out but will proceed cautiously with his rehabilitation.
Defensive reshuffle emerging
With two of the side’s premiership-era key defenders managing calf conditions, the coaching staff are preparing to reshuffle a backline that had been expected to feature experience and continuity. The immediate plan is to pair emerging tall options with the remaining senior pieces, while reintegrating players returning from their own setbacks. The changes will test the club’s depth and defensive cohesion early in the season build.
Joel Cochran seizing an opportunity
The 2024 draftee has impressed through the pre-season, adding size and confidence in aerial contests and at ground level. That improvement positions him as the most likely candidate to fill the role left by Howe on a game-by-game basis. Coaches have praised his development in match simulations and intra-club sessions, and he now faces the challenge of making those performances translate in practice matches and, potentially, senior football.
Reef McInnes’ return still managed
Reef McInnes is another option tallied into the defensive equation. He is returning from an ACL reconstruction sustained in early 2025 and was withheld from the club’s intra-club match on Friday as part of a cautious ramp-up. His reintroduction will be carefully managed to avoid setbacks, meaning early season minutes may be limited while he regains full match fitness and confidence in his knee.
Other personnel notes and broader implications
Isaac Quaynor has been available and putting in strong sessions in defence, while Beau McCreery and Dan McStay continue their recoveries and featured in recent training. Two established names, Nick Daicos and Darcy Cameron, were absent from the session because of commitments with State of Origin duties, which further thins defensive options for practice fixtures.
The combined circumstances present a test for the coaching group’s list management and game-plan flexibility. If Howe’s return is delayed into the start of the season, the side will need to lean on young talls and adapt matchups to protect less experienced defenders. That could lead to shorter rotations, positional switches and an increased reliance on intercepting defenders and rebounding half-backs to cover aerial contests.
Outlook and next steps
Collingwood will monitor both Howe and Moore closely over the next two weeks as the pair follow individual programs aimed at getting them ready for Round One. The club’s approach appears to favour patient management rather than a rushed comeback, with practice matches serving as vital checkpoints for fitness and form. For the coaching staff, the immediate priority is stabilising defensive structures and giving emerging players enough exposure to handle senior responsibilities if required.
Howe’s minor setback underlines the fragile nature of pre-season preparations; the coming weeks will reveal whether the defensive spine can hold firm or whether a recalibrated backline will be needed when the season gets underway.
