As the 2025 AFL season approaches, Collingwood Football Club’s Head of High-Performance, Jarrod Wade, has provided a comprehensive injury and health update ahead of their Opening Round clash against the GWS Giants at ENGIE Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Collingwood’s Injury ReportJordan De Goey: The dynamic midfielder will not be available for the Opening Round due to knee bruising. De Goey experienced a setback in pre-season that required a de-load period. He has completed a three-week period of full team and contact training and is expected to be available in rounds one or two. Brayden Maynard: After experiencing soreness following the Club’s match simulation in Gold Coast, Maynard was managed for the practice match against Richmond. The defender has resumed full training this week and is available for the Opening Round. Joel Cochran: The ruckman has maintained his gym and running loads over the past two weeks and is close to a return to full training. The 33-year-old will need to tick off some boxes to be available for Round One. GWS Giants’ Injury ConcernsThe GWS Giants are also grappling with several injury setbacks ahead of their season opener:Jesse Hogan: The reigning Coleman Medallist is set to miss the opening rounds of the season with a broken thumb. Hogan suffered the injury after getting it stuck in a door following his team’s final pre-season match against Carlton in Canberra and could miss two to three weeks but will be assessed on a week-to-week basis. Jake Stringer: The Giants’ new recruit has suffered a mild hamstring strain, pushing back his potential debut to as late as Round 3. Tom Green: The midfielder will be sidelined due to a calf strain, further depleting the Giants’ lineup. Ryan Angwin: The winger is expected to be out for five weeks due to an ankle injury. Phoenix Gothard: The player is undergoing tests for an ankle issue and his availability is yet to be confirmed. Suspensions: A host of Giants players are also suspended following last season’s Mad Monday incident. This includes Josh Fahey (suspended until Round 5), Joe Fonti (Round 3), Toby McMullin (Round 3), Jake Riccardi (Round 3), and Harvey Thomas (Round 3). Impact on Team DynamicsThe absence of key players like De Goey for Collingwood and Hogan, Stringer, and Green for the Giants is expected to significantly influence team strategies and dynamics in the upcoming match. Both teams will need to adapt their game plans to compensate for these losses.Looking AheadBoth Collingwood and the GWS Giants will be eager to start their 2025 AFL campaigns on a positive note despite these injury challenges. The upcoming match at ENGIE Stadium promises to be a test of depth and resilience for both sides.
Leave a Reply