Jamie Elliott in action during Collingwood’s intra-club match. Picture: Wayne Ludbey
COLLINGWOOD forward Jamie Elliott took his first serious steps towards a long-awaited AFL return with a solid hitout in the Magpies’ intra-club match in sweltering conditions at Olympic Park on Wednesday night.
Elliott hasn’t played a match since the final round of 2015 and missed all of last season with a back injury that required surgery.
But the 24-year-old showed some positive signs, kicking two goals, providing much-needed spark across half-forward and, importantly, getting through the match without an issue.
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The Magpies planned to play four quarters, but the sapping heat that pushed the mercury beyond 35 degrees meant the game was reduced to only three periods.
It was the last hit-out for the team ahead of next Thursday’s JLT Community Series opener against Essendon at Etihad Stadium.
Even though it was only an intra-club match, the game provided more than a few positives for the club going forward with a number of new faces and players returning from injury impressing.
Daniel Wells played two quarters. Picture: Wayne LudbeySource:News Corp Australia
Josh Daicos shows glimpses of class. Picture: Wayne LudbeySource:News Corp Australia
Daniel Wells got through two quarters of the game, and while he still has some conditioning work ahead of him, he showed a few sparks before heading into the Holden Centre for extra training.
Returning half-backs Matt Scharenberg and Jackson Ramsay performed well in their comebacks from knee reconstructions; Will Hoskin-Elliott nailed two goals while Chris Mayne provided a contest in attack; and defenders Lynden Dunn and Henry Schade presented their case for inclusion in next week’s game.
Josh Daicos displayed great poise and promise in his first game in black and white, winning plenty of ball and sending a good vibe through the 2000-strong crowd when he slotted an impressive goal.
And the usual suspects – Scott Pendlebury, Adam Treloar and Taylor Adams – were relentless in their attack on the ball.
Brodie Grundy and Mason Cox battle in the ruck. Picture: Wayne LudbeySource:News Corp Australia
“The big thing for us was that we got through unscathed,” Collingwood assistant coach Brenton Sanderson said.
“You always get a bit nervous coming into an intra-club game because you are on the eve of the season and guys have had great summers and you pray no one gets hurt.
“The big ticks for us were Jamie Elliott getting through a full-game, we see Scharenberg and Ramsay play quite well after 12 months out of footy, Chris Mayne comes to a new club and fits into the chemistry of the forward line really well, and Will Hoskin-Elliott did some really good things forward and through the midfield.”
Sanderson said 18-year-old Daicos – the son of Collingwood champion Peter Daicos, who was at Olympic Park – brought a smile to the faces of the coaching staff with his showing last night.
Chris Mayne in action during Collingwood’s intra-club match. Picture: Wayne LudbeySource:News Corp Australia
“He looked really good,” he said.
“He looked like whatever grade he steps up to, he can handle it.”
“He looks poised and balanced and really composed, a bit like his dad. A couple of times today we smiled at each other when he had the footy in his hands.”
Wells looked a bit scratchy early on, but got better as the game progressed, though by his own admission is still behind most of his teammates in terms of his preparation.
“As soon as the siren went, (Wells) went in and was doing some conditioning work,” Sanderson said.
“We are still six weeks away from Round 1, I am sure we are going to get him close to cherry ripe by then. How many games he plays between then and now, I am not sure.”
The Magpies had up to a dozen players missing, including Lachlan Keeffe and Josh Thomas, who next week will be eligible to play after their two-year drug bans expire.
Taylor Adams looks to fire off a handball at Olympic Park.Source:Getty Images
Lynden Dunn takes a mark in Collingwood’s intra-club match.Source:Getty Images
Darcy Moore and Alex Fasolo fly for a mark. Picture: Wayne LudbeySource:News Corp Australia
Scott Pendlebury fires off a handball.Source:Getty Images
