COLLINGWOOD has confirmed it will be without its biggest off-season recruit for its 2017 opener, with Daniel Wells officially ruled out of the club’s Round 1 clash against the Western Bulldogs.
Wells, who moved from the Kangaroos to the Magpies as a free agent in October, has endured a frustrating start to his Collingwood career, with a calf injury — suffered in December — restricting him to limited drills and time on the training track to date.
Desperate for some experienced players with clean disposal skills, the Pies were happy to sign Wells on a three-year deal, which is understood to be worth around $ 550,000 per season. He originally knocked back a two-year offer from the Roos that was worth just over $ 1 million.
Magpies director of football Geoff Walsh admitted on Tuesday afternoon that the Pies would be without the veteran on-baller for the MCG blockbuster.
“Last week we said that we would reassess every seven days, and we are pleased with the way that he is progressing,” told the club’s website.
“He is starting to get some good conditioning into his legs, but he won’t make Round 1.
“We are all aware of that, but having said that, we are really pleased that he is going forward and he is starting to feel good, particularly in relation to his calf.
“As he gets better and as he builds training, that will tell us when he is ready to resume.”
However Walsh was optimistic on the Round 1 prospects of three players who sat out the club’s final JLT Community Series game against Richmond on the weekend.
Walsh said he was confident both skipper Scott Pendlebury (Achilles) and Levi Greenwood (hamstring) would be fit for the Bulldogs clash, as their respective absences from the Tigers game were just precautionary.
Walsh added that Jordan De Goey (quad) had “improved significantly” over recent days and should be fit for Round 1.
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Originally published as Pies confirm injury blow ahead of season opener
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