Collingwood star Darcy Moore has spent time in hospital because of a bone infection, but is now recovering at home.
The defensive ace has had a bout of osteomyelitis and will be sidelined until Christmas. He is expected to resume training in January.
Magpies defender Darcy Moore is recovering at home after an infection.Credit:AFL Photos
Magpies football boss Graham Wright said Moore was doing well in his recovery.
“Our main priority is Darcy’s health, and we will continue to support him as he recovers at home from the infection,” Wright said.
“We are grateful that this was picked up early by medical staff and, as such, we are not expecting any long-term issues.”
Moore was instrumental in the Magpies’ rise under new coach Craig McRae this year. His robust marking and run and carry from defence were pivotal. While the strong form of teammate Jordan De Goey dominated the headlines in the finals, Moore was named the Magpies’ best player.
De Goey has also had an interrupted pre-season, having undergone shoulder surgery. He will not return to training until late January.
Meanwhile, Essendon defender Zach Reid is on a modified training program in a bid to ease back-related stress. The Bombers said scans confirmed the 20-year-old has a lower back issue, and he will be managed until January.
“Zach has been impressive during the off-season without missing a session since players returned on November 21. He’s been training at a really high level but has shown slight discomfort in recent days. After consulting with the club’s high-performance team today, the club has decided to allow him the time to rest and recover with a modified program,” Bombers’ general manager of performance Dan McPherson said.
“He is a natural talent with elite athleticism and his professionalism will give him the best chance to recover. The club hopes to build him back up when the team returns in January.”
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