A key piece of Collingwood’s back-to-back premiership quest has fallen into place, with forward Brody Mihocek rejoining full training, but Josh Daicos continues to work his way to top fitness.
Mihocek, the Magpies’ leading goal-kicker last season (47), has battled a calf issue over summer, and spent time running with Brayden Maynard when the latter was recuperating from shoulder surgery.
Brody Mihocek rejoined full training with the Magpies on Monday ahead of their pre-season games.Credit: Getty
The club said last week Mihocek was expected to be cleared for match-play this week, and that’s what has eventuated. He was in the thick of the action on Monday as the Magpies completed a demanding session of almost three hours in steamy conditions at their home base.
The Magpies worked on an array of game-based drills, including switching play from the back pocket to finish with the ball in the hands of a leading forward, and how best to clear the ball from defence with short kicks to combat a defensive flood, and how best to attack a defensive flood to find a leading forward.
Coach Craig McRae later led the end-to-end drill where the Magpies simulated having 30 seconds on the clock, with a need to score. The Pies’ have become the clutch kings in their two seasons under McRae, winning 20 matches by two goals or less. No club in the past 50 years has won as many tight matches as the Magpies over a two-year period.
Their ability to score when the stakes are at their greatest, or to hold possession with the result on the line, has been pivotal, highlighted by wins of seven, one and four points in their three finals last season.
In a year when the Magpies will be without the injured Daniel McStay, the undersized Mihocek will again be needed as a primary forward threat. He moved well on Monday and his nous around goal was as instinctive as ever.
There were few clues as to who will replace McStay come the Magpies’ pre-season opener against Richmond at Ikon Park on February 27, but Reef McInnes, Ash Johnson and premiership tall Billy Frampton are likely to be given opportunities.
Josh Daicos, the club’s reigning best and fairest, spent a large chunk of training completing sprints with youngster Jakob Ryan (bone bruising to the lower leg) at excellent pace. Daicos has had lower leg muscle/nerve issues and the club said last week he was completing a running program. Magpies fitness boss Jarrod Wade says the plan is for Daicos to progress to skill work over the next three weeks.
Josh’s brother Nick Daicos was in excellent touch, his ball use typically sharp.
Back-up ruckman Oscar Steene limped from the field with a left foot injury early in training, but returned to take part in drills.
Draftee Harry DeMattia, pick No.25 from the Dandenong Stingrays in last year’s national draft, was entrusted with kick-ins and was lively, while Tew Jiath – nicknamed “TJ” by teammates – impressed with his dash and creativity. The No.37 pick from the Gippsland Power in last year’s national draft remains a work in progress, but the Magpies, understandably, are buoyant about what he can offer.
