Collingwood’s Howe suffers gruesome injury, Geelong’s Stewart also hurt

Teammates distressed at Howe injury

Collingwood’s versatile veteran Jeremy Howe suffered a gruesome arm injury during the Magpies’ 16-point loss to Geelong at the MCG on Friday night.

Teammates were left distressed when they saw bone protruding from Howe’s arm and were still shaken in the rooms post game.

Collingwood coach Craig McRae said Howe might undergo surgery to repair the fracture on Saturday, just days after the Tasmanian inked a one-year contract extension for 2024.

“He is in hospital unfortunately. He has a fracture. I’m not even going to try and explain what it is. He is going to have a scan and potentially an operation tomorrow,” McRae said after the match.

“I’m not sure how long he is going to be out. But the players’ reaction to that, we are a connected group, it is pleasing to see that on the field.”

Former Adelaide and Power tall utility to play in VFL practice match

The former Adelaide and Power tall utility will play in a VFL practice match against Geelong at the AIA Centre on Saturday.

“He was unlucky to miss out, Bill. He has had a great pre-season,” McRae said.

“I sat him on the couch and told him we are going to trust Murph in to play that role because he knows our system slightly better at the moment, but so he should, he’s been doing it longer. Bill is the obvious replacement.”

Geelong’s Stewart also substituted out of game due to knee injury

Geelong vice-captain Tom Stewart was also substituted out of the game after slipping and hurting his knee in the first quarter, before failing in his attempt to return during a fitness test at quarter-time.

Chris Scott believes the four-time All-Australian has avoided a serious injury, but is unlikely to face Carlton at the MCG next Thursday night.

“He was hampered, it was a similar to a minor thing he had at training about three weeks ago. He bounced back really quickly from that, but he was certainly hampered,” Scott said.

“Even with Stewart going out, there was no suggestion from our medical staff that there was a risk there putting him back on. We wouldn’t take a risk; we would give up the four points before we’d put Sam De Koning at risk.”

Chris Scott raises concerns about MCG surface

Chris Scott raised concerns about the MCG surface after the game, calling it a “strange decision” to compromise the surface for the biggest game in the land.

“It is an interesting discussion for others to have. It is distasteful for the coach of the losing team to talk about the surface, but it is worthy of discussion,” he said.

“It’s not a criticism, it’s not my area – it’s been a long time since the Grand Final – it’s the biggest game in the land, and it’s the best ground in the world in my view, to compromise the surface is a strange decision to make voluntarily. It was an own goal I reckon.”

AFL acknowledges Traditional Custodians

In the spirit of reconciliation the AFL acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Credit: https://www.afl.com.au/news/883462/combined-coaches-geelong-cats-v-collingwood-magpies

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