COLLINGWOOD defender Alan Toovey is intensifying his training as he enters the final phase of his comeback from a ruptured ACL.
The miserly backman joined in some select quasi-contact drills with teammates at Magpies’ training session on Wednesday, nearly 10 months after the knee injury that ended his 2013 season.
Still a little cautious – he wore a pink vest to signify to his teammates to tread warily around him – Toovey ran to the right spots and had his fair share of the ball in the back half.
He said earlier in the week that he had been building up to this point in his training.
"I think this time last year I would've been a little bit stronger, but nowhere near as fit," Toovey said.
"The amount of running I've done has been pretty good, it's just about finishing off with the contact stuff and I'll be right to go."
The Magpies upped the ante in a lengthy two-hour session under the watchful eye of Nathan Buckley.
The players broke into match simulation drills where they were urged to spread hard into space, as well as having a specific focus on transition running.
A number of standouts emerged from the session.
At the top of that list was Heritier Lumumba, formerly Harry O'Brien.
Lumumba looked sharp when taking the game on and he used the ball with purpose. Clinton Young – who is set to play in the NAB Challenge series, after overcoming a troublesome hamstring injury, also shone.
Young's precise left-boot was a weapon within the match scenario drill, while 19-year-old ruckman Brodie Grundy, who heads into the season as the Pies' clear first-choice big man, looks set for further improvement this season.
Grundy's brute strength in rucking contests and in traffic around the ground was noticeable.
Travis Cloke worked on his goal kicking at the end of training.
Brisbane Lions recruit Patrick Karnezis trained away from the main group - running repeat sprints while being monitored by the club's fitness staff.
Adam Oxley, Sam Dwyer, Kyle Martin and Ben Hudson also jogged slow laps, while midfielder Luke Ball was a no-show.
The Magpies kick off their NAB Challenge campaign in three weeks, with an opening round clash against Geelong on February 12.
