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CTV > Mick Malthouse post-match press conference
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JOSH Fraser remains Collingwood's first-choice ruckman, and is playing seconds football only to regain match fitness, coach Mick Malthouse says.

Fraser, 26, has been named to play in the club's VFL side against North Ballarat on Sunday at Princes Park, having not played football since round 12 owing to a knee injury.

Young ruck duo Cameron Wood and Chris Bryan have impressed in recent weeks, but Malthouse said one of the pair would "miss out" on selection once Fraser regains full fitness.

"Let me just clarify the Josh Fraser thing," Malthouse said after the Pies' 32-point win over Adelaide at the MCG on Saturday.

"For those who have interpreted that Josh is not getting a game, when we purposely said he's getting a run around in the seconds, let me just clarify it.

"Josh is not able to play senior football right now as a ruckman because of his injury.

"There's two options – keep him back and keep training him up to get right, or to give him a run around in the seconds to get match fitness and partake not at any stage in any ruck work that's going to pull back the progress he's made with his knee.

"Josh, over the next – we're assured by the medical staff – two or three weeks ... that knee injury will improve dramatically with strength.

"His fitness will now improve dramatically because he'll play a game. Whether he plays full-forward or full-back, it doesn't matter, but he won't be in the ruck. He'll do ruck work but not centre-bounce stuff.

"When he's comfortable and confident and when he's got his knee strength right, he'll come into the side."

Malthouse was critical of his side's consistency as individuals on Saturday against the Crows, but said the combination of Wood and Bryan was "highly competitive".