FORGOTTEN Collingwood forward Jamie Elliott impressed in match simulation at the VFL side’s training as he makes a long-awaited comeback from multiple hamstring injuries.
He wasn't the only one to return at the Holden Centre, with James Aish, Alex Fasolo and Jarryd Blair also coming through well after a shortened game consisting of three 10-minute periods.
Elliott looked good across half-forward and was creative in attack, while finishing with one behind.
Fasolo showed his class in collecting a handball and slotting a goal from just inside 50m in his comeback from a right ankle syndesmosis issue.
Blair (hamstring) and Aish (left knee) both lined up through the midfield and contributed well, with Aish bandaged on the previously injured joint.
The quartet will almost certainly require time in the VFL before coming into contention for the senior side.
"All of them will come back through the VFL I would suspect," coach Nathan Buckley told reporters on Thursday before the match simulation.
"Whether that's in a week or in two weeks, it'll once again depend on how they take the steps as they're faced with them.
"All of them have trained really well. They've put a fair block of work in at training, like a mini pre-season basically, so the opportunity to come play some football tonight will be welcomed, and then take the steps up through VFL and then ultimately they'll all want to be playing AFL at some point."
Collingwood has a VFL bye this week.
Elliott last played in the seniors in round 23 last season, and has managed two matches for the seconds this year.
Jamie Elliott's first kick as he returns from hamstring problems. At the Holden Centre for match sim at VFL training. pic.twitter.com/ZQlTAW1pCG
— Dinny Navaratnam (@dinnynavaratnam) July 12, 2018