COLLINGWOOD will consider bringing Anthony Rocca straight back to senior level after he impressed in his first match of the 2009 campaign at the weekend.
Magpies football manager Geoff Walsh said Rocca might play against Melbourne on Saturday after he booted six goals for Collingwood’s VFL team, which comfortably beat Old Scotch.
“The pleasing thing about Anthony is his last three sessions – and then that game that he played on Saturday against [Old] Scotch – he’s really been up and about,” Walsh told SEN.
“For a guy who’s missed so much competitive action over the summer, where he’s been restricted to a limited training program and [done] very little unfettered work, his last three or four sessions have been sensational.
“So there’s no doubt that he’ll be seriously considered for this week’s game against Melbourne.”
Meanwhile, running defender Heath Shaw is expected to be fit for the round-two clash with the Demons.
Shaw has not played since coming off in his team’s NAB Cup semi-final win over Essendon. However the Magpies believe Shaw, listed as having a hamstring injury, will have recovered in time to make his 2009 season debut.