JORDAN De Goey will be fit to face Geelong in the opening round of the season, with Collingwood skipper Scott Pendlebury backing the star forward to rise to the occasion despite an interrupted pre-season.
De Goey did not feature in either of the Magpies' JLT Community Series hit-outs against Fremantle or Carlton as he recovers from a mid-foot sprain in his left foot.
"They've got training at the moment (Friday morning) so I'm assuming he gets through that fine and he'll be right to play," Pendlebury told AFL.com.au.
Magpies captain Scott Pendlebury at Captains Day. Picture: AFL Photos
"I think he'll be fine. Even last year when he missed games late in the year with shin soreness … he had three weeks off there and then came back in and we all know how he finished the year.
"Even though it would be good having a game under his belt, coming out here in front of 80,000 will be enough to get him going."
De Goey had to be helped from the training track after landing awkwardly in a marking contest in match simulation one month ago.
De Goey, who turns 23 on Friday, made his return to training with a series of light run throughs on February 28 and has been steadily increasing his training load since.
The star forward, who kicked a club-leading 48 goals in 2018, began pre-season on a modified program after managing a shin injury in the back half of 2018. The forward gradually built his running up through late November and December and was in full training a week ago.
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Pendlebury also said Jaidyn Stephenson (groin) would be right to take his place in the side after being managed in the Pies' last pre-season clash against the Blues in Morwell.
The 2018 NAB Rising Star winner was one of the Magpies' standouts through the pre-season, with his ability to put together repeat efforts a definitive improvement on his debut season.
"He's right to go. With Jaidyn he's done pretty much every single session and played almost every game since he's come into the side," Pendlebury said.
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"Everyone forgets that he's only 20 so he'll be right for round one."
With places in Collingwood's midfield at a premium following the acquisition of Dayne Beams, inside ball-winner Brayden Sier has a bit of work to do to break into the team.
Sier, who featured in the Magpies' Grand Final team, played in last week's VFL practice match instead of being picked to take on the Blues.
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"With Brayden it's similar to what happened last year, we've got a really deep midfield and with him he's still a chance for round one," Pendlebury said.
"He doesn't have a niggle so he's got to keep working, find out his best footy and how he can help the team and go from there."
Pendlebury also said a debut for top draftee Isaac Quaynor, pick No.13 overall, isn't far away after an impressive summer campaign.
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"He's come in and grabbed hold of what we want to do really quickly and he understands how we want to play," Pendlebury said.
"He's got to make sure he stays ready in the VFL and when the opportunity comes he's got to be ready to grab it and he will be. He's had a faultless summer, he's really dedicated to his craft and he's continuing to learn.
"Whether he plays round one or round six whenever it is, he'll keep getting better as his career progresses."
