Luke Ball has been the centre of attention since he limped out of the preliminary final with a severe hamstring cramp, but he completed the 45-minute session with the 31-strong group at Gosch’s Paddock on Friday morning.
Simon Prestigiacomo and Leon Davis were included in the side on Thursday and trained well, dispelling any doubts over their fitness after battling a corked thigh and hamstring tightness respectively.
Nathan Brown and Tyson Goldsack, the unlucky players to make way, also trained well and managed to put on a brave faces despite their disappointment.
With the grand final parade taking place shortly after the completion of the hitout, the turnout of the Magpie faithful was even bigger than the team’s main training run on Wednesday, with about 15,000 rowdy fans in attendance.
They went up as one when the players hit the track just after 10am, but one of the most popular figures was president Eddie McGuire, who was all smiles and shared in plenty of good-humoured banter with the crowd.
Victorian Premier John Brumby was also in attendance with a Collingwood scarf draped over his shoulders.
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