Collingwood’s Double Blow: Injuries to Key Players
Collingwood has been hit by a double blow as two of its key players suffered serious injuries during a recent match. The club confirmed that small forward Jamie Elliott ruptured his ACL during Scott Pendlebury’s record-breaking game, while captain Darcy Moore sustained a “moderate grade” hamstring injury in the 10-point win over West Coast on Saturday.
The incident involving Elliott occurred with four minutes remaining in the match, when Collingwood was leading by 15 points. Pendlebury won the ball in the centre circle and linked up with Jordan De Goey. De Goey threaded a kick for Elliott on the lead in the left-forward pocket, and the livewire player leapt to take an overhead mark. However, he fell awkwardly upon landing, and his left knee crumpled immediately. He began clutching at it and was carted off the field in a medicab.
“We are all incredibly disappointed for Jamie,” Collingwood footy boss Charlie Gardner said. “Scans this morning confirmed that he has ruptured his ACL and has also sustained some bone bruising in the knee. Jamie has endured a number of significant injury setbacks across his career, and for him to face this latest setback is unfortunate for him and his family and for us as a club. He’s a much-loved and respected leader at our club, and we’re all feeling for him. We will miss his on-field presence this year, but he will no doubt continue to play an important role across the club during his recovery.”
Elliott, 33, is contracted to Collingwood until the end of 2027. He won’t play again this year and will likely miss the start of next season. The club also confirmed that Magpies midfielder Will Hayes went down in the MCG match, suffering a dislocated shoulder. The statement said Moore and Hayes would undergo further assessment to determine their injury timelines.
Controversy Over Moore’s Injury
Collingwood have come under fire over the injury to Moore, who injured his hamstring while being used as a ruckman. Former Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse, who oversaw the Magpies’ charge to the 2010 flag, took aim on ABC radio. “I don’t like ever judging coaches on moves because I know what it’s like in the box,” Malthouse said. “He is not equipped coming off hamstrings and soft-tissue injuries to be running around the ground in a different role [as a ruckman] because you need to explode to the next one, if it goes out of bounds on the other side you need to get there. … He’s a victim of them [Collingwood] not thinking through it.”
However, Pies coach Craig McRae defended the decision to play Moore in the ruck. “We manage his loads, he wasn’t playing a high percentage of game time,” McRae said in his post-game press conference. “… He was fit to play, and his body’s giving him feedback [about] what he’s capable of doing at this level right now.”
Impact on the Team
The injuries to Elliott and Moore are a significant setback for Collingwood as they look to build momentum for the rest of the season. Both players are integral to the team’s strategy and leadership. The club will now focus on managing their recovery and ensuring they return to full fitness for the upcoming matches.
With Elliott likely to miss the start of the next season, the team may need to rely on younger players or bring in new talent to fill the gap. Similarly, Moore’s injury raises questions about the coaching decisions and how the team manages player workloads.
As the club deals with these challenges, fans will be hoping for a swift recovery for both players and a strong performance from the team in the coming weeks.
