Star opens up on big injury fear as Pies weigh up bold flag ‘risk’

Collingwood star Jeremy Howe admits there were fears his season was over when he limped off the field just three weeks ago with a groin injury.

Howe, who hasn’t played a full game since Round 16 due to a combination of injury and concussion, believes he is ready to take part in the Magpies’ preliminary final against reigning premiers Brisbane on Saturday night.

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But there were initial concerns his adductor injury, suffered against Melbourne back in Round 24, would end his 2025 campaign.

“I got the scan the next morning and I was sitting there by my phone waiting for the results from the doc and he pretty much told me that it doesn’t look great,” he told AFL360.

“The way that I did it was I’d already been off the ground before then.

“I ended up making a spoil on Bayley Fritsch from behind and ended up almost splitting my legs like a frog.

“I think it was going to go regardless.

“That’s when I felt the pop, went off, got assessed. Tried to get back up and going.

“That ball that Brayden Maynard kicked me, I didn’t really want it because I knew I was injured already.

“The damage was already done – so managed to have a clean pop of the adductor.”

Howe said given Collingwood’s September progress, he and the medical team were in a rush to get him back out on the park.

“We’ve had to get aggressive – I’ve had to push things a lot quicker and that in the end has actually set me up to be really well and put myself in a great position,” he said.

“I’ve had an amazing three-week period – I’ve certainly been tested and put through a number of hoops I’ve had to jump through. Thankfully every one has been ticked off to this point in time.

“Obviously got another session on Thursday where I’ll have one element of assessment no doubt.

“All things are looking pretty positive at the moment.”

AFL360 co-host Garry Lyon was adamant the Pies were “not going to leave anything to chance” with Howe – given his injury history.

But the star defender says he’s already been “put through the ringer” in a bid to prove his fitness.

“For me, it’s equally as important how I pull up and recover to get through to make sure I can get through and back it up,” he said.

“These prelim finals are the hardest games to win.

“You want to make sure you’ve got your fittest and able guys out there and playing.

“To be honest, I’m not an absolute lock certainty.”

Statistics show that when Howe has played, Collingwood are 14-1 this season and averaging just 66.3 points against. When Howe has been absent, they are 3-6 with an average of 76.3 points against.

While Howe is pushing for a senior recall, so too is teammate Bobby Hill who has managed just one game since June due to personal reasons.

Lyon believes the club can’t take the risk on both Howe and Hill in a preliminary final with a spot in the decider on the line.

“He’s on the outside. He’s on the outside looking in,” Lyon said of Hill.

“I don’t think I’d be taking the risk on both Jeremy and Bobby … Which is not to say I’m ruling (Hill) out of a grand final if in fact they get through this weekend.

“One game in that period of time, for me is not enough.”

Lyon said he’d be backing in the “tried and true” combinations, with Hill still a chance for a spot in the decider should Collingwood make it.

“I’d be keeping him nice and hungry on the outside,” he said.

“Right now, go with what you’ve got.”

Howe said he’d have no issue with a potential recall for Hill, who was the club’s Norm Smith Medallist in their 2023 grand final success.

“It was great for him start drip feeding coming back into the club,” he said.

“He seems to be in a lot better place mentally.

“He’s training fully with us … He’s given himself a chance and I think that’s all he ever wants.”