Collingwood’s plans for a much-needed boost ahead of their Friday night blockbuster clash against Carlton have taken a major hit, with star midfielder Jordan De Goey suffering a concussion during training.
The 28-year-old was on track to make his long-awaited return this week after dealing with a lingering groin issue. But in a cruel twist, De Goey was collected high in a seemingly routine training drill — the contact coming inadvertently from none other than vice-captain Brayden Maynard.
The club confirmed on Tuesday that De Goey has entered concussion protocols and will now be sidelined for at least 12 days under the AFL’s mandatory guidelines. That rules him out of the high-stakes showdown with arch-rivals Carlton at the MCG and potentially next week as well.
“It was just a case of friendly fire during a drill,” a club spokesperson said. “Unfortunately, Jordan copped some contact and was assessed immediately. He’ll now follow the concussion recovery protocols.”
The incident is another frustrating setback for De Goey, who has only managed a handful of appearances this season and was being counted on to provide a midfield spark as the Pies fight to regain consistency in a rollercoaster 2025 campaign.
Ironically, the teammate who collided with him — Brayden Maynard — is finally poised to return after recovering from a shoulder injury. The hard-nosed defender has been sorely missed in recent weeks and is expected to provide physicality and leadership in his first game back, especially in a clash as emotionally charged as Carlton-Collingwood.
Adding to Collingwood’s growing availability concerns, veteran Steele Sidebottom missed Tuesday’s main training session due to illness and is now in doubt for Friday night. The 308-game veteran will be monitored closely over the next 48 hours.
Meanwhile, forward Lachie Schultz — also slated for a return — has had his comeback delayed as well due to illness. Schultz, known for his forward pressure and work rate, had been nearing full fitness after a minor hamstring issue.
These late setbacks threaten to disrupt Collingwood’s preparations for one of the most important matches of their season. With finals contention still within reach, the Magpies will now rely heavily on their depth and resilience to overcome a red-hot Carlton outfit at the ‘G.
