Collingwood are facing a nervous wait on the fate of two Pies after Thursday's practice match win over Hawthorn, with Patrick Lipinksi suffering a shoulder injury while Jordan De Goey may attract MRO scrutiny.
Lipinksi, who is heading into his second season with the Pies, dislocated his shoulder in the final term of the practice match and was sent for scans, leaving the midfielder in serious doubt for Round 1.
"Unfortunately, Pat Lipinski has suffered a dislocation of his left shoulder," Collingwood confirmed on social media.
"He will have an MRI and be assessed with the Club to provide a further update in due course."
The 24-year-old has a history of injury concerns relating to his left shoulder, undergoing a construction in September last year.
Elsewhere at the Pies, De Goey is set to attract attention from the MRO after a dumping tackle on Hawthorn's Lloyd Meek, which resulted in the ruckman's head hitting the turf.
Speaking on Fox Footy after the incident, journalist Jon Ralph explained that the 26-year-old could face a one week suspension.
โJordan De Goey will run the gauntlet of the match review system ... it could potentially put him out for Round 1 at worst,โ Ralph said.
Is Jordan De Goey in any trouble for this dumping tackle on Lloyd Meek?
๐บ Watch #AFLHawksPies on Ch. 504 or stream via @kayosports https://t.co/XSSfn8z8tZ
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๐ฒ MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/m17viyncEa pic.twitter.com/AMEJg3Mvdu— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) March 2, 2023
โHe'll hope the incident in tonight's six-point win will be assessed as low impact.
โThe tackle didn't see him pinning Meek's arms but he did spin him, he dumped him and his head certainly did hit the ground, which is what the AFL is looking for.
โA medium impact tackle would be a week - only 11 months after a one-week ban for a very similar tackle on Patrick Dangerfield.โ
Collingwood's 2023 season begins on Friday, March 17 against Geelong at the MCG.