Collingwood will be sweating on the health of star defender Jeremy Howe, who was unable to finish an intra-club session after suffering an abductor injury.
Howe, who has endured a luckless run of setbacks throughout his career with the Magpies, sustained the injury in the second quarter of Collingwood's match simulation on Friday afternoon.
The 31-year-old missed 15 games last year after requiring surgery on his hamstring, which followed his 2020 campaign that was curtailed by a season-ending knee injury.
The hampered veteran will now need to overcome his latest setback in hope of featuring in Collingwood's Round 1 clash against St Kilda next month.
Pies have described Jeremy Howe's injury from last night's intra-club as a minor abductor strain @9NewsMelb
— Alicia Muling (@AliciaMuling9) February 19, 2022
The Magpies are already set to be without key defender Jordan Roughead for that fixture, while star Jordan De Goey was not part of Friday's session as he continues to nurse a rib issue.
Meanwhile, North Melbourne were also susceptible to injuries in their own match simulation, with ruckman Tristan Xerri (concussion), defender Luke McDonald (concussion) and veteran Aaron Hall (hamstring) all requiring attention on Friday.
Hall left Arden Street Oval with a soft tissue complaint, with the club set to further assess the 31-year-old's affliction.
Both Xerri and McDonald clashed heads early into the session, with the pair set to undergo the AFL's 12-day concussion protocol requirements.
The Roos are set to face Melbourne next Thursday as part of their pre-season schedule, before lining up against Hawthorn at the MCG on Sunday, March 20 for their season opener.
Heading west, a pair of Eagles recruits are currently under injury clouds this pre-season, with former Blue Sam Petrevski-Seton (knee) and mature-aged draftee Greg Clark (shoulder) facing questions over their fitness.
Petrevski-Seton is understood to have suffered his setback in West Coast's intra-club hit-out this week, while Clark was sidelined for the session with his arm in a sling.
Tom Barrass spent significant time up forward and kicked a goal ๐ Jake Waterman the big winner though.
Highlight: Campbell Chesser setting up Jack Williams for a ๐
Lowlight: Knee injury for Sam Petrevski-Seton. Greg Clark watching with atm in a sling. https://t.co/XsmFPYJ9of
— Steve Allen (@ScubaStv) February 18, 2022
The Eagles are set to face Fremantle on two occasions across the coming weeks before their Round 1 clash with the Suns at Optus Stadium on March 20.
