Collingwood's Patrick Lipinski has been handed another injury blow, set to be sidelined for months after undergoing shoulder surgery, per reports from SEN's Sam Edmund.
Lipinski dislocated his left shoulder in Collingwood's pre-season match against Hawthorn on Thursday night, with the club reportedly sending him under the knife on Monday, with less than two weeks to go until the season begins.
The latest injury is just another in a long string of setbacks for the 24-year-old, having undergone a reconstruction on the same shoulder last year after dealing with the issue in the latter months of last season.
The second-year Pie managed 25 games in 2022 in what was a career best season after making the switch from the Western Bulldogs, now reportedly expected not to feature in black and white until the second half of the home and away season.
Lipinski was enjoying a strong pre-season prior to his injury, kicking two goals in the win against the Hawks before suffering the injury during the final term.
The young Pie will join Nathan Kreuger on the injury list with shoulder concerns, with Kreuger undergoing a right shoulder reconstruction earlier in the year.
Collingwood's season will get underway on Friday, March 17 against Geelong at the MCG.