Collingwood recruit Levi Greenwood will miss at least the opening six weeks of the AFL season after scans on his foot confirmed a fracture.
The Magpies were sweating on the seriousness of Greenwood’s injury suffered in their final NAB Challenge match on Saturday, which they lost against the Western Bulldogs.
Collingwood football boss Neil Balme said the “slight fracture” in Greenwood’s ankle meant he wouldn’t be available for selection until May at the earliest.
“He’ll be off (his ankle) for about six weeks and after that it’ll be however long it takes him to run again,” Balme said.
“It’ll be six plus, which is disappointing for him but I’m sure he’ll overcome that.”
Greenwood’s right ankle became wedged underneath Bulldog Jarrad Grant’s leg during a tackle, with Greenwood needing to be helped from the ground.
The injury means the 26-year-old will have to wait until 2016 to experience Anzac Day football.
Greenwood was one of Collingwood’s highest profile acquisitions in the off-season.
The loss is a blow for Nathan Buckley’s side, which starts the season with a series of even-looking matches against clubs with finals ambitions.
After a first-up trip to the Gabba to play a rising Brisbane side, Collingwood plays Adelaide, Essendon and Carlton in the next four weeks.
Balme isn’t sure whether Ben Reid will also be on the sidelines for round one, with the injury-prone key position player being given a few days off to rest after the pre-season.
“He may get there for round one but that’s certainly not the main objective, the objective is that he plays the season proper,” Balme said.
Greenwood, Brent Macaffer, Clinton Young and Matthew Scharenberg are all confirmed as Magpie non-starters for round one.
Worsening the blow for Collingwood is Greenwood’s strong NAB Challenge form.
In the Magpies’ first-up win over Hawthorn, Greenwood collected 15 disposals in a steady display.
He was among Collingwood’s best in the narrow round two loss to Carlton in Bendigo, leading his side’s disposals with 17.
On Saturday he left the field early in the third term as the Bulldogs won 0.16.7 (115) to 0.8.6 (54).
