Collingwood recruit Daniel Wells has been ruled out of the Magpies' final JLT Community Series match against Richmond on Saturday, and looks almost certain to miss their round one clash with the Western Bulldogs due to his ongoing calf issue.
Wells picked up the calf injury during a VFL intraclub match in early February and still hasn't fully recovered, with Pies head of football Geoff Walsh confirming he wouldn't take the field this weekend.
"He's going slower than we would have thought," Walsh told Fairfax Media.
"We won't be pushing him out in this JLT (match)."
Wells was recruited to Collingwood on a three-year deal during the off-season, after a strong 2016 campaign with North Melbourne that saw him feature in 19 games.
The 32-year-old is still waiting for his first hit out in Magpies colours, but Walsh says the club won't rush him back at any stage of his healing process, and will instead take a long-term view.
"We'll re-assess every seven days ... we won't be taking any risks," he said.
"Rather than trying to focus on the short term, we want to make sure we've got a fit and active Daniel Wells for the majority of the season.
"That's what the plan will deliver us as long as we're a little bit patient."
