Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury has revealed Richmond players tried to target the midfielder's broken ribs during their round two clash last season.
The Magpies won with match with the final kick of the game courtesy ofย Brodie Grundy, as Pendlebury played the match with two broken ribs.
He suffered the injury during Collingwood's loss to Sydney in the opening round of last season, but still decided to play against Richmond.
"I did break a rib against Sydney (in Round 1)," he said on the Jock and Journo Podcast.
"It was up high ... and all the Richmond boys targeted under my elbow. Hitting spots that we actually quite comfortable to hit.
"I just said 'keep whacking there, I can't feel anything anyway'.
"I was driving my car on the Tuesday and I couldn't turn right because I couldn't get my arm up high.
"It actually was excruciating pain and I rang the physio and said I think there's something wrong with my ribs or chest because I can't turn right, I'm like an old grandma."
The traditional rivals kick off round two once again on Thursday night, although one aspect of the game won't be the same as when the midfielder was just starting in the league.
"When I first started there was heaps and heaps of sledging,โ he said.
โAs an 18 or 19-year-old, youโre absolutely shitting yourself.
โI remember when Barry Hall yelled at me, it was like my Dad yelling at me. It was so scary.
โThereโs no one as intimidating now.โ