There's good news out of Olympic Park, with superstar Nick Daicos rejoining the main group on Friday morning after beginning the 2026 pre-season on a modified program.
It's a significant step for the midfielder, as the club had prioritised a cautious recovery from his September health setbacks, with Daicos looking in peak form ahead of his expected star role in the upcoming AFL Origin match.
However, Magpies fans held their breath as the midfielder briefly left the field with what looked to be a leg concern early in the session, though he eventually returned and participated in the club's short but intense match simulation.
Daicos was dominant in the sim, while also being a standout ball user in the main group's activities, looking the freshest of the Magpies afield.
He was crafty by hand in the middle and launched a dead-eye cross-field torpedo inside 50 to set up a set shot and goal for the team in white guernseys.
In rehab was key forward Daniel McStay, already returning to the track following his hamstring injury on Wednesday.
Similarly, captain Darcy Moore resumed light duties after missing Wednesday's session with a calf strain.
While McStay and Moore spent the entirety of the session away from the main Magpies collective, settled in the injured group of Isaac Quaynor (hamstring) and Beau McCreery (foot), the quartet completed skills and mobility duties, as well as some drills focusing on explosiveness, which did not present much discomfort to both key position players.
However, Jeremy Howe, who also suffered a calf complaint on Monday with Darcy Moore, was not seen.
Josh Daicos spent time away from the main group completing an individual running program, as did Reef McInnes for an extended period of time, with McInnes' running stints notably more intense as he ramps up his fitness ahead of pre-season.
Former Demon and Magpies VFL player Taj Woewodin, was a key inclusion to the main training session, with the 21-game Dee meeting the standards set by the AFL group and hardly looking a step behind the pace.
Collingwood will take on North Melbourne on Sunday, March 1 at Mars Stadium as part of the pre-season Community Series.
