Fraser, Lonie Ready To Boost Magpies

The Age

Thursday July 31, 2008

By Michael Gleeson with Martin Boulton, Nick Sheridan

FINALLY able to ruck again, Josh Fraser is likely to return for Collingwood for the match against Hawthorn on Friday night, along with forgotten defender Ryan Lonie.

Fraser managed to ruck for a limited period of the VFL game last week, including at a handful of centre bounces, and has got through ruck drills in training so far this week leaving him sufficiently recovered from the posterior cruciate ligament injury to resume for the Magpies.

He is likely to come back into the side, which has had consecutive defeats, along with Lonie who is expected to play his first senior game of the year.

Out of form running player Ben Johnson is likely to be one of the omissions, along with one of Collingwood's two rucks, Chris Bryan or Cameron Wood.

Somewhat complicating Collingwood's capacity to make significant changes to its team is the fact the VFL side played on Sunday and those coming into the side would do so off a five-day break.

Notably Fraser and Lonie both had only limited game time in the final quarter of the VFL game, which perhaps suggested the match committee wanted them to be left fresh enough should they be required for senior selection.

Lonie has been out injured for most of the year and has only genuinely returned to be in contention now. He was struck down by osteitis pubis last year, managing just four senior games.

Off-season surgery improved the groin problem but soft tissue injuries this year hampered his return to the side until he began to play a handful of games in the VFL where he has impressed in the middle of the ground.

For a half-back flanker Lonie is also an attacking player, having booted 61 goals in his 122 matches.

Lonie was pursued by the Brisbane Lions for a trade in the off-season last year but resisted the offer, believing that when fit he was in Collingwood's best 22.

"At the end of the day I didn't really want to move out of Melbourne, the family is around and I had just had a little one (baby)," Lonie said in February.

? Geelong has ruled out Gary Ablett and David Wojcinski from Saturday's match against Richmond as the two continue to recover from injury.

Cats football manager Neil Balme said Ablett (ankle) and Wojcinski (Achilles) were on the verge of returning to the side but would probably need another week to fully recover.

"They trained and they were both a bit too sore to really be seriously considered," he said yesterday.

Cameron Ling, who had a broken cheekbone, could play this week, while Darren Milburn, who missed last week with a virus, is available.

? Nathan Thompson will spend another week on the sidelines as North Melbourne tries to cement a top-eight spot against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday night.

Thompson, 30, has not played since round 15 and coach Dean Laidley said the forward needed further strengthening work on his legs to improve his acceleration.

"He's not injured per se, he's just lost a lot of strength in his legs," Laidley said. "Backing up week after week and coming off a knee (injury), he hasn't been able to put strength work into his legs."

Thompson suffered a serious knee injury at the start of last season and made a successful return this year before having an arthroscopy last month. -- With MARTIN BOULTON, NICK SHERIDAN

© 2008 The Age

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