There are concerns at Collingwood for young superstar Nick Daicos ahead of the AFL season.
Daicos battled through a two-and-a-half hour pre-season session on Friday but was in clear discomfort.
He was repeatedly seen grimacing and touching his groin area, and ended up on his back on the oval.
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“(There was) a lot of medical attention for Nick Daicos’s groin today,” 7NEWS chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary said.
“The Pies’ four-day break (is) coming at a good time.”
At 21, Daicos is already one of Collingwood’s most prized poessions.
He is an All-Australian, a premiership player and won the Rising Star award in his first season.
In his second season, the extraordinary ball-magnet almost won the Brownlow Medal.
The Pies will be sweating on his fitness before their first game against the GWS Giants on March 9.
Meanwhile, premiership forward Jamie Elliott was thrown into an unfamiliar role during match sim.
“He lined up at half-back … as (coach) Craig McRae trials a new look in the pre-season,” Cleary said.
That is certainly a move that no one saw coming with the 31-year-old making a name for himself as a high-flying forward and a clutch goalkicker.
Cleary said Beau McCreery — who typically play as a forward — also impressed as a midfielder.
Collingwood are also looking to find a replacement for injured key forward Dan McStay and Cleary said “Ash Johnson put his case forward”.
Young key forward Reef McInness also showed some good signs.
Collingwood will play North Melbourne in a scratch match on February 21, and then take on Richmond at Ikon Park in the AFL Community Series on February 27.
