Jolly in mix to return against Hawks
Posted by Brent DiamondJun 27. 2011 5:01 am
COLLINGWOOD ruckman Darren Jolly appears likely to be in the mix to return against Hawthorn on Sunday after a nine-week lay off.
Jolly starred with 23 disposals and 29 hit-outs in 80 per cent game time in his return for the Pies VFL team against Sandringham on Sunday.
Jolly spent most of the match rucking against Saints listed players Daniel Archer and Tommy Walsh in Gardiner’s absence.
Jolly was one of a handful of Pies that ventured to Arizona for a mid-season training regime to help accelerate their rehabilitation. Brent Macaffer was another who went on the trip and returned yesterday.
But despite collecting 28 disposals, the utility was down in efficiency.
Lockyer believes the Arizona trip during the mid-season break was worthwhile for both players and was adamant the results will show in the run home to the finals.
“They look like they’re in fantastic condition, the way that they’ve come back,” Lockyer said.
“You can certainly see a change in body shape and the way that they’re covering the ground…the way that they left and the way that they’ve come back, you certainly see a noticeable difference.”
“They both look like they’ve dropped a couple of kilos and they’re up and going and ready to go certainly,” he said.
Ben Johnson also returned from a hamstring injury and is also in contention for a comeback game against the Hawks.
“I thought he (Johnson) was good. I thought he used the ball well. The roles that we had him playing, he played well,” Lockyer said.
“He’s been around the place for a fair while and he’s a premiership player and very important for our structure.”
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