Toovey Pies return imminent
West Australian Alan Toovey will make his return from a knee reconstruction during the NAB Challenge in a major boost for Collingwood's 2014 season, according to assistant coach Matthew Lappin.
Toovey ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament late in the Anzac Day clash against Essendon last year and didn't play for the rest of the season.
The Magpies missed the 114-game premiership defender.
"He's the first bloke we pick around the match committee table because he's so solid and we know exactly what we're going to get from him," Lappin said.
"I'm not sure if he'll play NAB one but he'll be available for round one if everything goes to plan. We won't rush Toovs because he's so important to us and we missed him so much when he was out last year.
"We'll get him right but we can't wait to have him back."
Lappin said Toovey's versatility meant the coaches could plan their entire defence around him playing against one of the opposition's best forwards. Despite being shorter than captain Scott Pendlebury (191cm) at 189cm, he has consistently performed well against key forwards or shorter crumbing players.
Collingwood's NAB Challenge campaign begins on Wednesday against Geelong at Simonds Stadium.
It will be their first visit to Geelong since 1999.
The Magpies then have matches against Richmond and Gold Coast before their season opener against Fremantle on March 14.
West Australian Alex Fasolo is also hoping to play against the Dockers after a foot injury kept him to three matches last year.
Fasolo played in a grand final and preliminary final in his first two seasons, with his exciting play and goal kicking making him a crowd favourite.
But Lappin warned the 21-year-old faced plenty of competition for a place in the forward line after teammates made the most of his absence.
"He's been a little bit patchy but he's hit the ground running pretty hard in the last couple of weeks," Lappin said.
"We have high hopes for Alex. When fit and available, he's played some quality football for a young bloke. He's maturing now but has missed a bit of footy over the last year and a half.
"Since he's been out, guys like Jamie Elliott have come in and put some pressure on for the position that Alex is used to playing.
"That sort of competition is really healthy."
