3 minute read

Collingwood star Chloe Molloy will play her first AFLW game since major foot injury when the Pies host West Coast in their season-opener at Victoria Park.

After feeling like "broken goods" following a major foot injury that sidelined her all of last season, Collingwood star Chloe Molloy is ready physically and mentally to attack the 2020 AFLW campaign.

The 2018 rising-star award winner was sidelined for eight months when she tore the Lisfanc ligament in her right foot and also broke two metatarsals playing in a VFLW preliminary final.

She required two operations, with 13 screws and three plates inserted, but was carefully managed back to playing for the Pies in the VFLW.

The 21-year-old will return to AFLW action when the Magpies host West Coast in their season-opener at Victoria Park on Sunday.

"I feel more ready than I ever have," Molloy said on Wednesday.

"The foot is travelling really well, the loads through it are more than OK.

"I can still kick on it, which I thought a few months back that I wouldn't be able to walk on it or kick a footy again.

"It's coming along better than I thought it would ... I thought I would experience a few more hurdles than I did."

Molloy stayed involved during the club's ill-fated 2019 season when she was employed as an opposition analyst.

"It was an amazing opportunity that the club gave me," she said.

"I'm grateful that they were able to open that position and give me a title and make me feel useful because I felt pretty useless (like) broken goods."

New coach Steve Symonds, who replaced Wayne Siekman in the off-season, is thrilled to have Molloy at his disposal as he attempts to guide the Pies to the finals for the first time.

Collingwood have started their three AFLW seasons with at least three losses in a row and went on to finish bottom of Conference B last year.

"We have spoken about that and we think we've put some things in place than can help," Symonds said.

"Getting off to a good start is always a positive but it's not our major focus.

"We want to make sure that we play the way that we want to and keep on top of taking those steps.

"We're pleased with what we've seen in the trial games."