The Magpies have a number of key players to recall this week. Bobby Hill might be one of them

Collingwood expects to regain three important players for their clash with Fremantle, but will assess gun small forward Bobby Hill’s readiness to play later this week if he continues to train.

The Magpies confirmed on Monday that Beau McCreery was expected to be available for selection against the Dockers, and that they would regain key forward Brody Mihocek and midfielder Patrick Lipinski, with Billy Frampton described as “an outside chance” to play the Dockers on Sunday.

Bobby Hill has resumed training at Collingwood, but a date for his return to the playing field is not yet clear..Credit: Getty Images

Hill trained at the weekend, having been unavailable for personal reasons – and with illness last week – and is expected to continue training this week, according to a club source who spoke anonymously.

The Magpies will continue to assess the small forward’s fitness, given that Hill has missed a number of training sessions, including those due to illness, before making a call on whether he is ready to play. The club has treated Hill as a day-to-day proposition and won’t rush him back into the team.

Collingwood has supported Hill over recent weeks as he deals with personal issues, the 2023 Norm Smith medallist having missed the past three games and four of the past seven matches. He recently signed a four-year contract extension.

Aside from the uncertainty over Hill, McCreery’s return from a hamstring would mean Collingwood has most of their starting forwards available to play the Dockers. Lachie Schultz performed well against the Suns on Friday after recovering from concussion and then illness.

Mihocek, 32, and Lipinski, were “managed” and did not play against the Suns but will be available this weekend.

Veteran defender Jeremy Howe will miss one or two games with a groin injury that saw him subbed out against the Suns from half-time. Howe’s absence would be alleviated if Frampton, who has resumed training following a calf problem, was able to get up for the Dockers.

But if Frampton remains sidelined, Collingwood might need another tall back against the Dockers. Charlie Dean would be the obvious option to come in if they choose to support skipper Darcy Moore with another taller defender.

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Midfield superstar Nick Daicos, who was winded when upended against Gold Coast on Friday night, was described as fine.

The Magpies, while beaten for the third time this season against the Suns – conceding the first seven goals before a withering comeback that saw them fall short by a kick – discovered that Josh Daicos is a viable option for stints in the midfield. He had close to the best quarter of any player this season in the final term, when he gathered 16 disposals (10 contested), four clearances and booted two goals.

The Magpies sit atop the ladder with 14 wins and would likely need three or four further wins – subject to other teams’ results – to secure a top-two position and home qualifying final.

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