Collingwood vice-captain Jeremy Howe faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines as the star defender has been pulled from the MCG and taken to hospital after suffering one of the most horrific AFL injuries in recent memory.
Howe on Friday night collided with Geelong rival Tyson Stengel while trying to foul the ball in the early stages of the third quarter of the Magpies’ 22-point victory.
But when the 32-year-old tried to prepare for contact with the MCG area, he landed awkwardly on his left arm.
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Play was halted for seven minutes as the Collingwood coaches rushed onto the field to assess Howe, who was seen lying on the lawn with his arm in great pain.
Due to the graphic nature of Howe’s injury – a broken forearm – the announcers chose not to show a replay of the incident.
Howe was placed on a stretcher before each of the Magpies, as well as a few Geelong opponents, surrounded him to show their support for the injured veteran.
He was then seen being loaded into an ambulance surrounded by his family outside Collingwood Rooms.
Collingwood boss Craig McRae suggested Howe had surgery on Saturday.
“Unfortunately he’s in hospital. He has a fracture. I won’t even try to explain what it is. He’s going to have a scan and maybe an operation tomorrow,” McRae said after the match.
“He’s an important player. He’s the vice-captain, we all love him, so when you see one of the real good guys go down, that’s going to be a cost somewhere.”
“I’m not sure how long he’ll be out. But the players’ reaction to that, we’re a connected group, it’s a pleasure to see that on the field.”
The star defender was one of Collingwood’s most enduring players before suffering a severe knee injury in 2020 that limited him to just four games for the season. He then only played eight games in 2021 due to a hamstring injury.
Collingwood captain Darcy Moore was emotional when he spoke about Howe after the match.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Moore told Channel 7. “So to see one of your close colleagues in a situation like that, it’s very sad and it just kind of messed it up. Then we have to forget about it and move on.
“I got a little emotional just talking about it. It’s an awful part of our game, but we expect nothing less from Jeremy. He’s just a great teammate who puts his body on the line and that competition for sure.”
Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said the Collingwood players “would have parted ways” after losing Howe.
Buckley told Fox Footy that “Howie is an emotional link to this group, so it’s important to get over her.”
Howe’s latest injury comes just three days after the Magpies confirmed he had signed a one-year contract extension that has tied him to the club until at least the end of the 2024 season.
“We’re thrilled Jeremy’s commitment to this program for another year,” said Pace head coach Graham Wright.
“Jeremy has been an integral part of this club on and off the field. He’s exceptionally smart with his football, he’s a solid leader, and overall a really good person.”
