‘Game’s not getting easier’: Jeremy Howe’s take on AFL’s off-season carnage as Pies pain piles up

Collingwood premiership defender Jeremy Howe says the ever increasing workload and intensity of AFL programs could be contributing to an off-season of carnage.

The Magpies have been among the clubs hit hardest by injuries over the summer including Howe (calf), Darcy Moore (calf) and Dan McStay (hamstring) suffering soft tissue setbacks.

Meanwhile North Melbourne’s Jackson Archer and Carlton’s Jesse Motlop both suffered ACL injuries last week and Hawthorn’s Will Day, Melbourne’s Max Gawn and star Giants duo Toby Greene and Clayton Oliver are among the other key names hurt.

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Howe believes the demands of the game have never been greater as clubs look to get an edge on the rest of the competition in a potential reason for the current injury epidemic.

“The game is not getting any easier,” Howe said on SEN radio.

“Everyone is always looking for an extra 5-10 per cent, whether that’s fitness based and good game plans getting implemented. Guys are working harder ... fitness regimes are getting more intense and more high intensity running.

“I look at ‘Pendles’ (Scott Pendlebury), and as good as he looks after his body, if he did 20 pre-seasons like they’re built up now, it’d be pretty hard for him to play 400.

“And the seasons are getting longer, that will always add to it as well.”

The 35-year old said players are trusted to stay in shape over the Christmas break and thinks those that don’t would quickly fall behind and struggle to reach peak fitness levels in season.

“There’s always autonomy in programs and trust gets handed out; I’m sure it fluctuates at different clubs with certain athletes. Our program’s are second to none,” Howe added.

“There’s no-one to hold your hand throughout that period, so it’s up to you how much work you want to get in. There’s an expectation you come back ready to train. Where in an industry where, if you fall behind, it’s almost impossible to catch up.

“We try and get together and make sure everyone doing the right thing, but you don’t want to be holding their hands. There’s got to be an element of trust with what you’re doing away from the club when no one is watching.

“Everyone is trying to do the same amount of work. I back in that our guys are doing it correctly, and judging by how they come back, I’m pretty happy.”

On his own minor calf setback, Howe said “it’s not ideal” but “not the worst-case scenario,” with the veteran not expected to miss any practice games.

“For me it’s deload for seven days, then build straight back up. It’s not a good thing, but I’ve been exposed to the best part of a dozen calves through my career, so we’ve got a pretty clear plan as to what gets be back as quick as possible,” he continued.

“Doing one in early Jan is not the worst. We’ve got a plan for me to get back into full training and I’m not going to miss any scratchies or intra-clubs or anything like that, which is pleasing.”

Despite Collingwood’s spate of injuries in addition to Bobby Hill taking personal leave, Howe said the club was tracking well over the pre-season as it eyes practice games.

“Like with a lot of clubs, it’s filled with optimism at the moment. You always hear it, everyone is fit, flying and humming and everyone’s never looked so good,” Howe said.

“Praccy games are just around the corner and we’re starting to get into some match simulation, which I think everyone kind of craves at this time of year. Only a couple of weeks away when we start doing that fully.

“I think we have an intraclub in early Feb. That’s generally when blokes start putting their traits on show and the excitement comes out.”

The Pies open their season proper in Opening Round against St Kilda on Sunday, March 8 at the MCG.

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