A 20-year-old Pie’s long-term damage has made an already sad Friday night loss even more painful.

Harvey Harrison of the Rising Pies will face an extended recovery after suffering a severe anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in his left knee. The injury happened during the VFL curtain-raiser before the Friday night blockbuster, with the 20-year-old forward going down early in what ended up being a five-goal defeat.

 

This setback is a significant blow to Collingwood’s chances of pursuing consecutive premierships, derailing the preseason development of one of their promising young players. Harrison had been steadily establishing himself in the senior team, having played in 12 AFL matches this season, an increase from four last year.

 

Harrison had shown flashes of potential, with near-breakout performances, including an impressive display of 13 disposals, three goals, and nine tackles in their draw with Fremantle. In a squad lacking a surplus of young talent outside of Nick Daicos, Harrison’s loss might prompt Collingwood to consider offseason recruitment, possibly replacing some veterans with new young prospects.

 

Club football manager Brendon Bolton delivered the somber news in a media release, stating, “This is disappointing news for Harvey, who will now spend an extended period on the sidelines.”

 

“Harvey has demonstrated resilience during his time at the Club, and we’re confident he’ll approach this next phase of his rehab with the same determination, supported by our Club and medical team.”

 

Collingwood’s season concludes with two challenging matches in the final two weeks, facing Brisbane and Melbourne at the MCG, hoping to build some momentum into the summer as their finals hopes dwindle.