Collingwood captain Darcy Moore has disclosed he went under the knife following the 2024 AFL season to address a persistent shoulder issue originally sustained in May.
Road to Recovery After Off-Season Procedure
The Magpies leader confirmed the surgical clean-up while speaking with 7NEWS chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary during the club's commercial trip to Dubai. Moore initially missed a fortnight of football in May after hurting the shoulder but returned to play out the remainder of the season despite the ongoing problem.
"As it is with AFL, after two weeks off, you've just got to get out there again," Moore explained about his decision to play through the injury. "And yeah, did a little bit of damage playing with it for the rest of the season. So just had that cleaned up in the off-season and it's recovering really well."
Leadership Evolution and 2025 Outlook
While Collingwood's first-to-fourth year players returned to training on Monday, Moore and the senior group aren't due back until next week. The defender will be carefully managed through his return, being eased back into contact training as he continues his rehabilitation.
As he prepares for his fourth season as captain, Moore revealed he's already discussing themes for 2025 with coach Craig McRae, even while on holiday. "He spoke to me basically straight off the plane, sounding very energised," Moore said of McRae. "I think it's mostly about doubling down about what we're about."
The skipper expressed confidence in the team's direction, noting that 2024 demonstrated their game style "is good enough" when executed properly. Collingwood spent most of last season near the top of the ladder before falling to eventual premier Brisbane in the preliminary final.
Expanded Leadership and Desert Adventures
Moore is in Dubai alongside teammates Isaac Quaynor and brothers Nick and Josh Daicos as part of the club's partnership with Emirates. The trip has included significant sightseeing, including:
- A desert safari experience
- Visiting the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa
- Conquering the 1km zipline across the city, which Josh Daicos described as "unbelievable"
The leadership structure at Collingwood has evolved significantly, with Nick Daicos elevated to vice-captain alongside Brayden Maynard this year. The leadership group expanded to include Quaynor, Jamie Elliott, Dan McStay and Darcy Cameron.
"That was really rewarding as captain to see those guys really develop," Moore said of the growing leadership contingent. "And by the end of the year, I can start handing a lot of stuff over to them."
With his shoulder on the mend and a strengthened leadership group around him, Moore appears optimistic about Collingwood's prospects as they build toward the 2025 AFL season.
