Updated June 25, 2026 — 4:23pm,first published 12:50pmIn today’s AFL briefing:Darcy Moore spent time training in the USA where he was given advice on how he might need to adjust the way he moves slightly to guard against further injury.In his weekly media conference, Dean Solomon was asked repeatedly about the permanent Essendon coaching role.Adelaide great Tony Modra is “out of the worst” and has joked that he wouldn’t mind chopping down the tree that caused his near-fatal crash.Collingwood are facing the possibility they could be without skipper Darcy Moore for the rest of the season even as he took to the track for the first time since he hurt his hamstring in Scott Pendlebury’s record-breaking match.Magpies coach Craig McRae said that although Moore was making progress in his recovery, the rate was slow.Moore lays a tackle on Josh Lindsay before he was forced out of Scott Pendlebury’s 433rd game with a hamstring issue.AAP“There is more evidence to suggest he is moving in the right direction [but] there is still a long way to go,” McRae said on Thursday, after Moore was back on track at training.He said no one knew what the timeline for his return was, and kept open the prospect he may not feature again in the 2026 campaign when asked whether there was a chance Moore may not play again this year.“Potentially [that may be the case]. I don’t know if that is reality. I think he is progressing in the right direction to suggest he will, but I am not sure when,” McRae said. “Ideally, you get a body of work under him, and he plays, but I don’t know what that looks like.”Moore spent time training in the USA where he was given advice on how he might need to adjust the way he moves slightly to guard against further injury. McRae said the trip was a positive exercise, but time would be needed before the benefits could be realised.Collingwood veteran Jeremy Howe has stood up in Moore’s absence, with the high-flier in superb form in the past month.Isaac Quaynor stood out of training momentarily on Thursday after experiencing foot soreness. McCrae said the premiership defender seemed OK, but he would be monitored ahead of Saturday’s clash against Richmond.The Magpies only expected to make one change, with Scott Pendlebury to return after missing the win over Port Adelaide through illness. Ned Long replaced him but the coach gave no indication of who might be left ou for the veteran’s return.Brayden Maynard trained strongly but is still at least a week away from returning from a shoulder injury. McRae said Maynard may need a shoulder reconstruction if it did not stand up to the demands of the game, but at this stage they were prepared to push on.The Magpies sit 11th on the ladder and are in a battle to make the 10 with their experienced list. McRae said he had been heartened by the improved form of individuals such as Harry DeMattia and Charlie West in the VFL recently. Neither are likely to play against the Tigers, but they are beginning to create selection pressure that the coach believes has been missing.“I think in the last couple of weeks our VFL footy has been at a much better level and players are starting to play above VFL level, which is what we need. So that puts pressure on our selection,” McRae said.“We want to keep rewarding these young guys to get opportunities and force their way into the team. We probably haven’t had it at a level in recent times.”‘The game punches you’: Solomon blocks out the noiseAAPDean Solomon is steering clear of discussing the knives at his back, mindful that he could be punched in the face.The interim Essendon coach continues to keep his own counsel on the job beyond this season, saying his focus is on preparing the Bombers for Sunday’s match against North Melbourne.The Herald Sun has reported that Solomon is said to be the preference of Essendon president Andrew Welsh, but former coach James Hird has made clear his desire to have the job again.Interim Essendon coach Dean Solomon is feeling the heat.Getty ImagesA month after Brad Scott’s sacking, the club is yet to outline the process for picking its next senior coach. Welsh is saying nothing publicly.The topic turned ugly this week, with a Herald Sun report that Solomon was ranked last among five candidates when Scott was appointed four years ago.In his weekly media conference on Thursday morning, Solomon was asked repeatedly about the permanent coaching role.“I still haven’t thought about it. My position hasn’t changed in that space. The interim role, I have to keep my eyes down in that space,” he said.“There are a lot of reports going on, a lot of conversations around myself, but right here, right now, inside my bubble, I’m just focusing on what I need to focus on.“We’ll see where it lands. I’m just going to focus on what I’m focusing on right now. We’ve got a big game on Sunday – if I get distracted too much away from that, the game punches you in the face pretty quickly.”Solomon praised Zach Merrett, who spoke on Wednesday about the stresses since last year’s failed attempt to join Hawthorn.“It’s no doubt been a tough time for him, and the way he’s navigated it [is] incredibly well,” Solomon said.“He’s driving meetings, he’s been a real leader. I can’t ask any more of him. He’s been sensational for me, the last three or four weeks.”Solomon said last weekend’s mid-season bye was important for a reset and refresh, given the turbulence since Scott’s sacking.Several players, led by captain Andrew McGrath, are set to return from injury.There is also encouraging news on young gun Archie Roberts, who is recovering from a shoulder dislocation and looks to have avoided an operation.“We discussed it [surgery]. The medical staff are really confident that he’ll be back in a couple of weeks,” Solomon said.Archie Roberts is progressing in his recovery from a shoulder injury.Getty Images“They spoke with Archie as well. He’s really keen to push to play. He’s progressing really well, he’s ahead of time, so we expect to see him in the next couple of weeks.“If he was in any danger, any long-term stuff, we’d never put him at risk. It’s always player first.”Solomon said it was vital for Essendon to improve by the end of the season, having won only one game so far.“It’s critically important we finish the year with momentum. Day one of pre-season is really important, round one next year is really important,” he said.“This next nine-week block is the most important part of that, to ensure we finish in a positive way, in a good head space and looking to win games.“I firmly believe we can do some damage on the way home.”‘He wants to chop the tree down’: Modra in pain but on the mendAAPAdelaide great Tony Modra is “out of the worst” after a near-fatal freak accident, his close friend Mark Ricciuto says.Modra suffered facial injuries when a fallen tree branch crashed through the windshield of a truck he was driving near his cattle property south of Adelaide last Thursday.The Adelaide and Fremantle great, renowned as one of the most spectacular players in AFL history, was initially in a critical condition.The 57-year-old has sustained facial surgeries and is still in pain, says Ricciuto, his former captain at the Crows who remains a close mate.“He’s improving a lot,” Ricciuto told Triple M. “He did not sound like the old Tony Modra, he sounded like a bloke who didn’t want to move his head – and basically couldn’t half move his head.Tony Modra playing for Adelaide in 1996.Getty Images“He sounded completely different at this stage because of all that.“But he still had Mods’ sense of humour which was awesome to hear, he was trying to have a laugh in super-tough times.“He did sound like he was in enormous pain and he is because he’s had so many operations, but fingers crossed he’s had his last one there for a little while.”The accident involving Modra, a popular full-forward who kicked 588 goals in 165 games for the Crows and Dockers between 1992-2001, triggered an emotional outpour among the AFL and wider community.“He’s out of the worst the woods can be,” Ricciuto said.“Now he’s just living with the pain and waiting to get better and dealing with all the emotional stuff that you deal with, I guess, of having an accident and remembering parts of it.“He said he wants to chop the tree down ... we were having a few laughs, that’s typical Modra chat.“It was just good to have a little bit of a giggle as much as he could.”Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. 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