Brent Macaffer1After enduring the year from hell from an injury standpoint, Collingwood is in a much better position heading in to this pre-season.

Brent Macaffer and Matt Scharenberg, who both tore ACLs at the end of the season, are progressing on schedule.

Neither knee injury involved extensive swelling, which is a positive outcome.

Football Director Rodney Eade said the club would target an April or May return for Macaffer despite the midfielder saying at last week’s best and fairest he was targeting a round one return.

Scott Pendlebury and Jarrod Witts both had shoulder surgery at the conclusion of the season, which is expected to sideline both of them for up to 12 weeks.

The pair are not expected to be adversely affected in their preparation.

Dane Swan had minor hip surgery, which involved a shaving of the bone, and Eade said he will be up and running in December.