Collingwood star Dale Thomas gets through curtain-raiser match unscathed Collingwood star Dale Thomas collected 25 disposals in the Magpies reserves match against AIS-AFL Academy squad. Picture: Ludbey Wayne Source: Herald Sun DALE Thomas emerged from his first match hitout of the season unscathed. Thomas, as planned, played just three quarters of the Collingwood reserves team's practice match against the AIS-AFL Academy team at the MCG tonight, piling up about 25 disposals. He had ice packs on his right calf and upper left thigh after the match as a precaution, but showed no signs of the ankle injury that has delayed his start to the season. Magpies football manager Geoff Walsh said Thomas, who played mostly on the wing and booted one goal, had been "pretty lively." "Things went to plan under the program we have for him and he got a bit of the ball, so we're happy with that," Walsh said of Thomas. It's his first real hitout for the year, so I'm sure he's in need of the run, but we don't expect any problems (in the wash-up). The Pies also got two goals in an impressive effort from the returning Andrew Krakouer and won the match 15.15 (105) to the AIS's 9.9 (63).