Collingwood's Ben Reid suffers freak injury in Thailand

The All-Australian centre half-back has a shoulder injury and has been ordered to report straight to the club's doctor when he returns home later this week, a few days before the rest of his Grand Final teammates are due to resume their pre-season campaign.

Reid, 22, is on holiday with his younger brother, Sam, who plays for the Sydney Swans, and some mates in Thailand. Details surrounding the incident were not clear.

But it is believed Reid fell awkwardly on a beach and felt enough pain in his shoulder to contact Collingwood football manager Geoff Walsh to report it. A club spokesman yesterday could not commit to the extent of the injury.

He said protocol for such incidents would be followed and Reid would see Collingwood medical staff as a matter of urgency when he landed back in Melbourne.