Ben Reid Biography

Ben Reid announces his immediate retirement as Collingwood prepares for their 2020 finals campaign against West Coast in Perth.

"I grew up at Collingwood and I'm just so thankful for all that I experienced, all that I learnt and the many great people I met," Reid said.

"It was just a wonderful time in my life that I wish could go on forever but, of course, it never can and my time has come. The next phase of my life, with my wife Erin, has arrived and we're looking forward to that."

Travis Varcoe and Ben Reid sign new deals to remain with the Magpies in 2020.

"Travis and Ben are stalwarts of the club, they’ll continue to bring their experience to our mix and we hope to see their form continue from 2019," Collingwood list manager Ned Guy said in a statement.

Injury-plagued Magpie Ben Reid has suffered another setback that is likely to end his 2019 season and potentially also his career.

The veteran key-position player, who is out of contract at season's end, had been closing in on a return after missing three games with a calf issue when he sustained a hamstring injury at the weekend.

"He loves the game and he loves being a part of it, so to have been as chronically injured as he has over a number of years and then to have this occur, it's not tragic in that there's far worse things that can happen in life, but I really feel for Reidy," Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said.

"He invests a lot into his profession and he cares a lot for it, we care a lot for him. So this one's going to really knock him around."

Ben Reid is ruled out for at least the next month after surgery on both knees.

"He had a scrape on both knees under surgery Monday and we'd expect that will fix the problem," Collingwood head of football Geoff Walsh said.

"It's probably a four-week job before he can get back into contention for full training and selection."

Ben Reid is still several weeks away from a return after developing knee soreness in his recovery from a calf complaint.

Reid has not played at AFL level since the round 10 game against the Western Bulldogs, with the 29-year-old missing a month of football prior to his return after sustaining an Achilles injury in round six.

Ben Reid signs a new deal with Collingwood to remain at the club until the end of 2019.

"Ben has a role to play in the team that everyone – teammates and coaching staff in particular – recognises. His game sense and forward craft help the attack tick," Magpies list manager Ned Guy said.

"He also has experience to pass on to the likes of Jaidyn, who is starting out on his football journey."

Sam Reid quashes any hope of a family reunion with his brother Ben Reid at Collingwood by signing a new four-year deal with the Swans that will keep him at the club until the end of 2021.

"It would be great to play with my brother but the reality is it’s pretty tough to do these days," Sam said.

"He loves it in Melbourne and I love it in Sydney, so we might have to wait until we’re 40 and play a local game in the country somewhere.

"My parents get up here pretty much every second week to watch me as well.

"I'm not missing out on too much being up here, the lifestyle and the weather is really good, and I've just grown to love it over the past eight years."

Ben Reid says he has empathy for players going through long periods of injury after having experienced it himself throughout his career.

"Going through a lot of injuries myself, you certainly feel for guys who go through long-term injuries or reoccurrence injuries, which I had a lot of," Reid said.

"The biggest thing is just trying to get your head right around it as well. You sort of see some light at the end of the tunnel and then it's taken away."

Ben Reid is trying to convince his out-of-contract brother Sam to leave Sydney to join the Pies.

"We definitely speak about it. I'd absolutely love to have him in the side. It'd help us, I think," Reid said.

"He does love it up in Sydney and he's very settled up there, but at the same time I'll definitely try to get in his ear.

"It's his decision and whatever he decides on, as long as he's happy and playing footy, that's the main thing."

Ben Reid is ruled out for up to a month to nurse a quad injury sustained in Collingwood's three-point loss to Greater Western Sydney.

Ben Reid says his battle with injury over the past 18 months has made him mentally tougher but admits his body is still a work in progress.

"People say when they get injured, they realise how much the game means to them. I certainly found that. I've hated sitting at home," Reid said.

"It wasn't as if I was having setbacks that were going to put me out for 10 or 12 weeks – they were little two or three 'weekers', little niggly ones.

"It's been hard no doubt and it's still a work in progress.

"It's not just going to happen overnight – I've still got to work at it throughout this year and into next pre-season as well."

The run of bad luck for Collingwood defender Ben Reid has continued, with the Magpies suspecting his latest setback is a calf strain.

The 26-year-old will not play in the VFL this week and the Magpies will remain cautious in setting a comeback date.

Stranded on 99 AFL games, Reid had played most of four VFL matches before he hurt his calf playing in the reserves two rounds ago.

"(Reid) hasn't been able to run or step over his leg much, yet, off that cork," Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said.

"The scans revealed some minor disruption from the knock.

"He still needs to get through a decent block of VFL footy before he becomes a chance of playing AFL and he's still yet to do that, so it's clearly problematic for him and for us."

Ben Reid has suffers a quad injury in the VFL and will have scans to determine the severity of the injury.

"It is a quad nick, we think it's just superficial," Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said.

"We'll have a look and see what it is, but the doctors have pretty much said that this is going to be really minor."

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley says that it would be unwise to plan for Reid's return, given the club remains uncertain how long it will take before he is fully fit.

"If you are talking about planning … we would love to plan for Reidy, but right now that would be folly," Buckley said.

Buckley said the club's priority was to get Reid in robust enough condition to string together a series of games.

"When that happens we will give him the opportunity to play behind the ball in a familiar role in many ways," Buckley said.

"We feel that is going to be important to us. The qualities that he has brought as an attacking defender is something that we are looking for in our squad."

Ben Reid returns from Germany following his consultation with a world-renowned sports doctor, Dr Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt.

"To get over there and see Dr Wohlfahrt was a really good experience and I have definitely taken a few things away from it," Reid said.

"He sat me down for two or three hours on my first day and got to know me and went through all of my history with injuries, what sort of soft-tissues I've had.

"He gave me his ideas of why it's happening which we took on board. He says he sees it pretty regularly, the stuff I had, which gave me a bit of confidence as well."

Ben Reid has been sent to Germany to be treated by the doctor of European soccer giant Bayern Munich as he searches for answers to his ongoing soft-tissue problems.

"We have sent Ben over with a club physician … in order to determine why Ben has experienced several muscle strains," Collingwood director of football Neil Balme said.

"While they are not significant, we are concerned that there could be underlying problems."

Ben Reid will make his return to senior football this week against Adelaide after having most of his season ruined by calf and quad problems.

Collingwood expects key tall Ben Reid to return via the VFL on Sunday after missing four weeks with a quad injury.

Collingwood is likely to be without Ben Reid until August with leading sports medico Dr Peter Larkins forecasting a lengthy rehabilitation from his recurrent quad injury.

Reid hurt his left quad at training on Friday, meaning he has missed what would have been his second VFL game back from the calf injury he sustained in the pre-season.

The Magpies believe Reid could miss up to four weeks but Larkins believes it could be longer, given the premiership Pie's history with the injury.

"We'd normally put a four-to-six week timeframe on that, [but] he's had problems before so a recurrence of the same injury usually adds a bit more time again, because it is a weak spot," Larkins said.

"The reason you do them is because you've done them before, so the biggest risk that you've got about doing any soft tissue injury is having had one before – it doesn't matter if it's calf, hamstring or a quad."

Ben Reid's run of bad luck has continued after he involved in a multi-vehicle accident on Melbourne's West Gate Bridge Monday morning.

Reid was unhurt in the accident, which happened around 9.15am, but his car was damaged.

Ben Reid's return date is set to be delayed by up to three more weeks as his slow recovery from a calf strain continues.

"Unfortunately it looks like he'll be available (in) round 11 AFL, which is actually a bye in the reserves (VFL)," Magpies football manager Rodney Eade said.

"Because he's missed so much footy, we think he'd probably have to come back through the twos. That probably puts it (his return) back an extra week."

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley confirms Ben Reid is set to miss two to three more weeks after failing to overcome a lingering calf complaint.

"'Reidy' won't play. He's had an ongoing calf issue since the Gold Coast (practice) game (on March 2nd)," Buckley said.

"He hasn't passed a couple of the hurdles he's been asked to jump.

"To be conservative now, we think he's going to be another two to three weeks and we'll have to ease up his progressions."

Ben Reid believes his injury woes are behind him.

"It was frustrating more than anything not to be out there helping my teammates out," Reid said.

"I just put my head down and said, 'I've got to get on top of this'. There were a few things the club and I did in house to try to get over it, which was great, and at the moment it's working."

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley apologises to Brad Scott and Lindsay Thomas for his controversial remarks following Thomas' bump on Ben Reid.

"When you cast aspersions over opposition players it's never a good thing, but when that criticism is wrong it makes it even worse," Scott said.

"To Nathan's eternal credit he's called me (and) he's apologised to me, which I didn't think he had to do.

"He apologised to me and to our football club, but more importantly he rang Lindsay Thomas and apologised to him. So I think that speaks volumes for the type of person he is."

Lindsay Thomas says he is relieved to not have been suspended after bump which resulted in a clash of heads with Magpie Ben Reid.

"Unfortunately for him, he didn't come back on. He was knocked out, I come off with a pretty sore cheek and I'm just happy that he's alright," Thomas said.

"I didn't really think about it too much after the game. I thought there wasn't really much in it, but after looking at it yesterday I did think I was in a bit of strife.

"I'm just happy I don't have to miss any games of footy. Obviously I missed five games last year through suspension, so I'm just really happy that I get to run out with my teammates this week and put on that guernsey."

A war of words erupts between Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley and North Melbourne coach Brad Scott after a bump by Lindsay Thomas leaves Ben Reid concussed from a head clash.

"It was off the ball and it was unprovoked. We'll see how it settles," Buckley said.

"Commentary like that doesn't help. I don't know what incident Nathan Buckley saw, but a head clash is a head clash," Scott replied angrily.

"'Bucks' should just keep his opinions to himself when it comes to things that will be taken care of by the powers that be."

Thomas is subsequently cleared by the Match Review Panel.

Brothers Sam and Ben Reid may be matched up against each other when Collingwood take on the Swans in a preliminary final at ANZ Stadium.

All Australian defender Ben Reid and forward Alex Fasolo sign two-year deals with the Pies.

Ben Reid says his latest quad strain is minor and is hopeful of missing just two weeks.

"You've got to be careful with these sorts of things. I've had them in the past and I know how to look after them, which is a plus," Reid said.

"I'll probably only miss two weeks and hopefully be back the round before the bye."

Collingwood will not risk rushing back key defender Chris Tarrant into the side against Adelaide despite needing to replace Ben Reid will miss at least a fortnight after straining his quad against Geelong.

"Taz isn't right to go. We'll give him a couple more runs [in the VFL] and a couple more full weeks of training before we pull the trigger on Taz," Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said.

Collingwood defender Ben Reid has begun contract talks with the club, saying he is keen to stay.

"I'm pretty happy where I am at the moment," Reid said.

"There's been some talks, but it'll take care of itself between the club and my manager. Hopefully it'll get done [before the end of the year]."

Ben Reid has overcome a freak shoulder injury and is ready to play in Collingwood's next NAB Cup match.

"It could have been a lot worse than what it was. It could have been a dislocation but thankfully it wasn't and I just cannot wait to get back in two weeks," Reid said.

"With the shoulder, I've still been able to do a lot of running and training. For the first few weeks, I wasn't able to do a lot of the contact stuff but in the last few weeks I've been able to do a heap and I'm pretty much doing full weights now so the shoulder is ready to go."

Ben Reid is hopeful his shoulder will heal in time for him to take part in Collingwood's NAB Cup campaign.

"Everything's OK. The shoulder's feeling pretty good. It was one of those things that happen hardly ever; it's a freak accident. There wasn't much I could do about it," Reid said.

"I'm obviously shattered that it's happened but I'm just firmly focused on getting it right and getting myself ready for the season."

Collingwood defender Ben Reid has avoided major damage to his shoulder after a fall in Thailand.

Reid will instead undergo a rehabilitation and strength program over the next four weeks after being diagnosed with a grade three strain of his right shoulder.

Collingwood defender Ben Reid injures his shoulder during an accident on a beach while holidaying in Thailand.

"It was nothing sinister and something of a freak accident, we believe," a spokesman from Collingwood said.

"He was just falling on a beach and put his arm out to cushion the fall. He felt some pain in his shoulder afterwards. He rang the club straight away and reported it and we'll know more when he arrives home."

Finally Collingwood defender Ben Reid will tick off the first of what he hopes is many personal milestones as he prepares to play his 50th game against Fremantle.

"Thanks to Scotty Watters and Max Hudghton and those types of guys, and Mick [Malthouse] giving me confidence to go down there and play my role each week, and I'm just happy to be playing in the back six at the moment and in a good side," he said.

Ben Reid again showed why he is one of the most promising young defenders in the league after tallying 21 disposals and 10 marks while lining up against Nick Riewoldt of St Kilda.

"I feel like I am still developing and still working hard on my game, I really just look forward to the challenge every week,'' he said.

''One of the best things about being a key back is that you get to play on a great player every week, and you learn something every week.''

Alan Didak, Steele Sidebottom and Ben Reid have all signed new deals with Collingwood.

Ben Reid shines on the Queen's Birthday stage to collect the NAB AFL Rising Star nomination for round 12 after notching 22 disposals against the Demons.

"It does feel a bit weird - I didn't even know I was eligible until I got told this morning that I had received the nomination," he said.

"Us big blokes come in a bit under-developed, where the midfielders come in a bit more developed than we are, but obviously a few pre-seasons in the gym to get your strength up really helps."