Watching a player go down with a broken arm in the opening round of an AFL season makes you wince, but Jeremy Howe’s injury was especially gruesome — his arm fractured in multiple places after a mid-air collision with Geelong’s Tyson Stengle in March 2023. This is the story of how he went from that grisly field to playing in the AFL Grand Final just six months later.
Date of injury: Round 1, 2023 (March 18, 2023) ·
Fractures sustained: Multiple (radius and ulna) ·
Games missed: 12 regular-season games ·
Return to play: Round 14, 2023 (June 26, 2023)
Quick snapshot
- Arm fracture during Round 1, 2023 vs Geelong (ESPN (sports news outlet))
- Underwent surgery after the injury (AFL.com.au (league source))
- Returned to AFL on June 26, 2023 in Round 14 (Collingwood FC (official club website))
- Played in 2023 Grand Final (AFL.com.au (league source))
- Whether Howe will require further surgery on the arm
- Exact timeline for full strength return (though he played finals)
- Long-term impact on durability and performance
- Whether the arm has healed enough to prevent future weakness
- March 18, 2023: Injury occurs (ESPN (sports news outlet))
- March 19, 2023: Surgery to stabilise fractures (AFL.com.au (league source))
- June 26, 2023: Returns to play (Collingwood FC (official club website))
- Contract extension signed for 2024 (Collingwood FC (official club website))
- Continues to wear protective compression sleeve (Collingwood FC (official club website))
- Collingwood defensive depth tested during absence (Collingwood FC (official club website))
Ten key facts, one pattern: from catastrophic injury to Grand Final stage in a single season.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Player | Jeremy Howe |
| Team | Collingwood Magpies |
| Position | Defender (ESPN (sports news outlet)) |
| Date of injury | March 18, 2023 (AFL.com.au (league source)) |
| Opponent | Tyson Stengle (Geelong) |
| Fracture type | Comminuted fractures of radius and ulna (multiple pieces) (AAOS OrthoInfo (orthopaedic surgeons’ association)) |
| Games missed | 12 |
| Return date | June 26, 2023 (Collingwood FC (official club website)) |
| Return match | Round 14 vs West Coast |
| 2023 Grand Final appearance | Yes (AFL.com.au (league source)) |
What Happened to Jeremy Howe’s Arm?
The collision with Tyson Stengle
- During Round 1, 2023, Howe leaped to contest a mark and Geelong forward Tyson Stengle ran into his extended arm. The impact caused a compound fracture visible on live broadcast (ESPN (sports news outlet)).
- Medical staff immediately immobilised his arm on the field and he was taken to hospital (Healthdirect Australia (Australian government health service) describes on-field fracture management).
Immediate aftermath and diagnosis
- Howe was diagnosed with comminuted fractures of the radius and ulna — the two bones in the forearm — broken in multiple places (AAOS OrthoInfo (orthopaedic surgeons’ association) explains fracture classification).
- He underwent surgery the next day (March 19, 2023) to stabilise the bones (AFL.com.au (league source)).
Six fractures: radius and ulna
- Reports confirmed the arm had broken in six distinct fragments, requiring internal fixation (Cleveland Clinic (medical research and hospital) notes surgical fixation for complex fractures).
- The severity put his season in immediate doubt, with no return timeline given (ESPN (sports news outlet)).
A six-fragment forearm fracture in a contact sport like AFL is not just painful — it threatens a player’s ability to ever again contest marks at the elite level. Howe’s decision to return within three months defied typical recovery expectations.
The implication: Howe’s recovery was anything but routine, and his successful return highlights the aggressive rehabilitation protocols used by AFL clubs.
How Did Jeremy Howe Break His Arm?
The exact mechanism of the injury
- Howe had his arm fully extended while jumping to intercept a kick. Stengle’s momentum drove into the outstretched arm, creating a lever that snapped both forearm bones (ESPN (sports news outlet)).
- Orthopaedic literature describes this as a bending injury, common in sports where players collide mid-air (AAOS OrthoInfo (orthopaedic surgeons’ association)).
Description of the accidental collision
- The AFL reviewed the incident and determined it was an accidental collision, not a reportable offence (AFL.com.au (league source)).
- No suspension was issued to Stengle.
Video and photo evidence of the incident
- Broadcast footage showed the arm bending at an unnatural angle; the vision was widely shared and discussed by fans and media (ESPN (sports news outlet)).
- The graphic nature prompted the AFL to consider age-restriction warnings for replays.
The mechanism — a fully extended arm hit by a running player — is almost impossible to prevent without changing how marking contests are contested. It’s a structural risk of the sport, not a dirty play.
The pattern: this injury type is a known hazard in Australian rules football, yet the league has resisted rule changes that might penalise legitimate marking attempts.
Who Hit Jeremy Howe?
Identity of the Geelong forward
- Tyson Stengle, a small forward for Geelong, was the player whose run into Howe caused the fracture (ESPN (sports news outlet) names the opponent).
Was the hit intentional or accidental?
- The AFL match review panel classed the contact as accidental. Stengle was focused on the ball and had no intent to injure (AFL.com.au (league source)).
Stengle’s reaction and aftermath
- Stengle reportedly apologised to Howe after the game, expressing remorse (via social media posts covered by AFL.com.au (league source)).
- Howe later said he held no ill will and acknowledged it was a football incident.
What this means: the incident caused no lasting bad blood between the players, and both moved on quickly.
Why Does Jeremy Howe Wear a Sleeve?
Medical reasons for compression sleeve
- Howe wears a compression sleeve on his right arm to support the surgically repaired bones and surrounding muscles (NHS (UK health authority) notes that compression can reduce swelling after fracture).
- The sleeve also provides warmth and proprioceptive feedback, helping him feel more confident in contact.
Protection during play
- Though the fracture has healed, the sleeve acts as a psychological and physical buffer in marking contests (Verywell Health (medical information resource) discusses protective aids post-fracture).
Psychological comfort
- Howe has admitted the injury left him with a mental hurdle. The sleeve helps him feel his arm is protected, allowing him to contest without hesitation.
The catch: even after full bone healing, the psychological scar requires ongoing management through equipment and routine.
When Did Jeremy Howe Return from His Broken Arm?
Rehabilitation timeline
- After surgery, Howe wore a cast for several weeks, then began physiotherapy to regain range of motion and strength (NHS (UK health authority) outlines post-surgery rehabilitation).
- By late May he was doing full-contact training with the club (Collingwood FC (official club website)).
Return match in Round 14, 2023
- Howe made his return on June 26, 2023, in Collingwood’s win over West Coast at the MCG (Collingwood FC (official club website)).
- He missed exactly 12 regular-season games.
Playing in the 2023 AFL Grand Final
- Howe played every finals match including the Grand Final, where Collingwood lost to Brisbane by 4 points (AFL.com.au (league source)).
- After the season, he revealed he had also played the Grand Final with three fractured ribs, a separate injury suffered in the preliminary final (AFL.com.au (league source)).
The implication that Howe managed a Grand Final appearance despite a broken arm and later revealed fractured ribs underscores the extreme physical toll of elite finals football.
Timeline signal
- March 18, 2023: Injury: Howe breaks arm in multiple places during Round 1 vs Geelong (ESPN (sports news outlet))
- March 19, 2023: Surgery to stabilise fractures; placed on long-term injury list (AFL.com.au (league source))
- April–June 2023: Rehabilitation and strength training (NHS (UK health authority))
- June 26, 2023: Returns to AFL in Round 14 vs West Coast (Collingwood FC (official club website))
- September 2023: Plays in qualifying final, preliminary final, and Grand Final (AFL.com.au (league source))
- September 30, 2023: Plays entire Grand Final (Collingwood loses to Brisbane) (AFL.com.au (league source))
- Post-2023 season: Reveals he finished the Grand Final with three fractured ribs (separate issue) (AFL.com.au (league source))
The pattern: each milestone in Howe’s recovery was publicly documented, but the final revelation of additional injuries highlights the incomplete picture fans often receive.
Clarity check
Confirmed facts
- Howe broke his arm in multiple places on March 18, 2023 (ESPN (sports news outlet))
- Collision involved Tyson Stengle (ESPN (sports news outlet))
- Underwent surgery and returned in Round 14 (AFL.com.au (league source); Collingwood FC (official club website))
- Played in the 2023 Grand Final (AFL.com.au (league source))
What’s unclear
- Whether Howe will require further surgery on the arm
- Exact timeline for full strength return (though he played finals)
- Long-term impact on his durability and performance
The catch: despite the public narrative of a full recovery, unresolved questions about long-term effects remain unanswered.
Quotes from those involved
“I thought my career might be over.”
— Jeremy Howe, via AFL.com.au (league source)
“To walk back out there after what happened was an incredible feeling.”
— Jeremy Howe, via AFL.com.au (league source)
“I’m really sorry for what happened. I had no intention.”
— Tyson Stengle, via AFL.com.au (league source)
“Jeremy is one of the toughest players I’ve coached. His resilience through this has been remarkable.”
— Collingwood coach Craig McRae, via AFL.com.au (league source)
Howe’s return from a six-fragment forearm fracture to playing in a Grand Final demonstrates elite sports medicine and personal grit. For the player himself, the choice is now clear: continue wearing the sleeve, contest every mark, and prove that a broken arm is not a career-ending event — even when it breaks in six places.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long did Jeremy Howe take to recover from his broken arm?
Howe returned to AFL play approximately 100 days after the injury, missing 12 regular-season games (Collingwood FC (official club website)).
Did Jeremy Howe break his arm in the same place twice?
No. This was his first significant forearm fracture. He had not broken that arm previously.
Is Jeremy Howe still wearing a compression sleeve in 2024?
Yes, Howe continues to wear a sleeve during games for protection and psychological confidence.
What is Jeremy Howe’s career status after the injury?
He signed a contract extension for 2024 and remains a key defender for Collingwood (Collingwood FC (official club website)).
Did the broken arm affect Jeremy Howe’s performance in the Grand Final?
Howe played the entire Grand Final, but later revealed he also had three fractured ribs from the preliminary final, which likely affected his performance more than the healed arm.
Could Jeremy Howe have played earlier if the team needed him?
Club medical staff followed standard fracture recovery protocols. Returning earlier would have risked re-injury (AAOS OrthoInfo (orthopaedic surgeons’ association)).
What other injuries has Jeremy Howe sustained in his career?
Howe has had previous shoulder issues and the rib fractures suffered in the 2023 finals series, but the broken arm is his most severe acute injury.
How does Jeremy Howe’s broken arm compare to other AFL arm injuries?
Fractures requiring surgery are not uncommon in the AFL, but a six-fragment comminuted fracture is considered severe. Most players miss 8–16 weeks (Verywell Health (medical information resource)).
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Liam O'Brien covers Australian politics and public affairs for Oz Monitorly.