ADELAIDE
Having failed to qualify for this year's finals campaign, all players who have had post-season surgery other than Andy Otten are likely be ready to start the pre-season on time. After having his right knee reconstructed late in the season, Otten then had a clean out of his right knee. The club's leading goalkicker Eddie Betts had a minor procedure on his hip in early September, while Scott Thompson and Daniel Talia had small operations on their knees. Defender Sam Shaw had an operation to help fix his troublesome hamstring while fellow defender Sam Siggins had surgery on his wrist in late August. Head of football David Noble said he hoped the entire squad – minus Otten – would be fit to start training on time in early November. - Harry Thring

BRISBANE LIONS
A number of players have had surgery, but all in all, the Lions are in good health. Aside from ruckman Trent West, who is still recovering from ACL surgery, the rest of the list should be right to go come day one of pre-season. Defenders Matt Maguire (ankle) and Daniel Merrett (ankle and knee) both went under the knife but neither was a major operation and both will be right when the Lions resume training in the next month. Gun midfielder Daniel Rich is recovering strongly from his ACL injury sustained in April and is already running well. Luke McGuane (knee) went in for early surgery, as did versatile Brent Staker (calf), and after plenty of time to recover, both will be fine to start in November. - Michael Whiting


CARLTON
There is mostly good news on the injury front. Defender Sam Docherty had minor post-season hip surgery, with the club describing it as “a clean-up”. The 20-year-old will be ready for the start of pre-season training in November. Midfielder Tom Bell, who had surgery during the season for a fractured finger, had post-season surgery to have the plate removed. The 23-year-old is expected to have full mobility in time for summer training. Midfielder David Ellard had ankle surgery after sustaining a severe strain in round 21, but is now off crutches. Ruckman Matthew Kreuzer, who missed most of the year with a broken foot, continues to make good progress following his first competitive hit-out in August for the Blues’ VFL affiliate. The club expects the 25-year-old to complete a full pre-season. Youngster Cameron Giles, who was placed on the Blues’ long-term injury list in July with a foot fracture (navicular), is progressing slowly in his recovery. - Giulio Di Giorgio

COLLINGWOOD
After 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. Magpies 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. - Ben Guthrie

The Magpies hope Matt Scharenberg recovers well from his ACL tear. Picture: AFL Media 



ESSENDON
Tom Bellchambers had follow-up surgery on the ankle injury which ruined his 2014 season as soon as the Bombers were booted out of the finals. The club was hopeful he would not miss too much of this pre-season, having required a reconstruction in January. The ruckman was the only player to undergo a serious operation post-season, with Brent Stanton (hip arthroscope) the other. A number of players, including Tayte Pears (heel/shoulder surgeries), went under the knife before the end of the season, leaving the club in a healthy spot heading into the home and away season. - Callum Twomey

FREMANTLE
The Dockers suffered some key injuries during the year but should not have too many issues plague them through the pre-season. Michael Johnson had back surgery in September and will likely have a slow start to the pre-season. Garrick Ibbotson dislocated his shoulder for the second time this season in the semi-final and will be delayed for the start of the pre-season as he was last year when an Achilles problem ruled him out of the 2013 finals series. Max Duffy also required post-season shoulder surgery despite getting through the season following the nasty collarbone injury he suffered early in March. Hayden Ballantyne requires more surgery on his jaw once he returns from holidays and was ruled out of the International Rules test as a result. Anthony Morabito injured his knee in September but should be right for the pre-season, along with Michael Barlow, who had his right foot in a moonboot in September. Luke McPharlin will play on but will need to be carefully managed due to his ongoing calf issues. - Alex Malcolm

GEELONG
The Cats go to their post-season break with a few players on the mend after bouts of surgery. Lively small forward Allen Christensen missed the Cats' finals campaign due to back soreness and it was determined he needed to go under the knife again. Christensen missed the opening 13 weeks of the season after his first round of surgery in February. Ruckman Dawson Simpson is on the comeback trail after he had major back surgery for the third time at the end of the home-and-away season. Injury-plagued big man Hamish McIntosh and key forward Shane Kersten have both had minor knee surgery. Luckless Cat Daniel Menzel expects to complete about 50 per cent of the pre-season training workload in November as he fights back from a fourth knee reconstruction. -Travis King
 
Dynamic Cat Allen Christensen battled back issues last season. Picture: AFL Media



GOLD COAST
Midfield sensation Jaeger O'Meara is the biggest concern for the Suns this off-season, preparing to undergo surgery on both knees in Europe next month. While he is expected to be back into rehab almost immediately, it will be some time before he's running again. The other concern is skipper Gary Ablett (shoulder). Although the dual Brownlow medallist is taking a fraction longer than expected to recover, he should do most of the running program before graduating to weights and contact work as the pre-season wears on. Small forward Aaron Hall (groin) will miss the resumption of training, while fellow goalsneak Brandon Matera (groin) will be fine to run in a few weeks. Tim Sumner (hip), Luke Russell (hip) and Zac Smith (ankle) all had surgery but are expected to resume training with the rest of the squad in November. - Michael Whiting

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
For the third consecutive year, the Giants adopted a policy of sending players off early for season-ending surgery to get them ready for the following campaign. Jeremy Cameron (ankle) and Nick Haynes (ankle) are already back running, while Lachie Whitfield (shoulder/foot), Stephen Coniglio (thumb), Adam Kennedy (shoulder), Jed Lamb (ankle) and Aidan Corr (shoulder) are among those expected to be fine for the start of pre-season. Tom Scully only had knee surgery in August, so he could be on a restricted program initially, and Dylan Shiel is progressing well from post-season shoulder surgery. The only two who won't be taking part in the pre-season are Jon Patton and Tim Mohr, who have both undergone knee reconstructions and won't be seen until 2015. - James Dampney

Jon Patton's horrible run of luck continued when he ripped his ACL in August. Picture: AFL Media






HAWTHORN
Damaging defender Matt Suckling has had minor knee surgery that will interrupt his pre-season before Christmas. Hawks on-baller Liam Shiels is on the mend from a broken nose suffered in the epic preliminary final win over Port Adelaide. Inside midfielder Mitch Hallahan has had an ankle clean-up and was on crutches at Hawthorn's best-and-fairest last Saturday night. Brendan Whitecross (ACL) and Jed Anderson (shoulder) are champing at the bit to start a full pre-season after their long-term injuries, while Cyril Rioli's hamstring pulled up well after the Grand Final. The Hawks will send one of their physios to a hamstring conference in Spain in November as they delve deeper into understanding the muscle. - Travis King

MELBOURNE
The Demons are confident they will have the majority of their list up and running ahead of the start of pre-season training. Melbourne had four players in for post-season surgery – Dom Tyson (finger), Bernie Vince (shoulder), Max Gawn (knee) and Dean Terlich (ankle). Tyson spent a short time in a sling, but has come through without any obvious afflictions. In further positive news for the Demons, Jack Trengove (foot) and Jake Spencer (ankle) have started their running programs and the belief is they will both be close to full training when the club resumes after the break. Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney told AFL.com.au the club was happy with how it was positioned from an injury standpoint, "The low number of injuries puts us in a really good position to hit the ground running at the start of pre-season with the vast majority of players training." - Ben Guthrie

NORTH MELBOURNE
Tough nut Jack Ziebell and key forward Aaron Black have both been sent for post-season shoulder surgery. Black's output dropped away this campaign, although it was revealed he struggled with shoulder trouble. Injury-prone key position Robbie Tarrant has also reportedly had shoulder surgery after his season was ended by leg surgery in June. Taylor Garner is understood to have had hip surgery, while key defender Cam Delaney is on the comeback trail from toe surgery in July. Key forward Majak Daw is recovering after he suffered a dislocated foot playing in the VFL on August 10. His foot was expected to be in a cast for six weeks. - Travis King

North hard-nut Jack Ziebell had post-season shoulder surgery. Picture: AFL Media



RICHMOND
After being cruelled by injuries early in the season, the Tigers had a very short injury list towards the end and look set to have the majority of their players available when they start training again. Steven Morris finally had his shoulder reconstructed following their elimination final loss to Port Adelaide, after initially hurting it back in the pre-season. He is expected to be running when summer training begins and return to main training by mid December, along with Ben Lennon, who has had hip surgery. Matt Thomas had knee surgery towards the end of the home-and-away season and will resume training after the Christmas break. David Astbury looks set for a full pre-season after getting back to play one VFL game in August after a long knee injury. The Tigers' first-to-four year players resume on November 10 and the rest of the list on November 24.- Jennifer Phelan
 
PORT ADELAIDE
The Power may have fallen a kick short of the Grand Final but their late finish to season 2014 won't see players miss the beginning of summer training. Vice-captain Brad Ebert, Aaron Young and spearhead Jay Schulz all had procedures on their shoulders, while Matt White had surgery to fix a groin issue that caused him so much trouble late in the year. All four were only expected to miss between 4-5 weeks. Angus Monfries had hip surgery that was expected to rule him out of any training for up to two months, but even then he's expected to start another gruelling Darren Burgess pre-season on time. The players were pushed to the brink in Dubai last year and Burgess has promised an equally punishing summer ahead of 2015. - Harry Thring

ST KILDA
The Saints ended the season with 13 players on their injury list but are aiming to have most of them in full training by Christmas. Sam Gilbert had more surgery on his left foot after hurting it again in round 22 and is aiming to be running by Christmas. They expect Shane Savage (arm), Eli Templeton (arm), Jarryn Geary (calf), Tom Lee (shoulder), Jack Billings (hamstring), Blake Acres (quad) and Daniel Markworth (hamstring) to be ready to go when pre-season starts. Luke Delaney (hip surgery), Jimmy Webster (foot fractures), Tom Hickey (knee tendonitis), Josh Bruce (shin surgery), Arryn Siposs (shoulder), Brodie Murdoch and Tom Curren (groin surgery) will all start running on a modified program before ramping things up. Luke Dunstan (shoulder) will start full training after Christmas after having a torn labrum fixed in August but will also be running when the first-to-four-year players return on November 5. - Jennifer Phelan

SYDNEY SWANS
The Swans will still be licking their wounds and trying to move on from their disastrous performance in this year's Grand Final. The good news, at least, is the club has a decent bill of health as another pre-season looms, certainly compared to this time last year. Of the Grand Final combatants, Sam Reid and Craig Bird both had arthroscopes for very minor knee issues and should be back running in the coming weeks. Alex Johnson is still dealing with an infection in his knee and will undergo a fourth reconstruction once that has been resolved. Young defender Aliir Aliir had shoulder surgery late in the season and is already back training, while Tom Derickx (hamstring) and Lloyd Perris (knee) are on track to commence pre-season as scheduled. - James Dampney

WEST COAST
The Eagles had a few injury concerns throughout the season but they expect to have a full complement for the start of pre-season. Best and fairest winner Eric Mackenzie had hip surgery post season and will be limited with his work before Christmas. Youngster Jeremy McGovern also had a more minor hip operation that should not affect his pre-season. Mark LeCras had the plate removed from his arm, which he has fractured twice. Jack Darling has a stress fracture on his foot and is in a moonboot, but doesn't require surgery. Patrick McGinnity badly fractured his finger in the WAFL Grand Final and has had surgery to repair the damage. Beau Waters (shoulder) and Nic Naitanui (groins) do not require surgery. Matt Rosa (torn pec), Brad Sheppard (ankle) and Sharrod Wellingham (knee) all missed the end of the season but are on track to return for day one of the pre-season. Development players Tom Barrass (groin), Malcolm Karpany (shoulder) and Rowen Powell (shoulder) were all shut down during the year to be ready for the pre-season. - Alex Malcolm

Beau Waters will boost the Eagles next year if he recovers from his injury struggles. Picture: AFL Media




WESTERN BULLDOGS
The luckless Clay Smith is the only Bulldog unavailable for the start of club's pre-season campaign on November 4th. The 21-year-old is recovering from a second knee reconstruction in July and the club is going to take a cautious approach with the tough midfielder. Smith has also suffered a serious shoulder injury and salmonella poisoning in the past 12 months. Defenders Jordan Roughead, Fletcher Roberts and Matt Fuller have recovered well from shoulder surgeries. Running defender Easton Wood is right to go after an operation on a broken hand ended his season in round 20. Inside midfielders Mitch Wallis (foot) and Josh Prudden (knee) had premature ends to their seasons but are ready to go. - Ryan Davidson