The classy midfielder ruptured his ACL in round three, leaving a gaping hole in the Lions' structure. Coach Justin Leppitsch was using Rich and his penetrating left boot off a half-back flank to launch the Lions' counter-attack. Once he went down, they struggled to find a replacement. But with Rich already back into full running training, and an off-season recruiting spree that netted Dayne Beams and Allen Christensen, the former Rising Star winner will again be freed up to orchestrate play from the back half. – Michael Whiting

The 25-year-old ruckman featured in the opening round, but didn't take part in any further action after undergoing a second bout of surgery on his injured foot. The No.1 pick in the 2007 NAB AFL Draft made a comeback via the Blues' VFL affiliate in August. Kreuzer continues to make good progress and is expected to complete a full pre-season.

 

After a promising start – which earned him the round two NAB AFL Rising Star nomination – the 21-year-old was struck down by injuries (hand and hamstring) and was limited to just eight games for the Blues. Buckley began pre-season training on Wednesday. His willingness to take the game on from half-back will benefit the side in 2015.

 

Another Blue with an injury-interrupted season. The 19-year-old suffered a fractured fibula in the VFL, featuring in just three AFL games this year. The emerging midfielder began pre-season training on Wednesday, and can expect to don the navy blue jumper on more occasions next season.– Giulio Di Giorgio

The Pies were ravaged by injuries last season and Ben Reid's long-term absence was felt more keenly than most. Collingwood had a need for Reid at both ends of the ground but the classy swingman's season was practically a write-off due to calf, quad and hamstring problems. Reid only played four games and the 2011 All-Australian centre half-back will be hoping for smoother sailing when he returns from the off-season break later this month. – Travis King

More responsibility will fall on Bellchambers' shoulders next year with the departure of Paddy Ryder, and the Bombers will rely heavily on the ruckman's troublesome ankle holding up. Bellchambers, who was restricted to just eight games last season, underwent follow-up surgery to his ankle reconstruction in September and is aiming to be back in full training before Christmas. Small forward Nick Kommer's promising start to his career was interrupted by patella tendinitis, which required surgery in May. He is on the comeback trail and took part in light skills and running when pre-season started for first- to fourth-year players this week. – Travis King

The 20-year-old key defender played just seven WAFL matches last year as he continued to fight ongoing shoulder and hamstring issues. He made his AFL debut in round four 2013 but has not played since. He played five matches consecutively towards the end of the WAFL season. Smith will be ready for the start of pre-season and has an opportunity to stake a claim for a key defensive post, given the Dockers are searching for more options down back. – Alex Malcolm

The 23-year-old missed the whole season after undergoing a traditional knee reconstruction. A string of injury setbacks, including hip problems, have restricted the No.42 pick in the 2009 draft to just 21 games since being recruited. But in good news, the ruck-forward completed running drills on Wednesday and the club says his pre-season workload will gradually increase.

 

Another luckless Cat who didn't feature at senior level in season 2014 after undergoing a fourth knee reconstruction. Like teammate Nathan Vardy, Menzel undertook running drills on Wednesday. The club expects the 23-year-old to complete a modified pre-season training program and will be closely monitored over the summer months. – Giulio Di Giorgio

The athletic ruckman played just six games before suffering a season-ending posterior cruciate ligament injury. In the absence of injured Zac Smith, Nicholls had grabbed the No.1 ruck role with both hands. Even with healthy ruck options that include Smith, Daniel Gorringe and Charlie Dixon, the 201cm Nicholls is the best man for the job. He is recovering nicely and will be available for the entire pre-season. – Michael Whiting

The 2012 No.1 draft pick will be hoping for a quiet year on the injury front after being restricted to 11 games this season. Whitfield suffered a foot injury before his season was ended prematurely by shoulder surgery. The 20-year-old returned to training on Wednesday on a restricted program, but isn't far behind the main playing group.

 

The 192cm defender limped off the ground with a broken ankle in the opening minute of his side's round eight clash against the West Coast Eagles. The 22-year-old, who was drafted with pick No.7 in 2011, didn't make an appearance for the remainder of the year. He resumed running in September and returned to training on Wednesday on a modified program. Haynes will strengthen the Giants' back six in 2015. – Giulio Di Giorgio

What a luxury it will be for the back-to-back premiers to regain Whitecross and Anderson, and inject even greater versatility into their side during 2015. Whitecross was cruelly denied the chance to add to his 84 career games last season after his comeback from a second knee reconstruction stalled. The 24-year-old has not played since the 2013 preliminary final, while promising midfielder Anderson, 20, missed all of last season after undergoing shoulder surgery in May. The luckless duo is counting the days until pre-season kicks off. – Travis King

Stress reactions in his back in season 2014 delayed Hogan's much-anticipated AFL debut. Recruited by the Demons as a 17-year-old in the 2012 mini-draft, the key forward has carried the weight of expectation from the red and blue faithful, and is set to be unleashed next year, barring any setbacks through injury. The 19-year-old joined his first- to fourth-year teammates on Wednesday last week for their first pre-season training session, with coach Paul Roos describing him as a new recruit. Hogan will give the Dees some much-needed height in the forward line alongside Chris Dawes. – Nat Edwards

The key forward's injury-plagued career hit another speed bump last season due to a recurring lower leg injury, which kept him out of the side for all but one game. Tarrant, who has played only 39 games in seven seasons at Arden Street, underwent season-ending surgery mid-year and is aiming to resume full training by mid-December. Taylor Garner, taken at No.15 in the 2012 NAB AFL Draft, struggled with persistent hamstring issues last season and didn't play a game before undergoing arthroscopic hip surgery in August. He is expected back in full training by early December. – Travis King

In 2013 Redden was held back by hip, shoulder and knee surgeries and in 2014 his knee, as well as a bout of viral meningitis, meant he didn't play a single game at any level. If he can maintain his fitness, though, Redden will significantly increase the club's ruck depth and he's proven already he can influence games at the elite level. He's unlikely to be training fully on Monday when the players begin pre-season, but is progressing well in his rehab.  – Harry Thring

The 21-year-old featured in just six games for the Swans in a season hampered by ankle and knee problems. As a result, Mitchell wasn't able to complete a full pre-season and train regularly, which made it hard for him to break into the starting line-up. The midfielder is poised for a full pre-season and the club expects the youngster to play more regularly at AFL level next year. -– Giulio Di Giorgio

Newman's last game of football came in the WAFL in round 17, 2013 when he left Claremont Oval at quarter-time to deal with some personal issues surrounding his court case. He was stood down from playing duties pending the outcome of the case and he spent six months in jail during the 2014 season after he was convicted of grievous bodily harm. He has returned fully fit and ready to participate in the pre-season after training all through September and October following his release. Coach Adam Simpson has already declared that Newman will be available for selection in the NAB Challenge. He will need to be upgraded from the rookie list to be available to play in the home and away season.

The 2012 All Australian defender has not played since round 15, 2013 due to multiple shoulder surgeries and ongoing complications. He trained throughout 2014 without playing and continued to train during the off-season break. He returned to pre-season with the first-to-fourth-year players this week, despite being eligible to wait another two weeks. It is expected that he will be able to complete most of the pre-season and be in full contact training by either December or January with a view to being available for the NAB Challenge and round one.– Alex Malcolm

It has been a frustrating 16 months for the Bulldogs midfielder. As if two reconstructions on his right knee weren't enough, Smith was hit with a bout of salmonella poisoning and suffered an AC joint injury in his shoulder. The good news is that Smith's rehabilitation is on track. He ran for the first time, albeit on the Alter-G (anti-gravity) treadmill, on Wednesday last week when the club's pre-season began. While the club hasn't set a date for a return to competitive football, the 21-year-old is hopeful a mid-year comeback is on the cards and there is no doubt the fierce midfielder would be a welcome addition to the senior side. – Nat Edwards