Who's on track for JLT, who'll be right for R1, who's struggling? Every club
LANCE Franklin, Dyson Heppell, Toby Greene, Jordan De Goey, Robbie Gray, Tom Mitchell ...
There are some big names already on the injury list and a ball hasn't even been bounced.
So how are your sore players tracking?
With the season fast approaching, we take a look at your club's pre-season injury toll. Who will play in the JLT Community Series, who will be right for round one, who is still in the rehab group? Check it out
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Luke Brown
Achilles/ankle
2-3 weeks
Hugh Greenwood
Abdominal strain
3-4 weeks
Kyle Hartigan
Knee
Test
Andrew McPherson
Groin
TBC
Daniel Talia
Knee
2-3 weeks
Updated: Thursday, February 21
Early prognosis
Key defender Talia is on track to play in the second game of the JLT Community Series in his recovery from knee surgery in December. Talia has been running for the past four weeks and is building up his training. Small defender Brown could play in the club's second JLT game, but is on a modified training program after an Achilles/ankle injury flared up. It's better news for fellow backman Hartigan, who has been back to full training for the past three weeks and could play in both JLT games. Midfielder Greenwood could be available for round one, but it's unlikely he would play in the senior side straight away without a pre-season game under his belt. - Lee Gaskin
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Marcus Adams
Knee
3 weeks
Jarrod Berry
Glandular fever
1 week
Allen Christensen
Ankle
2-3 weeks
Darcy Gardiner
Knee
5-6 weeks
Connor McFadyen
Foot
4-5 weeks
Jack Payne
Shin
6-8 weeks
Josh Walker
Ankle
TBC
Updated: Wednesday, February 20
Early prognosis
Few concerns here for the Lions, primarily that some of these injuries are to key defenders. Gardiner has resumed running again and should be available for round one. Although Adams is due back in a couple of weeks, he's missed big parts of the pre-season and will likely need some more conditioning before he's considered. Christensen suffered an ankle injury in the Lions' intraclub and will be touch-and-go to play in the JLT series.- Michael Whiting
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Sam Docherty
Knee
Indefinite
Alex Fasolo
Arm
2-4 weeks
Matthew Kreuzer
Knee
Test
Darcy Lang
Foot
TBC
Harrison Macreadie
Back
TBC
Caleb Marchbank
Back
TBC
Mitch McGovern
Back
Available
Jarrod Pickett
Knee
Indefinite
Will Setterfield
Knee
Available
Tom Williamson
Back
Test
Updated: Wednesday, February 20
Early prognosis
New recruits McGovern and Setterfield will be fit for the JLT Community Series after battling injury-interrupted pre-seasons. Docherty and Pickett will miss most, if not all of 2019 with respective knee injuries. The club is hopeful Kreuzer will be fit to play in the JLT, but the likes of Lang, Marchbank and Macreadie are unlikely to feature. No timeline has yet been placed on their returns. Fasolo is making a late dash to be ready for round one, having recovered quickly from a broken arm sustained over the summer. The Blues are being ultra-cautious with Williamson as he makes his comeback from a season on the sidelines. - Riley Beveridge
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Tim Broomhead
Broken leg
2 weeks
Jordan De Goey
Foot
TBC
Lynden Dunn
Knee
2 weeks
Will Hoskin-Elliott
Knee
4-5 weeks
Jeremy Howe
Thigh
1-2 weeks
Matt Scharenberg
Knee
Indefinite
Daniel Wells
Foot
2-3 weeks
Updated: Wednesday, February 20
Early prognosis
The main round one concerns are Hoskin-Elliott, who underwent knee surgery on Monday, and De Goey, who suffered a mid-foot sprain. Howe started running again on Wednesday, while Dunn and Broomhead also aren't far away from full training. Wells has made a breakthrough in his recovery from the Lisfranc injury that sidelined him for the bulk of last season, but a longer term view will be taken with Scharenberg as he comes back from a third knee reconstruction. - Ben Collins
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Josh Begley
Knee
TBC
Joe Daniher
Osteitis pubis
TBC
Martin Gleeson
Ankle
TBC
Dyson Heppell
Hamstring tendinitis
TBC
Cale Hooker
Hamstring
TBC
Zach Merrett
Ankle
2 weeks
Kobe Mutch
Ankle
2 weeks
Mason Redman
Ankle
2-3 weeks
Devon Smith
Bicep
Test
Updated: Wednesday, February 20
Early prognosis
Daniher has progressed well in his return from a long-term osteitis pubis injury and could play in the club's second JLT Community Series game against Geelong. However, the club continues to take a cautious approach. Merrett has stepped up his training in recent weeks, while Heppell was an onlooker at training on Tuesday. Redman is getting closer to full training while Begley and Gleeson are also starting to join in some drills with the main group. - Dinny Navaratnam
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Harley Bennell
Calf
TBC
Connor Blakely
Hamstring
9-11 weeks
Reece Conca
Knee
1-2 weeks
Stephen Hill
Quad
7-8 weeks
Shane Kersten
Foot
1-2 weeks
Aaron Sandilands
Calf
TBC
Updated: Wednesday, February 20
Early prognosis
Recurring calf setbacks for Bennell and veteran ruckman Sandilands, who has been absent from training for several weeks, are likely to impact the start of their 2019 campaigns. In positive news, star recruit Jesse Hogan is with the main group and appears to be over the navicular stress fracture which ended his final season at Melbourne in round 21 last year, seemingly putting him in the picture for round one, if not a practice game appearance. Conca should be back in full training soon after picking up a knee infection, and Freo can ill-afford to lose another experienced midfielder/defender after long-term injuries for Blakely and Hill. Key defender Joel Hamling pulled out of AFLX due to calf awareness but was back training fully on Monday. Nat Fyfe has been managing an inflamed bursa on his right elbow, but is expected to lead his Flyers team in AFLX. - Travis King
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Nakia Cockatoo
Adductor
Test
Sam Menegola
Knee
Test
Zach Tuohy
Knee
1-2 weeks
Lachie Fogarty
Hip
5-6 weeks
Updated: Wednesday, February 20
Early prognosis
Tuohy and Menegola are hoping to hit full training in a fortnight as they race the clock for round one. Both have been building their fitness base through long hours of cross-training. Cockatoo's slow build from last year's knee woes hit a hurdle last week after picking up adductor/hamstring tightness but is expected to rejoin the main group shortly. Fogarty's hip surgery has reduced him to pool sessions for his rehab that will rule him out of round one. - Mitch Cleary
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Josh Corbett
Knee
4 weeks
Corey Ellis
Groin
4-6 weeks
Nic Holman
Back
2-3 weeks
Jack Leslie
Knee
2-4 weeks
Josh Schoenfeld
Ankle
6 weeks
Harrison Wigg
Knee
Season
Updated: Wednesday, February 20
Early prognosis
Aside from the luckless Wigg who ruptured his ACL in the Suns' intraclub match, most players on the injured list are due back by round one. Corbett was in the frame for selection but is unlikely to get enough work in before the season starts and will most likely begin in the NEAFL. Ellis is making sound progress following groin surgery, but the club is taking a cautious approach with his return.- Michael Whiting
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Toby Greene
Ankle
2-3 weeks
Nick Haynes
Back
2-3 weeks
Jon Patton
Knee
Mid-May
Adam Tomlinson
Calf
2-3 weeks
Updated: Wednesday, February 20
Early prognosis
Greene, Haynes and Tomlinson are all aiming to play in one of GWS's JLT Community Series games, with the Giants' second match, against Adelaide on March 8, their most likely return date. Tomlinson is the most advanced of the trio, with the defender close to resuming full training. Greene has made steady progress since undergoing ankle surgery last November, but Haynes is taking longer than expected to overcome back soreness. Key forward Patton's rehabilitation from his third knee reconstruction has been going well and he will look to fast-track that process when he visits knee specialists in Philadelphia next month. Brett Deledio won't play in Friday's practice match against Sydney for management reasons, but the veteran is expected to be available for the Giants' opening JLT game against the Swans on March 2. - Nick Bowen
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Grant Birchall
Knee
Indefinite
Jack Gunston
ITB soreness
1-2 weeks
Jacob Koschitzke
Finger
2-3 weeks
Tom Mitchell
Leg
Season
Tom Scully
Ankle
Indefinite
Chad Wingard
Calf
1 week
Updated: Wednesday, February 20
Early prognosis
The big name on the injury list is, of course, Brownlow medalist Mitchell, but six weeks after surgery on his broken leg he’s weight bearing again which is excellent news. His focus is now on 2020. New recruit Wingard will miss AFLX but is expected to be available for at least one JLT Community Series game as he builds up to a round one debut against the Crows. Veteran Birchall is edging closer to returning to full training in the next couple of weeks, but the Hawks are taking a cautious approach after three operations on his troublesome knee. The four-time premiership Hawk is aiming to make his return to football between rounds four and eight. Hawthorn won't put a timeline on a Scully debut but there has been quiet optimism about his progress as he continues to increase his training loads and running. The Hawks' first pick in last year’s NAB AFL Draft Koschitzke has had a minor setback with a finger injury but should be back in full training before the start of the season. - Nat Edwards
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Mitch Hannan
Knee
TBC
Nathan Jones
Hamstring
TBC
Kade Kolodjashnij
Adductor
4 weeks
Jake Lever
Knee
TBC
Steven May
Hamstring
1-2 weeks
Tom McDonald
Knee
1-2 weeks
Jake Melksham
Hamstring
TBC
Jack Viney
Foot
TBC
Guy Walker
Shoulder
TBC
Updated: Wednesday, February 20
Early prognosis
McDonald will miss the AFLX tournament following minor knee surgery but the forward is expected to play in the JLT Community Series. Kade Kolodjashnij remains in doubt for round one with a groin injury, while Jack Viney, Nathan Jones and Jake Melksham are set to join full training in the coming weeks. Jake Lever won't be ready for round one and it appears Mitch Hannan – who had dual knee surgery in the off-season – will also be missing. - Ben Guthrie
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Majak Daw
Pelvis/hips
Indefinite
Sam Durdin
Finger
8-10 weeks
Ben Jacobs
Sinusitis
Indefinite
Robbie Tarrant
AC joint
Round one
Scott Thompson
Suspended
Round two
Will Walker
PCL
Indefinite
Updated: Wednesday, February 20
Early prognosis
Tarrant is in a race against time to be fit for round one, but North is confident its best key defender will be fit to take on Fremantle and lead a Roos' defence that will be without Daw and Thompson, while fellow tall Durdin was ruled out for 10 weeks on Wednesday after suffering a deep cut to his little finger. Jacobs continues to complete a good volume of training but has not yet made a full recovery from an off-season sinus operation. The Roos won't risk the run-with midfielder in games until he has completely overcome lingering symptoms of congestion and grogginess. Second-year midfielder Walker is making a frustratingly slow recovery from the PCL strain he suffered late last season, while North will approach Daw's rehabilitation one step at a time despite the remarkable progress he has made since his fall from the Bolte Bridge in December. Jack Ziebell, Mason Wood and Jasper Pittard (all calf strains) returned to full training this week and are expected to play in the JLT Community Series. - Nick Bowen
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Joe Atley
Knee
4-6 weeks
Charlie Dixon
Leg/ankle
4-8 weeks
Kane Farrell
Managed
Test
Robbie Gray
Knee
1-2 weeks
Riley Grundy
Infection
Test
Hamish Hartlett
Knee
1-2 weeks
Sam Hayes
Knee
6-10 weeks
Dan Houston
Managed
Test
Trent McKenzie
Shoulder
Test
Ollie Wines
Shoulder
4-8 weeks
Updated: Wednesday, February 20
Early prognosis
Ollie Wines and Charlie Dixon are both highly unlikely to be fit for round one. Wines is set to return from a shoulder injury between rounds 3-4, while Dixon's recovery from a broken leg and high ankle sprain is taking longer than expected. Robbie Gray should play some part in the JLT Community Series, as will half-back flanker Hamish Hartlett in his return from a torn ACL. Dan Houston and Kane Farrell, who were both rested from the Power's intra-club trial last Friday, should be available for the JLT Series. Defender Trent McKenzie will play his first game back from shoulder surgery as an over-age player in the under-23 game against Adelaide on Saturday.- Lee Gaskin
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Josh Caddy
Ankle
1-3 weeks
Jason Castagna
Ankle
1-3 weeks
Ryan Garthwaite
Achilles
1-3 weeks
Jack Graham
Shoulder
Available
Shaun Grigg
Knee
4-8 weeks
Tom Lynch
PCL
1-3 weeks
Jacob Townsend
Thigh
4-8 weeks
Updated: Friday, February 22
Early prognosis
A few lingering injuries rather than serious long-term issues for Richmond. Grigg is the biggest concern, battling a knee injury and on a light training load away from the main group. Graham is back in contact training and should be right for round one against Carlton, while Caddy is in a similar boat, on light duties for a few weeks with a sore ankle. Castagna is another one who should be in the selection frame next month. Reports have said Lynch is unlikely to play JLT matches but is still in contention for round one. Garthwaite and Townsend have been dealing with niggling issues, moving in and out of the main training group and are on the fringes of Richmond's best 22 regardless. -Sarah Black
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Logan Austin
Shoulder
Available
Nathan Brown
Suspended
Round two
Jack Bytel
Back
Season
Jake Carlisle
Back
4-6 weeks
Dan Hannebery
Hamstring
3-4 weeks
Max King
Knee
8-12 weeks
Doulton Langlands
Hamstring
3-6 weeks
Ben Long
Foot
1 week
Billy Longer
Hamstring
5-6 weeks
Daniel McKenzie
Heel
Test
Updated: Thursday, February 21
Early prognosis
A sore foot means Long won't play the intraclub on Saturday, but he's back training. Backman McKenzie has a bruised heel but should be right for the scratch match. There's some doubt about Carlisle's availability for round one – he needs everything to go right with his rehab. The Saints want Hannebery to put in a really solid base of work in before he returns to full training as he recovers from a hamstring problem. Rookie Langlands had surgery before Christmas for a hamstring defect but is back doing most of the work. Meanwhile, Jack Steven will miss the intraclub to attend a family wedding. - Dinny Navaratnam
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Lance Franklin
Groin
4-8 weeks
Kieren Jack
Knee
TBC
Zak Jones
Knee
TBC
Matthew Ling
Toe
Indefinite
Daniel Menzel
Groin
4-8 weeks
Sam Naismith
Knee
7-9 weeks
Nick Smith
Hamstring
4-8 weeks
Durak Tucker
Knee
Indefinite
Updated: Wednesday, February 20
Early prognosis
Gun goalkickers Franklin and Menzel have had similar groin operations and are racing to be fit for round one, with Buddy further ahead. Important defender Smith is on a similar timeline to that duo. Ruckman Naismith will be unavailable for the first few weeks of the season after his knee reconstruction, and a further operation before Christmas, but shouldn't have to wait long thereafter. Jones has done some match sim but isn't with the main group on a full-time basis, and neither is Jack. Ling is confined to running and some skills work and remains some time away after surgery on a big toe that happened mid-2018. Tucker, a rookie, has done running and agility work but is yet to resume full training. - Dinny Navaratnam
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Brayden Ainsworth
Finger
2-4 weeks
Jamie Cripps
Toe
6-8 weeks
Andrew Gaff
Suspended
Round three
Josh Kennedy
Leg/shoulder
TBC
Nic Naitanui
Knee
Season
Daniel Venables
Knee
2-4weeks
Updated: Wednesday, February 20
Early prognosis
Mystery surrounds Kennedy's prognosis. The dual Coleman medallist was aiming to play in the JLT Community Series coming back from shoulder surgery but has been 'de-loaded' recently at training after pulling up with leg soreness and the club is now hopeful he is ready to go by round one. Cripps will miss the early rounds following toe surgery, while Venables and Ainsworth are yet to rejoin main training after their operations. Naitanui is ahead of schedule for a mid-season return, while Elliot Yeo (toe), Tom Barrass (foot) and Jeremy McGovern (ribs) appear on track to line-up in practice games. - Travis King
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Tom Boyd
Back
Indefinite
Jason Johannisen
Ankle
3-4 weeks
Lin Jong
Hamstring
8-10 weeks
Buku Khamis
Knee
6-8 weeks
Liam Picken
Concussion
Indefinite
Updated: Wednesday, February 20
Early prognosis
Jong's high-grade hamstring tear sustained during match simulation last week will rule him out of at least the first month of the season. He went down in the same session Khamis strained his PCL. The Dogs are hopeful Johannisen will be removed from a moon boot this week after an ankle setback. Boyd's ongoing back complaint has forced him onto a modified program, while Picken is yet to resume full contact drills with ongoing concussion symptoms stemming from early last year. - Mitch Cleary
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