Who's struggling and who's a test ahead of round seven
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Kyle Cheney
Hamstring
1–2 weeks
Ben Davis*
Foot
Season
Harry Dear
Concussion
Test
Tom Doedee
Shoulder
Test
Cam Ellis-Yolmen*
Knee
Season
Josh Jenkins
Ribs
Test
Alex Keath
Hamstring
1–2 weeks
Riley Knight
Hamstring
Test
Mitch McGovern
Hamstring
6–10 weeks
Paul Seedsman
Groin
Ongoing assessment
Updated: Thursday, May 4
Track watch
The Crows expect midfielder Knight to be available after missing last week's win over Richmond with hamstring tightness. Cheney will join the main training group next week after missing the pre-season with a groin injury, then injured his hamstring during training in the week before round one. In round two, he was listed as being 2-4 weeks away from returning. He's expected to play for the Crows in the SANFL on May 20. There's still no return date for Seedsman, who also hasn't played a game this year with a groin injury. - Lee Gaskin
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Dayne Beams
Quad
2-3 weeks
Tom Cutler
Hamstring
TBC
Allen Christensen
Shoulder
Season
Sam Skinner*
Knee
3 weeks
Reuben William
Shoulder
Test
Alex Witherden
Hamstring
TBC
Updated: Thursday, May 4
Track watch
There appeared to be no problems from the game against Port at the weekend but news during the week skipper Dayne Beams would miss at least two weeks was a big hit to the Lions. Tom Cutler is also out with a hamstring injury. Luckless defender Sam Skinner is only a few weeks away from returning from his second ACL injury that robbed him on the eve of his debut last year.- Michael Whiting
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Ciaran Byrne
Knee
June-July
Zac Fisher
Hamstring
1 week
Daniel Gorringe
Achilles
1 week
Matt Korcheck
Shoulder
Test
Jed Lamb
Knee
Test
Kym Lebois
Quad
1 week
Harrison Macreadie
Managed
Test
Rhys Palmer
Knee
Test
Ciaran Sheehan
Knee
1 week
Jack Silvagni
Shoulder
1 week
Liam Sumner
Hamstring
Test
Jacob Weitering
Quad
Test
Updated: Thursday, May 4
Track watch
Silvagni was cleared of structural damage to his right shoulder after having scans, but won't face Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday. Silvagni copped a heavy knock to his shoulder in a collision with Zak Jones during the second quarter of the Blues' win over Sydney last Saturday and was sidelined for the remainder of the game. Weitering is right to take on the Magpies, but the Blues will need to find a replacement for Zac Fisher. - Howard Kotton
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Josh Daicos
General soreness
Test
Tom Langdon
Knee
1-2 weeks
Henry Schade
Managed
1 week
Brayden Sier
Eye socket
2 weeks
Ben Sinclair*
Hamstring
8-9 weeks
Travis Varcoe
Hamstring
1-2 weeks
Updated: Thursday, May 4
Track watch
Ex-Cat Travis Varcoe suffered a hamstring strain in the win over his old club and will miss Saturday's clash with Carlton. Promising father-son recruit Josh Daicos is expected to return to the VFL after being sidelined with soreness at the weekend. The Pies hope Tom Langdon will resume shortly in the VFL. Ben Sinclair is still eyeing a return in the second half of the year. - Ben Collins
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Patrick Ambrose
Quad
4 weeks
Mitch Brown
Ankle
4-6 weeks
Jayden Laverde*
Ankle
4-6 weeks
Andrew McGrath
Managed
1 week
Ben McNiece
Managed
1 week
Alex Morgan
Hamstring
Test
Jordan Ridley*
Back
3-5 weeks
Jobe Watson
Managed
1 week
Updated: Thursday, May 4
Track watch
Michael Hartley looks set for a return to Essendon's line-up with key defenders Mitch Brown (ankle) and Patrick Ambrose (quad) both sidelined with injuries in the past week. The Bombers will have Aaron Francis, James Kelly and Matthew Leuenberger to select after resting them last week, while David Myers has played two games at VFL level so is ready to go.- Callum Twomey
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Michael Apeness
Knee
Test
Hayden Ballantyne
Hamstring
2-4 weeks
Harley Bennell
Calf
6-8 weeks
Zac Clarke*
Knee
TBA
Josh Deluca
Groin
2 weeks
Stephen Hill
Hamstring
2-3 weeks
Alex Pearce
Leg
TBA
Matthew Uebergang
Hamstring
TBA
Updated: Thursday, May 4
Track watch
Michael Apeness has come along in his recovery from a torn posterior cruciate ligament in recent weeks and is on the verge of returning for Peel after being sidelined since mid-March. However, fears Zac Clarke won't play at all this season are growing with no return in sight still for the big man after three bouts of surgery to his left knee since last season. - Travis King
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Josh Cowan
Achilles soreness
Test
Cory Gregson*
Foot
4-6 weeks
Lincoln McCarthy
Groin
TBC
Brandan Parfitt
Hamstring
8-10 weeks
Updated: Thursday, May 4
Track watch
Lincoln McCarthy's injury has become frustrating as the Cats seem uncertain as to when he will return. James Parsons looks a logical replacement for the unlucky Brandan Parfitt who suffered a hamstring strain against the Magpies. Dan Menzel returns after missing round six through being managed. - Peter Ryan
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Ben Ainsworth
Quad
3 weeks
Sam Day
Hip
Season
Aaron Hall
Concussion
Test
Mitch Hallahan
Hamstring
1 week
Pearce Hanley
Heel
1-2 weeks
Jess Lonergan
Shoulder
1 week
Trent McKenzie
Hamstring
1-2 weeks
Michael Rischitelli
Knee
Indefinite
Matt Rosa
Concussion
Test
Rory Thompson
Quad
Test
Updated: Thursday, May 4
Track watch
May has been named to play Geelong, while Kolodjashnij is also returning after a virus stopped him playing last week. Rosa and Hall have shown good early signs after suffering concussion at the weekend, but will be monitored through the week.- Michael Whiting
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Matt Buntine
Knee
Season
Phil Davis
Hamstring
Test
Brett Deledio
Calf
TBC
Tom Downie*
Illness
Indefinite
Toby Greene
Suspended
Round eight
Ryan Griffen
Ankle
6-8 weeks
Nick Haynes
Hamstring
10 weeks
Tendai Mzungu
Hamstring
6-8 weeks
Sam Reid
Hamstring
1 week
Will Setterfield
Ankle
6-8 weeks
Lachie Whitfield
Suspended
Round eight
Updated: Thursday, May 4
Track watch
Davis and Coniglio trained on Tuesday and will play this week if they pull up well, with Coniglio coming straight in despite missing seven weeks with his ankle problem. The co-captain and his deputy will help offset the loss of Haynes and Reid, who both have hamstring issues. Mumford failed to train on Tuesday but told AFL.com.au that he's a certainty to play in Friday night's clash against St Kilda. - Adam Curley
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Jonathon Ceglar*
ACL
Indefinite
Kieran Lovell
Shoulder
Indefinite
Teia Miles
Medial ligament
4-6 weeks
Updated: Thursday, May 4
Track watch
Birchall and Rioli will be welcome ins on Sunday against the Demons, but the news on Miles is disappointing. He has played two games at AFL level and was in line to play more senior footy sooner rather than later. The news on Ceglar is promising; he'll be doing ball work before long which means he'll be playing games again in the second half of the season. - Ashley Browne
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Angus Brayshaw
Concussion
Available
Colin Garland*
Knee
Season
Max Gawn
Hamstring
8-10 weeks
Pat McKenna
Hamstring
4-6 weeks
Joel Smith
Shoulder
8-10 weeks
Tim Smith
Rib/punctured lung
4-5 weeks
Jake Spencer
Shoulder
5-6 weeks
Aaron vandenBerg*
Heel
7-8 weeks
Updated: Thursday, May 4
Track watch
Jesse Hogan has been named for Sunday's game against Hawthorn after the Demons granted him compassionate leave last round. Tim Smith won't play for the next month after sustaining a hefty knock against Richmond in round five. Max Gawn ran for the first time on Saturday after his hamstring surgery and will start building towards a return in the second half of the season. - Ben Guthrie
Paul Ahern*
Knee
Season
Ben Jacobs
Foot
1 week
Oscar Junker
Broken tibia
5-7 weeks
Ben McKay
Groin/hip
1-2 weeks
Aaron Mullett
Broken hand
1-2 weeks
Jy Simpkin
Managed
1 week
Sam Wright
Ankle
4-6 weeks
Updated: Thursday, May 4
Track watch
Jarrad Waite returns for Saturday's tough clash with Adelaide after being out since round one. Defensive midfielder Jacobs is another first-choice player getting close. Mullett played through a broken hand suffered in the second quarter against the Gold Coast, but will be out this weekend. - Marc McGowan
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
No injuries
Updated: Thursday, May 4
Track watch
It's a clean bill of health for the Power with skipper Travis Boak back after missing weeks with a hamstring injury. - Lee Gaskin
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Nathan Broad*
Shoulder
4-5 weeks
Reece Conca
Foot
3-6 weeks
Nathan Drummond
Knee
Season
Shane Edwards
Hip
1-2 weeks
Jack Graham*
Ankle
5-6 weeks
Ben Griffiths
Concussion
Indefinite
Shaun Hampson*
Back
Indefinite
Toby Nankervis
Suspended
Round eight
Dion Prestia
Hamstring
1-2 weeks
Jacob Townsend
Eye
1-2 weeks
Updated: Thursday, May 4
Track watch
Dion Prestia will miss the game against the Bulldogs with hamstring concerns. Reece Conca faces a period of time without weight on his injured right foot after playing through the problem for three quarters in round six. Midfielder Jacob Townsend suffered an eye injury in the VFL in the Tigers' only other fresh concern. Midfielder Jack Graham doesn't appear to be edging forward and is again listed at 5-6 weeks, with Shane Edwards also making slow progress, running laps with the rehab group on Thursday before joining the main group for the warm-up. – Nathan Schmook
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
David Armitage
Groin
3-4 weeks
Josh Battle
Knee
2-4 weeks
Maverick Weller
Ankle
1 week
Updated: Thursday, May 4
Track watch
Weller rolled an ankle on Wednesday and the club is hopeful he will miss only a week. Leigh Montagna didn't do much at the light training session the day before the Giants clash but is expected to play. - Dinny Navaratnam
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Shaun Edwards
Shoulder
2-3 weeks
Kieren Jack
Hip
1 week
Alex Johnson*
Knee
Indefinite
Jeremy Laidler
Achilles
TBC
Harry Marsh
Hamstring
Test
Jarrad McVeigh
Calf/Hamstring
Test
Sam Naismith
Knee
2 weeks
Dane Rampe
Arm
3 weeks
Dan Robinson
Collarbone
2 weeks
Gary Rohan
Concussion
1 week
Kurt Tippett
Hip
Test
Updated: Thursday, May 4
Track watch
Rohan will miss the match against the Lions after his nasty concussion last round, and Laidler is also sidelined with an Achilles. McVeigh looks set to play after getting through a full week of training without any setbacks. Tippett and Marsh were in the same boat but only Marsh has made it back. Jack will be at least one more week away, while Edwards hurt his AC joint in the NEAFL last week. - Adam Curley
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Jamie Cripps
Ankle
6 weeks
Liam Duggan
Thigh
Test
Scott Lycett*
Shoulder
4-5 weeks
Kurt Mutimer
Knee
TBC
Nic Naitanui*
Knee
Late 2017 season
Jackson Nelson
Wrist
3 weeks
Luke Partington
Hand
1 week
Drew Petrie
Hand
3-4 weeks
Willie Rioli
Hamstring
2 weeks
Simon Tunbridge
Knee
Mid-late 2017 season
Nathan Vardy
Elbow
Test
Jake Waterman
Foot
Indefinite
Francis Watson
Ankle
3-5 weeks
Updated: Thursday, May 4
Track watch
It was mostly positive news for the Eagles this week, with Nathan Vardy escaping serious injury and named to face Port, while pressure forward Jamie Cripps is tracking well from his ankle complaint. Cripps is out of the moon boot and was walking with a slight limp at training on Monday but has had a week shaved off his recovery timeframe. Sam Mitchell and Andrew Gaff were on light duties with sore ankles but aren't listed on the official injury list, either is Kurt Mutimer who hurt his knee on debut and didn't train Monday. Liam Duggan is also right to face Port after suffering a corked thigh. - Travis King
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Matthew Boyd
Back
Test
Tom Campbell
Ankle
Test
Travis Cloke
Broken ribs
2-4 weeks
Stewart Crameri
Hip
Available
Tom Liberatore
Concussion
Test
Dale Morris
Leg
2-3 weeks
Jack Redpath
Knee
3-4 weeks
Jordan Roughead
Hamstring
3-4 weeks
Roarke Smith
Knee
Season
Updated: Friday, May 5
Track watch
The club has named Tom Liberatore and Matthew Boyd to face Richmond at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night, while ruckman Tom Campbell also seems fit but was named as an emergency. - Ryan Davidson