Forward Tom Lynch had surgery to clean out his knee at the end of the season. The surgery has a recovery period of four to six weeks, but he is expected to have a normal start to the pre-season. Josh Jenkins should also be right for the start of pre-season training after having surgery on his ankle. Key defender Daniel Talia had a grade two adductor strain after the side's semi-final loss to the Sydney Swans, but didn't require surgery. The same goes for fellow backman Jake Lever, who had a sprained ankle. Luke Brown and Kyle Cheney will have modified training programs during the pre-season because of groin soreness. The Crows will continue to take a cautious approach with Sam Shaw, who missed most of last season with concussion issues. - Lee Gaskin
Rule them out for round one: None
The priority for the Lions is Dayne Beams. Knee tendinitis forced him under the knife twice this year, with the latest bout in May, but he has returned to running and will do a full pre-season. Similarly, Allen Christensen won't have his preparation hindered after a fractured collarbone that required an operation in June. Beams' brother Claye had surgery on his knee in July and is set to join the main group early next year. Dan McStay will join him around the same time after he went under the knife for a fractured ankle in July. Tom Cutler will be out for a similar period after a shoulder reconstruction. Hamstring surgery for Marco Paparone will see him eased into pre-season training. An operation on Ryan Lester's lower back means he won't rejoin the main group until around December. Minor ankle surgery to Darcy Gardiner and Lewis Taylor won't keep them from starting pre-season, while Michael Close should be right to go in a similar timeframe after a minor knee operation. A second reconstruction on Sam Skinner's left knee means he will be out for much of 2017. Reuben William will be right for the start of pre-season after a minor groin operation. - Dinny Navaratnam
Rule them out for round one: Sam Skinner (knee)
The Blues emerged from the 2016 campaign relatively unscathed, with only Jed Lamb (knee arthroscope) requiring end-of-season surgery. The small forward is expected to be fit for day one of pre-season, as will the Curnow brothers Charlie and Ed who both strained medial ligaments late in the year but didn't require surgery. The only long-term injury Carlton is managing is Irish defender Ciaran Byrne's knee reconstruction from July. - Travis King
Rule them out for round one: None
The Pies were burdened by a long casualty list for much of the 2016 season but, barring further setbacks, should be in reasonable shape by round one. Jamie Elliott missed the entire season with a complex pars defect in his lower spine but is expected to be back in full training around Christmas. Ben Reid had surgery to repair the posterior cruciate ligament in a knee – an injury he carried from round four until round 20 – and should complete a significant chunk of the pre-season. Alex Fasolo and Tim Broomhead, both of whom underwent shoulder operations, will likely be held back until the new year. Taylor Adams finished the season with an ankle injury and was treated for a hip complaint, while Tyson Goldsack and James Aish underwent hip surgery, with all three tipped to do plenty of work pre-Christmas. The same goes for Tom Langdon, whose knee went under the knife. Unlucky Matt Scharenberg, following his second knee reconstruction, possibly could have played late in the 2016 season but the Pies decided to give him a full pre-season before he makes an on-field return. He is ahead of fellow knee victim Jackson Ramsay, who went down in April and later travelled to America with a rehabilitation specialist Chris Howley. Ben Sinclair will also be hoping to find peace of mind after this year suffering four bouts of concussion. - Ben Collins
Rule them out for round one: None
Jackson Ramsay's knee troubles have seen him head to the US for help. Picture: AFL Photos
The Bombers should head into the pre-season with a clean bill of health after only a couple of players required surgery in their break. Leading goalkicker Joe Daniher needed surgery on his wrist after managing the problem at stages across the year, but it isn't expected to impact his pre-season when he returns to the club next month. The emerging star has already turned his attention to his pre-season by heading to Colorado for some high-altitude training with teammates, including best and fairest winner Zach Merrett. Ruckman/forward Shaun McKernan was the only other player to have off-season surgery, first on his ankle and then on his wrist. His future is unclear, having yet to sign on for 2017. - Callum Twomey
Rule them out for round one: None
The Dockers got most of their major surgeries done during the season such was their wretched run with injury. Lachie Neale had wrist and shoulder surgery after playing all 22 games this season. Both issues didn't stop him from winning the best and fairest and won't curtail his pre-season in any major way. Zac Clarke had surgery to stabilize his troubled knee that has caused him ongoing issues throughout his career. Skipper David Mundy had minor ankle surgery but it shouldn't affect his summer. Nat Fyfe, Michael Johnson and Alex Pearce have all recovered well from their surgeries earlier in the year and are all set for full pre-seasons. Harley Bennell is also expected to have an uninterrupted summer after missing all season with calf issues. - Alex Malcolm
Rule them out for round one: None
Star forward Tom Hawkins went under the knife at the end of the season, with the 28-year-old undergoing minor knee surgery. Hawkins had a piece of his meniscus trimmed after suffering a small tear during the 2016 season. The Cats do not expect the surgery to impact too much on his pre-season, but he may be slightly behind his teammates in his summer program. Harry Taylor also had surgery to repair the broken hand he suffered in the club's preliminary final loss to the Sydney Swans. Cory Gregson is set to return to training sometime in the new year after having surgery to fix the navicular bone in his foot in July. Jackson Thurlow is progressing well in his rehab after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in March. The defender will return with the first to fourth-year players on November 21 where he will continue his running program. - Ben Guthrie
Rule them out for round one: None
The 2016 NAB Challenge was all we saw of Jackson Thurlow this year. Picture: AFL Photos
The Suns' medical staff are glad to see the back of the 2016 season after dealing with an extensive injury list throughout the year. Superstar midfielder Gary Ablett had more surgery to fix his troublesome left shoulder in July and is tracking well in his recovery. However, the dual Brownlow medallist will be deliberately patient in his comeback after rushing back to be fit for the start of 2016. Michael Rischitelli is also going nicely in his recovery from a torn ACL, but is not expected to be fit for the start of next season. Touk Miller (ankle clean-up) and Adam Saad (nasal surgery) should return sometime around the start of pre-season. - Ben Guthrie
Rule them out for round one: Michael Rischitelli (knee)
The Giants finished the 2016 season with a limited injury list and they'll start pre-season with almost of their talent on the track. Nathan Wilson is one player unlikely to be up and running, with the West Australian expected to make a delayed start after having surgery on both hips. The 23-year-old struggled with groin issues late in the year, and was on crutches at the club's best and fairest count earlier this month, with young defender Jeremy Finlayson having the same procedure. Veteran Steve Johnson had minor knee surgery but won't miss any training, while young ruckman Matthew Flynn had a small operation on an injured finger, but will also be ready when the season begins for the younger Giants in late November. - Adam Curley
Rule them out for round one: None
After initially avoiding surgery on a slight left pectoral tear suffered against Melbourne in round 20 and getting back in time for finals, important defender Ben Stratton was operated on after the Hawks' season ended in the semi-final. Skipper Luke Hodge had the plates removed from his arm after breaking it in round one against Geelong, while Josh Gibson had a minor finger procedure and Cyril Rioli's troublesome wrist was fixed up. Ruckman Jonathon Ceglar will miss most of next season due to a ruptured ACL but has also had shoulder surgery. Delisted backman Angus Litherland had a minor clean-up on his shoulder. - Travis King
Rule them out for round one: Jonathon Ceglar (knee)
Ben Stratton will be keen to string more games together next year after pec problems. Picture: AFL Photos
Best and fairest winner Jack Viney will have a delayed start to pre-season after undergoing a hip operation immediately after round 23, while Tom McDonald had surgery to fix an ongoing shoulder problem. Cameron Pedersen also had a shoulder operation before the club re-signed him, while Aaron vandenBerg will look to return from ankle surgery in good shape after it hampered him early last season. He was scheduled to clean out the left ankle once the season finished. Concussion kept Heritier Lumumba sidelined for all but one game after round six but he is expected to be right to go at the start of the year. With Casey Scorpions reaching the VFL Grand Final many Demons will start training a little later than recent seasons. - Peter Ryan
Rule them out for round one: None
The Demons' forgotten man, Heritier Lumumba, should be ready to go next year. Picture: AFL Photos
A number of Roos went under the surgeon's knife after their season came to an end in the elimination final, but pleasingly for the club the entire squad is expected to be fit and training on day one of pre-season. Valuable backman Sam Wright had ankle ligament surgery after round 11 and, after failing to return to AFL level, then had wire removed and the joint cleaned up post-season. Meanwhile, Jamie Macmillian (wrist), Ryan Clarke (shoulder), Corey Wagner (shoulder) and Ben McKay (hip) all underwent minor operations. Mitchell Hibberd had stabilising knee surgery at the end of the home and away season after twice dislocating his kneecap in 2016. Ex-Giant Paul Ahern, who was recruited during the NAB AFL Trade Period, will spend most of 2017 recovering from a second successive knee reconstruction. - Travis King
Rule them out for round one: Paul Ahern (knee)
Young key defender Logan Austin and half-back flanker Cam O'Shea both had off-season surgery, Austin to repair a fracture in his ankle suffered in the final game of the season against Gold Coast, while O'Shea had a hip operation. Both players should be right for the start of pre-season training. Chad Wingard had an operation to his finger after he was sidelined with a hamstring injury. Defender Jack Hombsch has made a successful recovery from hip surgery. First-year ruckman Dougal Howard is the only Power player who will have a delayed start to the pre-season in November as he continues his rehabilitation from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee. “One of the positives is that we’ve only had two surgeries at the end of the season and all but Dougal should be back in full training when we resume in November,” Port Adelaide's high performance manager Darren Burgess said. - Lee Gaskin
Rule them out for round one: None
The Tigers had a good run with their off-season surgeries, with only Jack Riewoldt and Ivan Maric going under the knife. Riewoldt required both ankle and finger surgery, but the club expects he will be ready for day one of pre-season. A routine clean up for the star forward turned into a right ankle reconstruction. He then had a finger fused to top off an eventful off-season. Maric required minor finger surgery. Of the players who ended the season with injury, the knee injury suffered by Steven Morris is the only concern going into pre-season training. The 27-year-old ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in June and is set to miss the start of the 2017 season. - Nathan Schmook
Rule them out for round one: Steven Morris (knee)
The main concerns for St Kilda are key defender Hugh Goddard and inside midfielder Luke Dunstan. Goddard suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon, and while those injuries are long-term and can be tricky, he should be fit for the start of the 2017 season. Dunstan had a shoulder reconstruction and while he will be able to run when pre-season begins, he will likely have to wait until the new year before he can join the main group. Backman Jake Carlisle is recovering from hip surgery and will be eased into pre-season. A broken collarbone for young forward Paddy McCartin is tracking well and his preparation should not be hindered. - Dinny Navaratnam
Rule them out for round one: None
The tears flowed for Luke Dunstan after a serious shoulder injury. Picture: AFL Photos
The Swans don't have too many major worries, despite some big names going under the knife. Lance Franklin had shoulder surgery to correct a torn labrum after he played through the team's finals campaign, but the star forward will be ready for pre-season training in early December. Emerging ruckman Sam Naismith had a shoulder reconstruction and also carried his injury through the last few games of the year, but despite the seriousness of his procedure, he's expected him to be on the track in the new year, as will Gary Rohan and Jeremy Laidler, who both had minor knee surgery. Star midfielder Dan Hannebery dodged a bullet with his medial ligament strain from this year's Grand Final, with no operation required. - Adam Curley
Rule them out for round one: None
An injured Lance Franklin played through plenty of pain in the 2016 finals series. Picture: AFL Photos
The Eagles had a few players go under the knife. The biggest concern is ruckman Scott Lycett, who had surgery on the posterior cruciate ligament in his knee after seeking several opinions on the best course of treatment. The Eagles are confident he will be right for round one but he will have to be carefully managed in the pre-season. Jeremy McGovern had shoulder surgery, Josh Kennedy had a hernia operation and Matt Priddis had minor back surgery to fix a nerve issue but all will be fine for the pre-season. One man who won't be there in round one is Nic Naitanui, who faces a lengthy recovery from his knee reconstruction after having the traditional hamstring graft. - Alex Malcolm
Rule them out for round one: Nic Naitanui (knee)
Skipper Easton Wood had surgery on the ankle that hampered him during the finals, while Tom Boyd had his troublesome right shoulder reconstructed following his heroics in the Grand Final. Midfielder Mitch Wallis is recovering well from a horrific broken leg and could return early in 2017, while key forward Jack Redpath is due for a mid-season return after rupturing his ACL. - Ryan Davidson
Rule them out for round one: Jack Redpath (knee), Mitch Wallis (broken leg)
