The race for round one: who will make it, who's struggling?
LANCE Franklin, Tom Mitchell, Taylor Adams, Stephen Hill, Cal Ward ... There are some big names already on the injury list and a ball hasn't even been bounced. Who will be right for R1, and who is struggling? We find out when your wounded stars will be back.
ADELAIDE
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Luke Brown
Ankle
7 weeks
Jordan Gallucci
Foot
Test
Elliott Himmelberg
Foot
Test
Andrew McPherson
Groin
1 week
Paul Seedsman
Finger
1-2 weeks
Updated: Friday, March 15
Early prognosis
Winger Seedsman fractured his finger in a tackling drill last Thursday and won't play in round one. Defender Brown is the only player in the Crows' best 22 unavailable for round one. Midfielder/forward Gallucci has been managing a foot injury and should return for next week's SANFL trial against Port Adelaide. Key position player Himmelberg has been tracking well after dealing with a plantar fascia injury. Half-back flanker McPherson is also set to make his return from a groin injury that he's carried most of the pre-season. - Lee Gaskin
BRISBANE
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Marcus Adams
Knee
3 weeks
Tom Fullarton
Hamstring
Test
Darcy Gardiner
Knee
Test
Connor McFadyen
Foot
Test
Jack Payne
Shin
5-6 weeks
Nick Robertson
Hamstring
Test
Brandon Starcevich
Hamstring
3-4 weeks
Updated: Tuesday, March 12
Early prognosis
Looking more likely that Gardiner will play in round one with a good progression from his PCL injury. Brisbane has one final match simulation on Friday and some good minutes there might get the versatile defender over the line. Adams is back running well and only a few weeks away, while Robertson should also be available for the first round, although likely in a NEAFL practice match.- Michael Whiting
CARLTON
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Sam Docherty
Knee
Indefinite
Matthew Kennedy
Shoulder
Test
Matthew Kreuzer
Knee
Test
Darcy Lang
Foot
TBC
Harrison Macreadie
Back
TBC
Caleb Marchbank
Back
TBC
Jarrod Pickett
Knee
Indefinite
Tom Williamson
Back
TBC
Updated: Tuesday, March 12
Early prognosis
After knee surgery in January, Kreuzer is building his training loads and is touch-and-go for round one. Tough onballer Kennedy was close to playing in the VFL last Sunday, while Alex Fasolo was back after recovering from a broken left arm. Marchbank, Macreadie, Williamson and Lang won't be available for the season opener against the Tigers. - Dinny Navaratnam
COLLINGWOOD
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Taylor Adams
Finger
3-4 weeks
Tim Broomhead
Leg
1-2 weeks
Jordan De Goey
Foot
Available
Lynden Dunn
Knee
1-2 weeks
Will Hoskin-Elliott
Knee
2-3 weeks
Sam Murray
Provisional ASADA suspension
TBC
Ben Reid
Quad
TBC
Matt Scharenberg
Knee
Indefinite
Jaidyn Stephenson
Groin
Available
Daniel Wells
Foot
1-2 weeks
Updated: Tuesday, March 12
Early prognosis
Pies coach Nathan Buckley expects De Goey and Stephenson to be fit for the round one clash with Geelong, but Hoskin-Elliott and Adams will be sidelined. Dunn is back in full training, while Wells has made a breakthrough in his recovery from the Lisfranc injury that sidelined him for the bulk of last season. A longer-term view will be taken with Scharenberg as he returns from a third knee reconstruction. - Ben Collins
ESSENDON
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Josh Begley
Knee
TBC
Joe Daniher
Calf
4-6 weeks
Matt Dea
Knee
4-5 weeks
Dyson Heppell
Hamstring
Available
Cale Hooker
Calf
4-5 weeks
Martin Gleeson
Ankle
1 week
Tom Jok
Concussion
Test
Zach Merrett
Ankle
Available
Kobe Mutch
Ankle
TBC
Mason Redman
Ankle
1 week
Updated: Friday, March 15
Early prognosis
More bad news for Daniher with the gun forward sidelined for up to six weeks with a calf injury. Merrett (ankle), Heppell (hamstring) and Fantasia (corked quad) will be all fit for round one after being on a minutes restriction against the Cats. Gleeson and Redman (both ankles) will play in a VFL practice match during round one of the AFL. - Ben Guthrie
FREMANTLE
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Harley Bennell
Calf
TBC
Connor Blakely
Hamstring
TBC
Brennan Cox
Hamstring
TBC
Hugh Dixon
Hip
2 weeks
Bradley Hill
Calf
Test
Stephen Hill
Quad
TBC
Nat Fyfe
Elbow
Test
Shane Kersten
Foot
TBC
Griffin Logue
Hamstring
TBC
Brandon Matera
Suspension
Round 1
Aaron Sandilands
Calf
TBC
Sam Switkowski
Hamstring
TBC
Matt Taberner
Calf/hamstring
TBC
Luke Valente
Groin
2 weeks
Updated: Tuesday, March 12
Early prognosis
The Dockers' wretched run of soft-tissue injuries continued when tall forwards Cox and Taberner suffered setbacks on Sunday, adding to a concerning injury list heading into round one. Fremantle hopes Taberner's injury is only tightness but Cox looks set to miss several weeks, after Logue and Switkowski went down in the JLT1 loss to Collingwood. In better news, Fyfe is a certain starter to boost a youthful midfield in round one after missing both practice games. - Travis King
GEELONG
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Jed Bews
Groin
1-2 weeks
Nakia Cockatoo
Adductor
Test
Lachie Fogarty
Hip
2-3 weeks
Scott Selwood
Hamstring
Test
Zac Smith
Knee
1-2 weeks
Zach Tuohy
Knee
1-2 weeks
Updated: Tuesday, March 12
Early prognosis
After overcoming off-season shoulder surgery, Bews has succumbed to a groin setback that has reduced his training loads in recent weeks. While the club says he is recovering well and back running, it's hard to see him getting up for round one. Tuohy has all but put a line through his name, unable to get the desired kilometres into his legs as he builds up fitness through cross-training. Selwood will play a VFL practice match on Friday night but is up against it to force his way in for the season opener.- Mitch Cleary
GOLD COAST
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Josh Corbett
Knee
1-2 weeks
Corey Ellis
Groin
1-2 weeks
Sean Lemmens
Ankle
5-7 weeks
Jack Leslie
Knee
2-4 weeks
Izak Rankine
Hamstring
6-8 weeks
Josh Schoenfeld
Ankle
2-4 weeks
Rory Thompson
Knee
Season
Harrison Wigg
Knee
Season
Aaron Young
Ankle
TBC
Updated: Tuesday, March 12
Early prognosis
The problems haven't taken long to mount for the Suns with bad news on Rankine and Young early in the week. Ellis and Corbett are both chances to be available for round one but neither has played a match during the pre-season and would likely kick off their campaigns in a NEAFL practice match.- Michael Whiting
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Nick Haynes
Back
1-2 weeks
Zac Langdon
Foot
4-5 weeks
Shane Mumford
Suspended
Round 3
Jon Patton
Knee
8-10 weeks
Callan Ward
Knee
4-5 weeks
Updated: Tuesday, March 12
Early prognosis
The Giants are confident midfielders Kelly and Hopper will be right for round one despite not playing in the JLT Community Series, after they pulled up sore from a practice match against Sydney. Inspirational co-captain Ward won't be available for at least the first three or four games of the season after he injured his knee against Sydney in JLT1, and Haynes is likely to be missing early on with his back issue. Langdon's pressure inside 50 will also be a big loss for the first month of the year at least. - Adam Curley
HAWTHORN
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Grant Birchall
Knee
Indefinite
Kaiden Brand
Ankle
TBC
Jack Gunston
ITB soreness
Test
Jacob Koschitzke
Finger
Test
Darren Minchington
Hamstring
TBC
Tom Mitchell
Leg
Season
Tom Scully
Ankle
Indefinite
Chad Wingard
Calf
1-2 weeks
Updated: Tuesday, March 12
Early prognosis
A setback with his calf injury will see Wingard miss round one with the club hopeful he’ll be fit to make his debut in the early rounds of the season. Vice-captain Gunston missed both of the Hawks' JLT games with iliotibial band soreness, but should be available for the club’s round one clash against Adelaide in round one. Veteran Birchall and recruit Scully took part in some match simulation last week and are progressing well but the club won’t put a timeline on their returns, although Birchall is expected to return in the first half of the season. - Nat Edwards
MELBOURNE
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Bayley Fritsch
Corked hip
Available
Jeff Garlett
Shoulder
4 weeks
Mitch Hannan
Knee
8-12 weeks
James Harmes
Finger
Test
Nathan Jones
Corked calf
Available
Kade Kolodjashnij
Adductor
3 weeks
Jay Kennedy Harris
Leg
12 weeks
Steven May
Suspension
Round 2
Jake Lever
Knee
12-16 weeks
Jake Melksham
Hamstring
Available
Braydon Preuss
Groin
Test
Joel Smith
Groin
Test
Tim Smith
Calf
2-3 weeks
Aaron vandenBerg
Ankle
Available
Jack Viney
Corked illiotibial band
Available
Guy Walker
Shoulder
TBC
Updated: Tuesday, March 12
Early prognosis
Kennedy Harris has some serious bone bruising to his leg after suffering the injury against Brisbane in Saturday's JLT Community Series game at Casey Fields and will miss 12 weeks. Harmes is expected to be available for round one after sustaining a compound dislocation of his finger after being set to hospital. Preuss will be tested ahead of round one after sustaining an adductor strain in Saturday's VFL practice match. Smith (groin) is another to face a fitness test ahead of a opening-round clash with Port Adelaide.– Ben Guthrie
NORTH MELBOURNE
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Jed Anderson
Hamstring
TBC
Tom Campbell
Suspension
Round two
Ben Cunnington
Thigh
Available
Majak Daw
Pelvis/hips
Indefinite
Sam Durdin
Finger
4-6 weeks
Ben Jacobs
Sinusitis
Indefinite
Jamie Macmillan
Calf
Test
Tom McKenzie
Back
TBC
Robbie Tarrant
AC joint
Test
Scott Thompson
Suspended
Round two
Will Walker
PCL
TBC
Marley Williams
Calf
Test
Sam Wright
Concussion/quad
Test
Tristan Xerri
Osteitis pubis
TBC
Updated: Tuesday, March 12
Early prognosis
Cunnington will be fine for the Kangaroos' round one date with Fremantle, while star defender Tarrant is also expected to recover in time to bolster a depleted backline. Macmillan was left out of JLT2 and Williams was on the bench with ice on his right calf by early in the second term, but both are likely to play in the opening round. Wright had a rough day, too, and it is unclear if he will be fit for North's season opener. Anderson hasn't played a practice game and remains without a return date. Taylor Garner (hamstring) is off the injury list in a promising sign for the forward, who has had a wretched run. – Marc McGowan
PORT ADELAIDE
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Joe Atley
Knee
2 weeks
Charlie Dixon
Leg/ankle
TBC
Hamish Hartlett
Knee
1 week
Sam Hayes
Knee
TBC
Riley Grundy
Knee
5-7 weeks
Jarrod Lienert
Knee
2-4 weeks
Jake Patmore
Knee
Season
Paddy Ryder
Cheekbone
TBC
Ollie Wines
Shoulder
2-4 weeks
Updated: Tuesday, March 12
Early prognosis
Ruck/forward Ryder had surgery on a fractured cheekbone sustained in last weekend's 21-point JLT Community Series win against North Melbourne. Ryder is still a chance for round one, but more likely for the following week. Defender Lienert suffered medial damage to his knee in the same game and could miss up to a month. Key forward Dixon didn't run last week after feeling soreness in his recovery from a broken leg and dislocated ankle. He's likely to miss at least the first month of the season, but could be longer depending on when he can get through a block of training without pain. Vice-captain Hartlett is on track to play in Port's SANFL trial next Friday night in his return from a torn ACL and could be up for AFL selection as early as round two, but round three is more likely. Co-captain Wines will also be due back around the same time. Second-year midfielder Patmore tore his ACL in Port's SANFL trial last Friday night and will miss the rest of the season. - Lee Gaskin
RICHMOND
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Josh Caddy
Ankle
3-7 weeks
Jason Castagna
Ankle
Test
Ryan Garthwaite
Achilles
Test
Shaun Grigg
Knee
Indefinite
Tom Lynch
PCL
1-3 weeks
Jacob Townsend
Thigh
Test
Updated: Friday, March 15
Early prognosis
Lynch is the most likely of the injured Tigers to play round one against Carlton, but having played no pre-season matches, is still touch and go. Caddy has just returned to running after being unable to for nearly three weeks, while Grigg has turned a corner in his rehab but is still some way off. Castagna, Garthwaite and Townsend are expected to play managed minutes in the VFL. -Sarah Black
ST KILDA
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Nathan Brown
Suspended
Round 2
Jack Bytel
Back
Season
Jake Carlisle
Back
Indefinite
Oscar Clavarino
Ankle
4-6 weeks
Dan Hannebery
Hamstring
1-3 weeks
Max King
Knee
6-12 weeks
Doulton Langlands
Hamstring
1-2 weeks
Billy Longer
Hamstring
1-2 weeks
Paddy McCartin
Concussion
TBC
Dylan Roberton
Heart
Season
Jack Steven
Mental health
Indefinite
Updated: Friday, March 15
Early prognosis
Roberton will sit out the entire season due to heart complications.McCartin spent Sunday night in hospital and remains in doubt for round one. Steven is back training, so he seems likely to return early in the season. Acres (back) and McKenzie (heel) both lined up for Sandringham last Sunday while Pierce has recovered from concussion. - Dinny Navaratnam
SYDNEY
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Darcy Cameron
Knee
Test
Ollie Florent
Foot
Test
Lance Franklin
Groin
1-2 weeks
Kieren Jack
Knee
Test
Matthew Ling
Toe
Indefinite
Jack Maibaum
Knee
Season
Daniel Menzel
Groin
1-2 weeks
Sam Naismith
Knee
4-8 weeks
Nick Smith
Illness / hamstring
3-4 weeks
Durak Tucker
Knee
Indefinite
Updated: Tuesday, March 12
Early prognosis
Franklin and Menzel will be cutting it fine for round one and the Swans will decide on their chances next week, with Franklin the only realistic chance given his ability to play with limited preparation. Heeney (ankle) and Lloyd (illness) are likely to train fully this week and be fit and ready for a clash with the Western Bulldogs. Young midfielder Florent is on track to face the Dogs after a mild foot sprain, while veteran Jack could also be available for selection but given his limited preparation he's only an outside chance for the season opener. A bout of illness was a setback for Smith's recovery from hamstring surgery and the Swans don't expect him to be ready to play for the first few rounds, while in better news young forward McCartin is back to full training following his concussion issues. - Adam Curley
WEST COAST
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Jamie Cripps
Toe
2-3 weeks
Andrew Gaff
Suspended
Round 3
Josh Kennedy
Foot
Test
Nic Naitanui
Knee
3-4 months
Will Schofield
Quad
Test
Brad Sheppard
Hamstring
Test
Updated: Tuesday, March 12
Early prognosis
Kennedy took part in some brief match simulation work last week and is aiming to run around in an intraclub this Friday before putting his hand up for the season-opening trip to Brisbane. Cripps is an outside chance of being on the plane after ramping up his training recently, while Schofield and Sheppard are dealing with corkies but should be available for round one on March 23. - Travis King
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Player
Injury
Estimated Return
Tom Boyd
Back
6-10 weeks
Ben Cavarra
Quad
2-3 weeks
Bailey Dale
Ankle
2-3 weeks
Jason Johannisen
Ankle
2-3 weeks
Lin Jong
Hamstring
3-4 weeks
Buku Khamis
Knee
5-6 weeks
Dale Morris
Knee
TBC
Liam Picken
Concussion
Indefinite
Laitham Vandermeer
Hamstring
4-6 weeks
Lukas Webb
Neck
Test
Updated: Friday, March 15
Early prognosis
Morris could miss the season after suffering an ACL injury at training on Friday. Cavarra failed to play in the weekend's VFL practice match after sustaining a quad setback that will rule him out of contention for the start to the season. Vandermeer's hopes of early games have also suffered a hit, suffering a hamstring blow. Johannisen has set his sights on a comeback in round two or three, after a limited month on the training track. Jong is progressing well from his high-end hamstring, while there is still no certain timeframe on a return date for Boyd and Picken to full training. - Mitch Cleary
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