THE LATEST on Richmond superstar Dustin Martin, West Coast skipper Luke Shuey, Brisbane Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale, smooth-moving Giant Josh Kelly and more.

Check out your club's injury updates below after round 18.

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Luke Brown	Achilles	Season
Tom Doedee	Concussion	Test
Mitch Hinge	Shoulder	Season
Wayne Milera	Knee	Season
Nick Murray	Concussion	1 week
Daniel Talia	Foot	TBC
Updated: Tuesday, July 20

Early prognosis

The main watch this week is on Doedee after missing Sunday's match against West Coast. Just as he is expected back, fellow defender Murray has fallen victim to the same issue, concussed against the Eagles and out of this weekend's match. Matt Crouch made a successful return from his groin surgery at the weekend with 28 disposals in the SANFL. - Michael Whiting

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Noah Answerth	Groin	TBC
Connor Ballenden	Hamstring	Test
Darcy Gardiner	Shoulder	3-5 weeks
Eric Hipwood	Knee	Season
Lachie Neale	Shoulder	Test
Harry Sharp	Ankle	5 weeks
Cam Rayner	Knee	Season
Updated: Tuesday, July 20

Early prognosis

Neale threw a scare into the Lions after leaving training holding his right shoulder on Tuesday. However, the club says it was a "stinger" and fully expect him to play Gold Coast on Saturday. Jarrod Berry (calf) returned through a VFL scratch match on the weekend and just jogged laps on Tuesday, while Gardiner showed good signs of progress towards a return with some overhead marking to test his shoulder. - Michael Whiting

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Jordan Boyd	Knee	2-4 weeks
Levi Casboult	Knee	1-2 weeks
David Cuningham	Knee	Season
Patrick Cripps	Soreness	Test
Sam Docherty	Knee	3-5 weeks
Michael Gibbons	Hamstring	3-5 weeks
Caleb Marchbank	Knee	Season
Oscar McDonald	Back	2-3 weeks
Mitch McGovern	Hamstring	1-2 weeks
Alex Mirkov	Knee	Season
Marc Murphy	Calf	Test
Sam Philp	Groin	Season
Marc Pittonet	Ankle	3-5 weeks
Updated: Tuesday, July 20

Early prognosis

The Blues will give Charlie Curnow (knee) another VFL scratch match before he is considered for AFL selection. But expect both Cripps and Murphy to be rushed back this week. Key position trio Casboult, McDonald and McGovern aren't far away. - Riley Beveridge

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Aiden Begg	Shoulder	3-4 weeks
Callum Brown	Shoulder	Season
Tyler Brown	Shoulder	Season
Josh Daicos	Finger	3-5 weeks
Will Hoskin-Elliott	Back	Test
Jeremy Howe	Hamstring	1-2 weeks
Ash Johnson	Finger	3-4 weeks
Will Kelly	Quad	1-2 weeks
Beau McCreery	Hamstring	4-5 weeks
Brody Mihocek	Abdominal	Test
Darcy Moore	Knee	Season
Josh Thomas	Concussion	1 week
Updated: Tuesday, July 20

Early prognosis

Callum Brown dislocated his shoulder in the dying stages of the loss to Carlton and will undergo surgery this week that will rule him out for the remainder of the season, while Thomas has been ruled out due to concussion protocols. Hoskin-Elliott had a back spasm in the final term against the Blues and will be monitored off the short break, while Mihocek will also be assessed ahead of playing the Power. Howe is hopeful of returning next weekend, while Kelly is closing in on a return. There is now a possibility Begg, who was originally expected to miss the remainder of the season, may be seen at VFL level to end the year. Further assessment of Johnson's finger injury meant he required more surgery. - Mitch Cleary

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Kaine Baldwin	Knee	Season
Jye Caldwell	Hamstring	5-6 weeks
Aaron Francis	Mental health	TBC
Michael Hurley	Hip	Season
Harrison Jones	Foot	TBC
Kyle Langford	Hamstring	2-3 weeks
Andrew McGrath	Knee	5-6 weeks
Irving Mosquito	Knee	Season
Andrew Phillips	Hamstring	Test
Zach Reid	Back	Season
Dylan Shiel	Knee	1-2 weeks
David Zaharakis	Wrist	Test
Updated: Tuesday, July 20

Early prognosis

Jones was ruled out with a hot spot stress reaction in his foot that arose last week, with the club to take a cautious approach with their young key forward. Langford was ruled out for at least a couple of weeks with his hamstring injury, while Shiel will step up his return to training this week in his bid for a late-season comeback from his knee injury. - Callum Twomey

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Brett Bewley	Ribs	Test
Heath Chapman	Shoulder	Season
Brennan Cox	Hamstring	Season
Sean Darcy	Knee	Test
Michael Frederick	Ankle	5 weeks
Joel Hamling	Ankle	Season
Stephen Hill	Hamstring	Test
Rory Lobb	Ankle	TBC
Sam Sturt	Knee	Season
Matt Taberner	Calf	Test
Updated: Tuesday, July 20

Early prognosis

Lobb has a number of issues in an ankle that has troubled him for some weeks, but he has not been ruled out this week as he is assessed further. Darcy suffered a slight strain in his knee against Geelong but the knee is stable. Hill experienced mild hamstring awareness ahead of his planned WAFL return and was pulled out. Bewley is in isolation after being impacted by stricter protocols related to the border closure with Victoria. - Nathan Schmook

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Jeremy Cameron	Hamstring	2-4 weeks
Mitch Duncan	Knee	4-6 weeks
Cooper Stephens	Ankle	Indefinite
Stefan Okunbor	Calf	1-2 weeks
Cameron Taheny	Hamstring	TBC
Updated: Tuesday, July 20

Early prognosis

Gary Rohan is available to return after missing the win against Fremantle with a corked quad, while Cameron and Duncan continue their recoveries. Taheny remains sidelined with a hamstring strain he suffered in the last VFL match against Williamstown, while Okunbor injured his calf in the same match. - Mitch Cleary

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Connor Budarick	Knee	Season
Matt Conroy	Knee	Season
Sam Day	Foot	1-2 weeks
Brandon Ellis	Hamstring	3 weeks
Hugh Greenwood	Knee	Season
Nick Holman	Abdomen	TBC
Oleg Markov	Calf	Test
Rhys Nicholls	Back	Indefinite
Rory Thompson	Knee	Season
Lachie Weller	Concussion	Test
Jarrod Witts	Knee	Season
Updated: Tuesday, July 20

Early prognosis

Holman has been in hospital since Saturday night after undergoing a "small procedure" on his stomach following a first-quarter hit from Marcus Bontempelli. He is expected to be released in the coming days, but there's no timeline on his return. Day has a plantar fascia problem and will be integrated back into the main group in the next week, while Markov is expected to be available to play Brisbane. Weller has missed one match with concussion and is no certainty to play this week. - Michael Whiting

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Ryan Angwin	Hamstring	Test
Kieren Briggs	Isolation	1 week
Jack Buckley	Knee	Season
Matt de Boer	Isolation	1 week
Cameron Fleeton	Quad	Test
Matt Flynn	Shoulder	TBC
Toby Greene	Isolation	1 week
Bobby Hill	Managed	TBC
Tom Hutchesson	Hamstring	Indefinite
Lachlan Keeffe	Knee	Season
Josh Kelly	Ankle	Test
James Peatling	Ribs	Test
Braydon Preuss	Pectoral	4-6 weeks
Will Shaw	Shoulder	Season
Jake Stein	Isolation	1 week
Conor Stone	Hamstring	2-3 weeks
Lachie Whitfield	Concussion	Test
Updated: Tuesday, July 20

Early prognosis

Kelly was subbed out of the Sydney Derby after rolling his right ankle but scans showed he avoided serious damage. The Giants hope the star midfielder can train later this week but he will also have to pass a fitness test to play against Essendon. Flynn dislocated his left shoulder twice against the Swans but Shane Mumford has recovered from back soreness and is available. Four players – including vice-captain Greene – are in isolation until next Tuesday and will miss one more match, while Hill has returned to Sydney for family reasons. Whitfield was sidelined for the loss to the Swans and will have to pass the standard concussion tests to return and take on the Bombers. - Martin Pegan

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Will Day	Ankle	3-4 weeks
Jack Gunston	Back	TBC
Jarman Impey	Ankle	Season
Changkuoth Jiath	Knee	Season
Harry Morrison	Hamstring	Test
Jack Scrimshaw	Concussion	Test
James Sicily	Knee	Season
Updated: Tuesday, July 20

Early prognosis

Blake Hardwick and Chad Wingard (both hamstring) are available this week, while Morrison and Scrimshaw need to get through training in order to play. - Sarah Black

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Mitch Brown	Heel	2-3 weeks
James Harmes	Illness	Test
Marty Hore	Knee	Season
Nathan Jones	Calf	Test
Bailey Laurie	Shoulder	2-3 weeks
Aaron Nietschke	Knee	Season
Adam Tomlinson	Knee	Season
Updated: Tuesday, July 20

Early prognosis

The Demons should regain Harmes from an ear infection this week, while Jones is also likely to be available. Harrison Petty felt at his hamstring during last Saturday night's draw with the Hawks, but is expected to play. - Riley Beveridge

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Aidan Corr	Toe	Indefinite
Taylor Garner	Ankle	1 week
Charlie Ham	Ankle	1-2 weeks
Jack Mahony	Shoulder	TBC
Matt McGuinness	Foot	Season
Flynn Perez	Knee	Season
Dom Tyson	Calf	Test
Will Walker	Thumb	Test
Updated: Tuesday, July 20

Early prognosis

The Kangaroos were buoyed by Aiden Bonar (ankle) and Charlie Comben (leg) making their comebacks from long-term injuries in a VFL scratch match on Saturday. Garner, Ham, Tyson and Walker could soon join them in recovering from their own respective fitness problems. However, Mahony is unlikely to play this week after exiting last Sunday's loss to the Bombers with a shoulder issue. - Riley Beveridge

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Trent Burgoyne	Hamstring	Season
Zak Butters	Knee	Test
Orazio Fantasia	Knee	1-2 weeks
Kane Farrell	Knee	Season
Robbie Gray	Knee	3-4 weeks
Steven Motlop	Ankle	4-5 weeks
Tom Rockliff	DVT	TBC
Connor Rozee	Knee	Test
Taj Schofield	Hamstring	2-3 weeks
Updated: Tuesday, July 20

Early prognosis

Butters has progressed faster than expected after he sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee against Melbourne and could return this week. Rozee is refreshed after a week off for knee soreness and should also be available. Motlop could be sidelined until the eve of finals. - Nathan Schmook

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
David Astbury	Ankle	Test
Noah Balta	Syndesmosis	4-5 weeks
Nathan Broad	Syndesmosis	2-3 weeks
Callum Coleman-Jones	Calf	Test
Shane Edwards	Ankle	Test
Bachar Houli	Syndesmosis	3-4 weeks
Dustin Martin	Kidney	Season
Kamdyn McIntosh	Hamstring	1-2 weeks
Ben Miller	Groin	Test
Dion Prestia	Hamstring	1-2 weeks
Ivan Soldo	Knee	Indefinite
Nick Vlastuin	Knee/Quad	1-2 weeks
Updated: Tuesday, July 20

Early prognosis

McIntosh has already resumed running after a minor hamstring injury against Brisbane. Astbury is expected to be available after turning his ankle in the same match. A nasty quad cork has been the more pressing issue for Vlastuin of late, needing to hold back on training to give it time to rest. Broad has progressed quickly in his recovery from surgery on a syndesmosis injury, while Houli will start running in the AlterG treadmill this week. - Sarah Black

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Josh Battle	Ankle	Indefinite
Jake Carlisle	Back	Season
Hunter Clark	Jaw	2-3 weeks
Nick Coffield	Hamstring	Test
Jarryn Geary	Shoulder	8-10 weeks
Jade Gresham	Achilles	Season
Jack Higgins	Back	1-2 weeks
Tom Highmore	Hand	TBC
Rowan Marshall	Isolation	1 week
Daniel McKenzie	Concussion	1 week
Shaun McKernan	Toe	1-2 weeks
Ben Paton	Broken leg	Season
Mason Wood	Back	Indefinite
Updated: Tuesday, July 20

Early prognosis

Marshall will miss the game against West Coast, required to complete 14 days of isolation backdated to last Tuesday when he visited a Tier 1 COVID-19 exposure site. Coffield has made the trip to Perth and will be a test. McKenzie has been ruled out with concussion he suffered in the loss to Port Adelaide, while Highmore underwent surgery on Monday to repair a broken hand he sustained in the same game. While the club had hoped Higgins would travel, he will remain sidelined for at least one more week along with McKernan. Battle is awaiting further information on bone stress in his ankle but is expected to sit out the remainder of the season. - Mitch Cleary

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Harry Cunningham	Isolation	1 week
Lewis Melican	Achilles	Test
Callum Mills	Isolation	1 week
Sam Naismith	ACL	Indefinite
Colin O'Riordan	Isolation	1 week
Callum Sinclair	Isolation	1 week
Chad Warner	Shin	1 week
Updated: Tuesday, July 20

Early prognosis

The Swans have four players isolating until next Tuesday due to being considered COVID-19 close contacts, but Sam Reid (calf) and Braeden Campbell (shin) are available after recovering from their injuries. Melican has been joining in the match play at training and is hoping to take part in a reserves scratch match later this week. Warner is training with the main group again but the Swans continue to take a cautious approach with the young gun. - Martin Pegan

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Brendon Ah Chee	Hand	5-6 weeks
Tom Barrass	Hamstring	2 weeks
Jarrod Cameron	Ankle	TBC
Will Collins	Hamstring	Test
Jamaine Jones	Ankle	4 weeks
Josh Kennedy	Calf	Test
Jack Redden	Leg	2 weeks
Willie Rioli	Suspension	August 20
Luke Shuey	Calf	2 weeks
Zane Trew	Hamstring	1 week
Daniel Venables	Concussion	TBC
Updated: Tuesday, July 20

Early prognosis

Kennedy has been monitoring a tight calf for a number of weeks and recognised the need for a week off, with the spearhead confident he will return immediately. Shuey suffered a strained calf against Adelaide, continuing the skipper's horror run with soft tissues issues in the past 18 months. - Nathan Schmook

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Josh Dunkley	Isolation	1 week
Ryan Gardner	Shoulder	3-5 weeks
Tom Liberatore	Managed	Test
Stefan Martin	Groin	TBC
Toby McLean	Knee	Season
Lin Jong	Hamstring	2-4 weeks
Adam Treloar	Ankle	2-4 weeks
Laitham Vandermeer	Knee	Test
Easton Wood	Ankle	Test
Updated: Tuesday, July 20

Early prognosis

Liberatore is expected to return this week after being managed last round due to soreness, while Wood will also push to be made available after his ankle injury. Vandermeer may also play at some level this weekend after returning to full training from his knee issues. Dunkley will be unavailable after visiting a tier one exposure site and undertaking mandatory quarantine. Sadly McLean faces 12 months on the sidelines after suffering another ACL tear, while the big watch is on Martin, whose return has been delayed indefinitely by groin soreness. - Callum Twomey

*Placed on the club's long-term injury list