THE LATEST on three key Demons, a superstar Eagle and more.

Check out your club's injury updates ahead of round one.

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Matt Crouch	Leg	2-3 weeks
Billy Dowling	Foot	4 weeks
Josh Worrell	Hamstring	3-4 weeks
Updated: March 14, 2023

Early prognosis

Scans revealed a minor fracture in Crouch's right leg after an incident at training last Friday. The club expects him to resume running next week and be available for round three. Worrell's hamstring injury has been frustrating, with the defender still up to a month away. Dowling is out of a moonboot after a joint-related foot injury and should resume training ahead of round three. Paul Seedsman will not be available this year after being placed on the inactive list. – Nathan Schmook

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Cal Ah Chee	Quad	1-2 weeks
Darcy Gardiner	Ankle	1-2 weeks
Dayne Zorko	Hamstring	1-2 weeks
Updated: March 14, 2023

Early prognosis

Zorko trained well on Tuesday but is still not right to play. There's no need to rush him back, so expect another week or two before he sees his first action of 2023. Gardiner and Ah Chee were both restricted to light running on the same day, with the latter expected to return to skills training later this week. The club has listed each as returning shortly. - Michael Whiting

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Jordan Boyd	Foot	TBC
Matt Cottrell	Foot	TBC
David Cuningham	Shoulder	TBC
Caleb Marchbank	Calf	TBC
Sam Philp	Foot	Season
Sam Walsh	Back	TBC
Zac Williams	Knee	Season
Updated: March 15, 2023

Early prognosis

The Blues will be without Walsh, Marchbank and Boyd for the first parts of the season, while Williams and Philp are long-term prospects after being placed on the inactive list over the summer. In better news, Marc Pittonet (knee), Jack Martin (calf) and Mitch McGovern (back) all played VFL last week and should be available for selection. – Riley Beveridge

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Charlie Dean	Foot	Season
Harvey Harrison	Hamstring	2 weeks
Nathan Kreuger	Shoulder	6-8 weeks
Patrick Lipinski	Shoulder	Post mid-season bye
Fin Macrae	Back	2 weeks
Brayden Maynard	Infection	Available
Updated: March 14, 2023

Early prognosis

The Pies will start the season without Lipinski after he underwent a shoulder reconstruction following a dislocation against Hawthorn in the practice match. Dean has already been ruled out for the season due to another long-term foot injury, while Kreuger is a couple of months of returning from shoulder surgery. Maynard is set to return on Friday night after missing the clash against the Hawks with an infection caused by an abrasion. - Josh Gabelich

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Jye Caldwell	Ankle	Test
Nik Cox	Back	4-6 weeks
Jayden Davey*	Knee	Season
Dyson Heppell	Foot	Test
Ben Hobbs	Calf	Test
Zach Reid	Back	6-7 weeks
James Stewart	Foot	4-6 weeks
Jake Stringer	Hamstring	1-2 weeks
Elijah Tsatas	Knee	3-4 months
Updated: March 14, 2023

Early prognosis

While Stringer has been ruled out of round one, there was some positive news for the Bombers, with Caldwell, Heppell and Hobbs pushing to be available, while Matt Guelfi (calf) and Kyle Langford (back) got through a VFL practice game on Saturday. Cox, Stewart and Reid are still weeks away, Tsatas will miss at least the next three months and Davey is out for the season. ­– Dejan Kalinic

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Travis Colyer	Knee	TBC
Michael Walters	Achilles tendon	Test
Updated: March 14, 2023

Early prognosis

Colyer underwent arthroscopic knee surgery earlier this week that will sideline him for at least six weeks. Otherwise, the Dockers are close to a clean bill of health after Michael Frederick (quad), Corey Wagner (hamstring) and Luke Ryan (back) overcame recent setbacks and re-joined main training. Even Nathan O'Driscoll, who has been hampered by a hot spot in his foot, appears ready to go. Walters is the player in most doubt for round one, with Fremantle open to easing the forward back through the WAFL this week. – Nathan Schmook

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Toby Conway	Foot	TBC
Mitch Duncan	Calf	Test
Tom Hawkins	Foot	Test
Jack Henry	Foot	TBC
Jake Kolodjashnij	Concussion	TBC
Sam Menegola	Knee	Medium term
Updated: March 14, 2023

Early prognosis

All eyes will be on Hawkins this week to see if the five-time All-Australian recovers in time to face Collingwood on Friday night. Duncan has returned from a training block in South Australia but might not recover in time to play in round one. Menegola has undergone further knee surgery following another setback. Kolodjashnij is in concussion protocols after a hit in the practice match. - Josh Gabelich

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Connor Budarick	Knee	TBC
Brandon Ellis	Calf	TBC
Bailey Humphrey	Foot	1 week
Sean Lemmens	Calf	2 weeks
Wil Powell	Hamstring	2-3 weeks
Lachie Weller	Knee	1 week
Updated: March 14, 2023

Early prognosis

The calf injury that has dogged Ellis the past three weeks still hasn't healed and he'll miss the opening round, at least. Lemmens is not far away with the same problem, while Humphrey was unlucky with a foot infection and is also close to a return. Weller has made an incredible return from a ruptured ACL and is just a week away from playing again after suffering the injury last June. - Michael Whiting

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Toby Bedford	Hamstring	7-8 weeks
Brent Daniels	Hamstring	Test
Darcy Jones	Quad	2 weeks
Nick Madden	Foot	7-9 weeks
Updated: March 15, 2023

Early prognosis

The Giants are hopeful Daniels will play this week, having recently re-joined main training. Bedford is the only other major concern as he recovers from a significant hamstring injury. – Riley Beveridge

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Emerson Jeka	Hamstring	5-6 weeks
Mitch Lewis	ACL	5-6 weeks
Josh Morris	Shoulder	5-6 weeks
Harry Morrison	Hamstring	Test
Cooper Stephens	Concussion	Available
Updated: March 14, 2023

Early prognosis

Lewis is the big injury at Waverley Park right now. The Hawks will start the season without the key forward, after he strained his ACL at the end of January. Lewis could be back in the second month of the season, but there is no concrete timeline around his return. Morrison is a chance to be available this weekend after missing the intraclub and the practice matches due to a hamstring strain. - Josh Gabelich

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Bayley Fritsch	Foot	1-2 weeks
Christian Salem	Thyroid	1-2 weeks
Jack Viney	Knee	1-2 weeks
Updated: March 15, 2023

Early prognosis

None of Viney, Fritsch or Salem will play against the Bulldogs after falling short in their bid for full fitness. All three are expected to be available for selection as soon as the next fortnight, though, with Viney the furthest advanced. Coach Simon Goodwin otherwise has a healthy squad to pick from for the season opener. – Michael Rogers 

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Jackson Archer	Groin	1-2 weeks
Callum Coleman-Jones	Foot	TBC
Brayden George	Knee	Season
Jack Mahony	Shoulder	2-3 weeks
Ben McKay	Foot	TBC
Darcy Tucker	Knee	1-2 weeks
George Wardlaw	Conditioning	1-2 weeks
Cam Zurhaar	Calf	Test
Updated: March 15, 2023

Early prognosis

The Kangaroos hope Zurhaar will be available for selection this weekend, but McKay and Coleman-Jones will miss the opening parts of the season. New recruit Tucker is still working his way back and won't feature in round one. Wardlaw will return over the next fortnight, while Aidan Corr (calf), Curtis Taylor (calf), Aaron Hall (Achilles) all played VFL last week and should be available for selection. - Riley Beveridge

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Trent Dumont	Calf	Test
Jeremy Finlayson	Ankle	Test
Jackson Mead	Hamstring	Test
Updated: March 14, 2023

Early prognosis

A great sight for Port with only three players all on the list – and all a chance to be available for the opening round. Finlayson has made a terrific return from surgery on his syndesmosis last month and is in full training, while Dumont and Mead returned to training on Tuesday and will be monitored through the week. - Michael Whiting

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Jacob Bauer	Ankle	1-3 weeks
Tom Brown	Wrist	1-3 weeks
Seth Campbell	Groin	1-3 weeks
Mate Colina	Back	7-12 weeks
Josh Gibcus	Hamstring	4-6 weeks
Kaleb Smith	Foot	7-12 weeks
Ivan Soldo	Foot	1-3 weeks
Robbie Tarrant	Hip	1-3 weeks
Updated: March 14, 2023

Early prognosis

Richmond received a rush of good news ahead of its round one clash against Carlton, with all of Dion Prestia (pec), Marlion Pickett (adductor), Jayden Short (calf), Jack Graham (toe) and Jack Ross (knee) available for selection. Soldo has been unexpectedly ruled out with a foot issue. Gibcus suffered an infection in his hamstring wound following surgery, which has set him back. – Sarah Black

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Matt Allison	Foot	Indefinite
Jack Billings	Fractured leg	6-9 weeks
Nick Coffield	Calf	4-6 weeks
Jack Hayes	Foot	10-12 weeks
Max Heath	Ankle	Test
Olli Hotton	Back	Indefinite
Zak Jones	Achilles	Indefinite
Isaac Keeler	Knee	6-9 weeks
Max King	Shoulder	6-9 weeks
Dan McKenzie	Calf	Indefinite
Angus McLennan	Back	Indefinite
Tim Membrey	Knee	TBC
Seb Ross	Calf	1-2 weeks
Marcus Windhager	Hand	Test
Updated: March 14, 2023

Early prognosis

Ross Lyon will start his second stint at the Saints without a recognisable forward line. King and Hayes are months away, Membrey will miss at least round one, potentially longer. Billings is also at least six weeks away. The Saints will also face the Dockers without important midfielder Ross who provides defensive support around the ball. Coffield was on track for an early season return from the knee reconstruction that wiped out his 2022 campaign, but hamstring surgery followed by a decent calf strain has stalled his comeback. It is an injury list that makes for uncomfortable reading from a Saints perspective. - Josh Gabelich

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Ryan Clarke	Hamstring	2-3 weeks
Robbie Fox	Calf	1-2 weeks
Tom Hickey	Hamstring	2-3 weeks
Jacob Konstanty	Shin	TBC
Sam Wicks	Shoulder	TBC
Updated: March 15, 2023

Early prognosis

The Swans have already confirmed Hickey, Clarke and Fox will miss the opening round of the season as they recover from injuries suffered over the summer. Draftee Konstanty is also unavailable, while Wicks didn't play the recent practice games and has not yet been declared fully fit. Tom Papley (ribs) and Callum Mills (finger) missed the practice match against Carlton but are expected to face Gold Coast. – Martin Smith

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Nic Naitanui	Achilles soreness	TBC
Josh Rotham	Arm	3-4 weeks
Jack Williams	Spleen	TBC
Updated: March 15, 2023

Early prognosis

Naitanui was put through a physical test on Monday and moved well, but he has been ruled out it remains unlikely he'll be available for round one at least. Luckily Bailey Williams is available after recovering from hamstring tightness and training fully, giving West Coast two ruck options against North Melbourne. Jack Darling has re-joined full training after recovering from an ankle injury and just needs to get through the week. Rotham is restricted by a brace on his right arm and was expected to miss a month after breaking his arm in the pre-season loss to Adelaide. – Nathan Schmook 

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Dom Bedendo	Groin	TBC
Ryan Gardner	Elbow	3-4 weeks
Arthur Jones	Groin	1-2 weeks
Tim O'Brien	Hamstring	4-5 weeks
Roarke Smith	Foot	4-6 weeks
Laitham Vandermeer	Fractured leg	4-6 weeks
Cody Weightman	Groin	TBC
Updated: March 14, 2023

Early prognosis

A double blow to the Dogs' small forward stocks ahead of round one with Weightman and Jones both ruled out of the season-opener, and potentially longer, due to groin injuries. O'Brien has suffered another hamstring injury and will be sidelined for at least another month. Gardner is set to miss at least the first three or four weeks after undergoing elbow surgery following an incident in the intraclub in Ballarat. Vandermeer fractured his leg just before then and will miss the first quarter of the season. - Josh Gabelich

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