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<\/a><\/p>\nSo, it\u2019s that time of the year \u2013 we start to look at what teams will look like in their first game of the season, and the last couple of weeks, teams have started to look a little bit\u2026 compromised.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s your \u201cat a glance\u201d injury list for each club.<\/p>\n
Oh, and before you jump up and down, I have restricted this to players who are likely best-23 contributors, or those knocking on the door. I haven\u2019t got all day, y\u2019know?<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
ADELAIDE<\/p>\n
Mark Keane \u2013 suffered a horrible leg fracture in a match sim just a week ago. Will miss significant time. Probably looking at the back half of the season for his return. Only upside is that the Crows bat very deep when it comes to key position defenders, at the moment.<\/p>\n
Sid Draper \u2013 experiencing ongoing groin issues\u2026 like that time I came back from Thailand. Will be assessed ongoing.<\/p>\n
Daniel Curtin \u2013 dislocated his kneecap in a wrestling drill. Will miss two months. Personally, I blame Gunther.<\/p>\n
Izak Rankine \u2013 still has a game of his suspension to serve for saying nasty things.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
BRISBANE<\/p>\n
Sam Draper \u2013 suffering stress fractures in his foot. We won\u2019t see him for roughly the first month of the season. Darcy Fort\u2026 the club looks to you again.<\/p>\n
Eric Hipwood \u2013 recovering from his ACL injury last season. Will likely be eyeing a return in the second half of the year.<\/p>\n
Lincoln McCarthy \u2013 working hard after his ACL injury, but likely to miss the first couple of months of footy.<\/p>\n
Tom Doedee \u2013 the forgotten man of the AFL has a wrist injury, but should be pushing for selection early on<\/p>\n
Noah Answerth \u2013 the man who could fill the void left by Brandon Starcevich is battling to be fit after an Achilles injury last year<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
CARLTON<\/p>\n
Jesse Motlop \u2013 ACL injury in the pre-season. That\u2019s a shocker \u2013 whole season is done.<\/p>\n
Blake Acres \u2013 recovering from shoulder surgery. Pushing for a Round One start.<\/p>\n
Brodie Kemp \u2013 working back from his Achilles injury. Will play a vital role across half-forward for the Blues<\/p>\n
Nic Newman \u2013 had that patella injury in 2025, and is working back to full fitness. Should be held back until they are absolutely sure he is ready to go 100%.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
COLLINGWOOD<\/p>\n
Bobby Hill \u2013 personal issues, with the Pies stating the planning for 2026 does not include him. Ouch\u2026<\/p>\n
Darcy Moore \u2013 taking a while to get over a calf strain\/tear. Touch and go for Round Zero<\/p>\n
Jeremy Howe \u2013 had a calf injury the same time as Moore, but is recovering better<\/p>\n
Reef McInnes \u2013 working back from his 2025 ACL injury. Could be a vital piece to the 2026 Pies defence if he can get right.<\/p>\n
Dan McStay \u2013 suffered a hamstring injury. Hopefully good to go for the AAMI Series match<\/p>\n
Beau McCreery \u2013 underwent foot surgery in November and will likely miss all pre-season games. Touch and go for Round Zero.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
ESSENDON<\/p>\n
Nic Martin \u2013 further surgery on his damaged ACL from 2025. That\u2019s the season from him.<\/p>\n
Nick Bryan \u2013 did his ACL in Gather Round last year, and is expected back after the first month of footy. The Bombers desperately need him fit, given their depleted ruck stocks.<\/p>\n
Jordan Ridley \u2013 modified program after another soft-tissue injury in the pre-season. Teh Bombers are nursing him through to get him ready for the season, and wisely so.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
FREMANTLE<\/p>\n
Sean Darcy \u2013 continuing his run of injury after injury, Darcy strained a calf during match sims. Should be right for Round One, but far out\u2026 if anyone needed an uninterrupted run at the season, it was him.<\/p>\n
Luke Ryan \u2013 had a shoulder clean up in the off-season and is just now commencing contact drills. I always thought that a supremely fit Ryan would become the best intercept defender in the league.<\/p>\n
Sam Sturt \u2013 on the road back from his ACL and expected to push for selection by mid-season.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
GEELONG<\/p>\n
Jeremy Cameron \u2013 not playing in the State of Origin game as he continues to rehab his broken arm. Probably a good call.<\/p>\n
Toby Conway \u2013 the big fella is working back from knee and foot injuries, and will likely need a fair bit of work into him before cracking the A-Team.<\/p>\n
Tyson Stengle \u2013 took some time away from the club with personal issues, but is back with the group, though will need to catch up on some conditioning work.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
GOLD COAST<\/p>\n
Charlie Ballard \u2013 working back from his ACL injury, and should be back in the early part of the 2026 season<\/p>\n
The smallest pre-season injury list in the league. Ominous\u2026<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
GWS\u00a0<\/p>\n
Josh Kelly \u2013 had an operation on his hip that was expected to keep him out for the whole season, but Kelly is determined to get back this year. Will be a very late run at it, if he does.<\/p>\n
Darcy Jones \u2013 working his way back from an ACL injury, but we likely won\u2019t see him until deep into the season<\/p>\n
Clayton Oliver \u2013 had a bit of a calf issue, but Adam Kingsley described it as \u201cno big deal\u201d. You seen that bloke? I am not gonna argue with him!<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
HAWTHORN<\/p>\n
James Sicily \u2013 still not doing contact drills or match sims, as he recovers from shoulder surgery. I\u2019d keep him out until he is 100% ready to go \u2013 having the 2025 version out there doesn\u2019t make a lot of sense to me.<\/p>\n
Will Day \u2013 death, taxes, and Will Day getting hurt. A dislocated shoulder will see him miss the first half of the season<\/p>\n
Finn Maginness \u2013 has returned to full-contact training after his kidney injury. Good news, as his defensive work will be required in a reworked midfield this season.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
MELBOURNE<\/p>\n
Jake Bowey \u2013 will miss close to the first half of the season with a foot injury.<\/p>\n
Shane McAdam \u2013 working back from a torn Achilles tendon. Given his recent injury history, you\u2019d be a fool to put a timeline on him.<\/p>\n
Jack Viney \u2013 going in for surgery on his Achilles. A terrible result at this stage, with the former captain set to miss months of footy. That said, it also opens the door for young mids to have a real crack at becoming the go-to player in the guts.<\/p>\n
Andy Moniz-Wakefield \u2013 I like this kid. He is close to full fitness after copping a dreaded ACL after only a handful of games. Hopefully back in the team early in the year.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
NORTH MELBOURNE\u00a0<\/p>\n
George Wardlaw \u2013 like Will Day, he is an injury-magnet. At least this time, his hamstring injury is at the low end, and is only expected to see him miss a couple of weeks of training. A long shot for the AAMI Series game, but should be good for Round One.<\/p>\n
Jackson Archer \u2013 after being screwed over by the MRO in 025, he\u2019s been screwed over by an ACL injury in 2026. That\u2019s the season done for Jackson, unfortunately<\/p>\n
Paul Curtis \u2013 recovering from a pneumonia-induced condition called empyema. Was on a modified program, but working toward a Round One appearance, hopefully. Could be an AA if fit.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
PORT ADELAIDE<\/p>\n
Ivan Soldo \u2013 has done his ACL, so that means Port\u2019s SANFL team is down a player.<\/p>\n
Sam Powell-Pepper \u2013 working back from his ACL, after having to undergo a second procedure to relive some discomfort.<\/p>\n
Todd Marshall \u2013 all good news, so far, as Todd works into form across half-back for Port. Fingers crossed he gets a decent run at it.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
RICHMOND<\/p>\n
Josh Smillie \u2013 still a little bit away as he is yet to join the main drills. He missed all of last year with conditioning and hamstring issues. Don\u2019t expect him to be there for Round One.<\/p>\n
Nick Vlastuin \u2013 this makes me sad. I wanted him to have a massive year, but he\u2019ll be playing catch-up after a late season ankle injury required surgery, and he has started to feel a few niggles as he works towards getting back. Said he is\u201dday-to-day\u201d when asked whether he will be ready for Round One.<\/p>\n
Judson Clark \u2013 on the road back after his ACL injury last year.<\/p>\n
Hugo Ralphsmith \u2013 injured a hammy in December and has been working his way back to fitness after recovery<\/p>\n
Josh Gibcus \u2013 ready for this, Tiger fans? NO ISSUES TO REPORT! Go get \u2018em, kid!<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
ST KILDA<\/p>\n
Max King \u2013 he is the only real concern at the moment, having an additional cleanup of his knee in December after missing the entire 2025 season. Aaaand then he sustained a calf strain as he started to get back into shape. Cannot buy a break.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
SYDNEY<\/p>\n
Logan McDonald \u2013 missed all of 2025 with an ankle injury, and will have to fight for his place in the side, with the Swans housing a plethora of tall forward options.<\/p>\n
Callum Mills \u2013 tore a hamstring prior to Christmas, but is back in full training and looked great in their intraclub scrimmage. A fit Mills means so much to the Swans\u2026 they\u2019ve probably forgotten how important he can be, given how long he has been out, or hampered by injury.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
WEST COAST<\/p>\n
Brady Hough \u2013 will miss the practice games and AAMI series, after spraining an ankle at the end of January. A chance for Round One.<\/p>\n
Brandon Starcevich \u2013 Had an ACL strain, which sent shockwaves through the club before he\u2019d played a game. Not back in full training yet.<\/p>\n
Tylar Young \u2013 also not back in full training after a shoulder injury. That defence is looking very shaky unless they can get him, and the two above, ready quickly.<\/p>\n
Elliot Yeo \u2013 back in full training after a horror 2025. Vitally important to the West Cost midfield, he got through their intraclub unscathed last week.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
WESTERN BULLDOGS<\/p>\n
Cody Weightman \u2013 getting there\u2026 slowly. People don\u2019t understand the extent of his injury. Basically, a pre-existing condition caused his kneecap to split.<\/p>\n
Ryley Sanders \u2013 has strained both hamstrings this pre-season, so the setback will likely see him having to do some extra work before cracking the senior team.<\/p>\n
Riley Garcia \u2013 another young player\u2026 another hammy. Sadly, this isa\u00a0 serious one, with 10-12 weeks on the sidelines the prognosis.<\/p>\n
James Harmes \u2013 taking time away from the club for personal reasons.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
As always, massive thanks to those who support this work. You can see the amount of care that goes into it. I love footy, I love writing about it, and I hope you enjoy reading it. Without you, this whole thing falls over. Sincerely\u2026 thank you \u2013 HB<\/p>\n
Like this content? You could buy me a coffee \u2013 I do like coffee, but there is no guarantee I won\u2019t use it to buy a doughnut\u2026 I like them more. And I am not brought to you by Sportsbet or Ladbrokes\u2026 or Bet365, or any of them.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
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