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AFL injury list: Where your club sits as round one approaches
Injuries piled up in the Community Series pre-season matches, and plenty of big names are racing the clock to be fit for round one.
Here’s where your club sits.
Lance Franklin has not played since round 23, 2019. We are still no closer to knowing when his next game will come. Credit:Getty Images
ADELAIDE: Exciting Crows youngster Wayne Milera missed most of 2020 due to stress fractures and had been eyeing off a midfield spot in 2021. But he had the rare misfortune of rupturing his patella, and is out indefinitely. Daniel Talia (knee) is unlikely be ready for round one but fellow defender Tom Doedee returned through a SANFL hitout and should feature.
BRISBANE LIONS: Cam Rayner has ruptured his ACL after landing awkwardly attempting to intercept a handball on Monday night. It is a blow for the Lions, who expected their 2017 No.1 pick to piece together a breakout season. Nakia Cockatoo (hamstring) has returned to running, but the Lions will not rush him back. Darcy Gardiner (knee) and Daniel McStay (knee) are both five to six weeks from playing.
CARLTON: Charlie Curnow (knee) still can’t get a clear run at things and is out for another four months, while defenders Caleb Marchbank (calf) and Nic Newman (inflamed knee cap) are at least a month away. Harry McKay aggravated an ankle issue when he landed awkwardly against St Kilda on Thursday night and was pulled from the match at quarter time, but is expected to recover in time for the season opener. The Blues will be keeping an eye on Eddie Betts (calf), Levi Casboult (knee) and Mitch McGovern (hamstring), who all failed to feature in pre-season games.
Carlton’s Charlie Curnow continues to have a bad run with injury. Credit:Getty Images
COLLINGWOOD: Steele Sidebottom is rated a 50-50 chance to play against the Bulldogs next Friday night, after the star midfielder sustained a minor calf injury against Richmond. Taylor Adams (hamstring), Chris Mayne (concussion) and Brody Mihocek (calf) are all expected to recover by round one.
ESSENDON: Michael Hurley is recovering from a hip infection, but he remains out indefinitely. Jake Stringer (Achilles) and David Zaharakis (knee) are in doubt for round one after missing the hitout against Geelong, and Dylan Clarke (ankle) is still more than a month away. James Stewart (hamstring) who was pulled from Saturday’s game in third term and will miss eight to 10 weeks with the injury.
FREMANTLE: The Dockers had a nightmare in the medical room during Sunday’s hitout with the Eagles. Rory Lobb’s knee injury included an ACL strain, but the forward-ruck will avoid surgery and instead wear a knee brace for six weeks. Star Michael Walters injured his hamstring, Bailey Banfield was on crutches after colliding with Brad Shepherd, and Mitch Crowden hobbled off with an ankle injury. All are now in doubt for round one. Sean Darcy (knee) will not play the first match, but Adam Cerra and Caleb Serong should be available.
GEELONG: Darcy Fort is out indefinitely with a PCL injury while key midfielder Mitch Duncan (calf) is pushing to make round one. Luke Dahlhaus (groin) featured in the Cats’ reserves hitout, while Sam Simpson (shoulder) is some time away. Esava Ratagoulea (leg) and Rhys Stanley (concussion) are both expected to be available for round one.
GOLD COAST: Pick No.7 in the draft Elijah Hollands is edging closer to full fitness as he nears the end of his ACL tear rehabilitation. Rory Thompson (knee) is four to five months away. Ruckman Zac Smith will miss up to 12 weeks after injuring his knee in a practice match on Saturday.
GWS: No strangers to long injury lists in recent seasons, the Giants’ casualty ward is beginning to look lengthy again. Lachie Keefe (ankle) did not finish the practice match against the Swans and will be assessed throughout the week. Jesse Hogan (quad) is out for three to four weeks while luckless ruckman Braydon Preuss (shoulder) is out for four to five months. Lachie Whitfield (bruised liver) remains out indefinitely, and Adam Kennedy (shoulder) is also out for four to five months. Phil Davis (knee) could play against the Saints in round one.
HAWTHORN: The Hawks have three top-line players racing for round one – Tom Mitchell (shoulder), Chad Wingard (calf) and Jack Scrimshaw (knee). Mitch Lewis was withdrawn from Hawthorn’s Community Series clash with back spasms, but the Hawks are optimistic he will be available for the Essendon clash. Jack Gunston (back) won’t play round one. Doubt remains over when James Sicily will be ready after his 2020 ACL injury.
Tom Mitchell’s round one preparedness remains in limbo. Credit:Getty Images
MELBOURNE: The Demons will be challenged by injury issues early in the season, with Jack Viney (foot) out for round one, along with Ben Brown (knee) who is sidelined for a couple of months. Jay Lockhart was hospitalised and required surgery after a testicle injury, Sam Weideman (femur) is out for 10 to 12 weeks, while Aaron Nietschke and Marty Hore both suffered ACL tears in the pre-season. The Dees, though, should regain Angus Brayshaw, Clayton Oliver and Christian Salem for round one.
NORTH MELBOURNE: Ben Cunnington (concussion) and Jared Polec (hamstring) were not sighted in practice matches, but join Aiden Bonar (calf), Trent Dumont (calf) and Jed Anderson (calf) in aiming for round one.
PORT ADELAIDE: Connor Rozee will sit out the opening rounds of the season after opting for surgery on his troublesome foot. Sam Powell-Pepper (finger) is unlikely to play round one, but Todd Marshall (cheek) and Hamish Hartlett (hamstring) could be available.
RICHMOND: Dion Prestia (hamstring) is tracking well for the annual season opener against Carlton. Tom Lynch missed Friday night’s practice match with a sore toe, but will play round one. Ivan Soldo and Noah Cumberland are recovering from ACL injuries, while Bachar Houli (calf) is being cautious this pre-season and will not feature until after round one.
Will Dion Prestia make it back in time for round one?Credit:Chris Hopkins
ST KILDA: Out-of-retirement recruit James Frawley will be sidelined for 10 weeks after injuring his hamstring against the Blues on Thursday night. Dan Hannebery (calf) has done very little at training throughout the pre-season and is unlikely to play round one. Rowan Marshall (foot) will miss the start of the season, as will Jarryn Geary (fractured fibula). Ben Paton is out for the season with a broken leg. Zak Jones (hamstring) should make round one.
SYDNEY: Lance Franklin hasn’t played since round 23 in 2019, with his calf remaining a problem leading into the 2021 season. He hasn’t done a whole lot of training this year, and it is unclear when he will play next. Sam Naismith (ACL) is out for most of 2021. Jake Lloyd (knee) was left out of Sydney’s pre-season hitout against the Giants, a precautionary decision.
WEST COAST: Zac Langdon (concussion) will be sidelined under the AFL’s new concussion rules after a sickening head clash with Nat Fyfe, but could still be available for round one. Nic Naitanui (hamstring) returned against the Dockers on Sunday and continues to regain fitness. Elliot Yeo has osteitis pubis and may not be seen in West Coast’s opening games, but Tim Kelly (thumb) and Josh Kennedy (calf) will return.
WESTERN BULLDOGS: Hayden Crozier (AC joint) will go under the knife, with a time frame for the defender to be determined post surgery. Aaron Naughton (forearm) had an injury scare during Monday afternoon’s match against Melbourne, but the spearhead was cleared of serious damage following scans. Adam Treloar (calf) had no trouble finding the ball in a reserves hitout. Easton Wood (hamstring) is racing to be fit round one, but Mitch Hannan (groin) won’t be available until around round five or six. Toby McLean is likely out until September because of his ACL injury.
With Owen Leonard
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Anthony is a sports reporter at The Age.