Hurt locker: Latest injury list at every AFL club
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti was almost Essendon’s matchwinner in his return VFL game, which was decided after the siren. See what unfolded here.
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Essendon forward Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti made a successful return to football through the VFL on Saturday, but fell short of clinching a fairytale after-the-siren victory.
In his first game of the year since returning to the club following personal leave, the Bombers livewire scored two goals in Essendon’s 13.13 (91) 13.10 (88) loss to the Casey Demons on Saturday.
In his first hitout, McDonald-Tipungwuti ran out the game and had the chance to win the game for the Bombers when he was awarded a free kick 50m out from goal when the siren sounded.
His long-range kick made the distance, but he pushed it wide to give the Demons the win at Casey Fields.
He finished with 11 disposals and 2.2, including the first goal of the match with a trademark crumbing goal.
Despite his interrupted pre-season, Bombers coach Ben Rutten would be tempted to unleash the Essendon fan favourite in next Sunday’s must-win clash with Adelaide at Marvel Stadium.
Bombers first round draft selection Ben Hobbs is odds-on to make his AFL debut next weekend against the Crows after starring with 24 possessions and one goal on Saturday.
For the Demons, midfielder Oskar Baker had 24 disposals.
Rested and ready to go ðŸ˜
— Essendon VFL (@essendonvfl) April 1, 2022
We go head to head with Casey Demons at 3pm! Make sure you tune in for all updates!https://t.co/dlGQFlFWVfpic.twitter.com/3yQXjs6Wmt
TIPPA TO KICK AT THE HORN
— Essendon VFL (@essendonvfl) April 2, 2022
HAWKS SKIPPER SIDELINED BY SCARY INJURY
Hawthorn captain Ben McEvoy has been sidelined indefinitely after suffering a small fracture in his neck in a training mishap on Thursday.
McEvoy has been pulled from the Hawks’ squad to face Carlton on Sunday and is facing months on the sidelines after scans confirmed the fracture.
Hawthorn club doctor Liam West said the club had consulted medical specialists on the best course of action for the injury and would take a cautious approach.
“Once healed, this will have no impact on Ben’s ability to play football moving forward and at this stage we expect him to return to the team in the back half of the season,” West said.
“We’ll continue to assess Ben throughout his recovery following further specialist advice.”
McEvoy, 32, said while he was feeling sore, he was glad he would make a full recovery.
“I was pretty sore straight after, then (on Thursday) afternoon went to get some scans,” McEvoy said.
“It has been confirmed that I’ve got a small fracture in one of the lateral bones in my neck, but it’s all stable and safe.
“I’m going to have some time out of the game while that heals, but I’m really pleased that I’m going to make a full recovery with no ongoing complications.”
The injury is a blow to the Hawks, who have made an unlikely 2-0 start to the season.
McEvoy had missed Round 1 under AFL Health and Safety Protocols, but returned against Port Adelaide last week and was one of the Hawks’ better players with 14 disposals, 16 hit-outs and eight score involvements.
Midfielder Jaeger O’Meara will serve as Hawthorn’s acting captain against the Blues this weekend.
HANNEBERY UNDERGOES SURGERY IN BID TO SAVE CAREER
Injury-cursed Saint Dan Hannebery will undergo surgery on his right calf on Thursday as club medical staff desperately try to rid him of his perennial soft-tissue woes.
The 31-year-old, who is out of contract this year, has played only 15 games in three seasons since crossing from Sydney on a lucrative deal – and suffered another setback on Saturday.
Coach Brett Ratten confirmed Hannebery would go under the knife to fix this latest issue and be sidelined for between six and eight weeks.
“It’s frustrating for Dan. He’s worked so hard, but I think this will allow him to maybe overcome the calf injuries that he’s had and hopefully it’s a clean slate for him when he gets back,” Ratten said.
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“So, hopefully it’s six weeks, he gets over it and before you know it, he’s playing the last part of the year and having an influence on games, which he can do.
“He is frustrated. You think of what he’s achieved in the game and then not to play the game that you love – it’s frustrating for anybody.
“So, he’ll have the operation, take a little bit of time, but he’ll be back and I think it will help him enormously.”
Ratten said they hadn’t sent Hannebery for surgery earlier because it hadn’t always been the same injury but they remain confident he can play regular senior football.
He was adamant there were no discussions about a mutual early parting between player and club despite his body continually breaking down.
“That hasn’t been talked of and it won’t be talked of,” Ratten said.
“Dan’s preparing himself to have an impact in the second half of the year. We’re at round 2, and let’s say he misses eight (weeks), that’s round 10.
“There’s a lot of footy to be played, so we’re not talking anything like that.
“We want Dan to be fresh, healthy and perform like he can. He’s a quality player, so we’ve got to get him out on the park to perform and I think he’ll overcome this injury and get back.”
— Marc McGowan
COVID CASE DELAYS DOGS’ RUCK PLANS
The Western Bulldogs have had to go back to the drawing board on selection this week after ruckman Stef Martin entered the AFL’s Covid protocols.
The veteran ruckman was in the frame to return to the team to partner Tim English against the Swans tomorrow night as the Dogs try to avoid a 0-3 start to the season.
Meanwhile, Richmond midfielder Kane Lambert has avoided surgery and ramped up his training as he eyes a return from a hip problem.
And Carlton is set to make some big changes as it aims to continue its unbeaten start to the season.
Scroll down to see the latest injury list from every club plus expert analysis.
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ADELAIDE
Rory Laird (hand) available
Rory Sloane (adductor) test
Andrew McPherson (hamstring) 1 week
Paul Seedsman (concussion) ongoing
Rory Laird might have missed the first two games of the season but the reigning Adelaide club champion will be cherry ripe if he returns in Friday night’s Showdown. Sloane is confident he can feature in the Showdown after tweaking his adductor early in the loss to Collingwood.
- Simeon Thomas-Wilson
BRISBANE LIONS
Keidean Coleman (hamstring) 4-6 weeks
Eric Hipwood (knee) 5-6 weeks
Keidean Coleman is “ahead of schedule” to make his return from a hamstring injury. Lions skipper Dayne Zorko also made it through the round 2 clash against Essendon after concerns surrounding his calf, and will be available to play in round 3.
- Chris Honnery
CARLTON
Jack Carroll (knee) 1 week
Adam Cerra (AFL Health and Safety Protocols) available
David Cuningham (knee) indefinite
Ed Curnow (knee) 3-5 weeks
Josh Honey (knee) 3-4 weeks
Caleb Marchbank (knee) 4-5 weeks
Jack Martin (AFL Health and Safety Protocols) available
Oscar McDonald (back) 1-2 weeks
Sam Philp (ribs) test
Adam Cerra and Jack Martin are as good as certain to return from the AFL’s health and safety protocols for Carlton’s clash with fellow unbeaten team Hawthorn on Sunday. Both players missed last week’s win over the Western Bulldogs but Martin has already resumed training, while midfield star Cerra is due back mid-week and expected to be fine. Key defender Oscar McDonald (back spasms) is an injury casualty, with coach Michael Voss foreshadowing a potential club debut for ex-Dog Lewis Young or a recall for rookie-listed Luke Parks.
- Marc McGowan
COLLINGWOOD
Isaac Chugg (abdominals) TBC
Charlie Dean (foot) 4-8 weeks
Nathan Kreuger (shoulder) 4-6 weeks
Beau McCreery (hip) 3-4 weeks
Nathan Murphy (ankle) 4-8 weeks
Jordan Roughead (shoulder) 2-4 weeks
Unbeaten Collingwood has lost Nathan Kreuger and Beau McCreery for the next month, but regains Mason Cox from his ankle setbackfor Saturday night’s clash against Geelong.
- Marc McGowan
ESSENDON
Dylan Shiel (side strain) test
Nik Cox (ankle) short term
Harry Jones (ankle) short term
Will Snelling (calf) short term
Zach Merrett (ankle) medium term
Kyle Langford (hamstring) long term
Michael Hurley (hip) indefinite
Vice-captain Zach Merrett faces up to two months on the sidelines after undergoing ankle surgery this week in a bitter blow for the struggling Bombers. Fellow midfielder Nik Cox also suffered an ankle injury against the Lions.
- Chris Cavanagh
FREMANTLE
David Mundy (Health and Safety Protocols) 1 week
Matt Taberner (hamstring) test
Nathan Wilson (shoulder) test
Sean Darcy (ankle) test
Josh Treacy (ankle) test
Nat Fyfe (back) TBA
Matt Johnson (ankle) TBA
Eric Benning (lower leg) TBA
Captain Nat Fyfe has declared he “will be playing footy this year” despite having surgery on a back injury that is expected to keep him out for another six weeks. Veteran David Mundy will miss Sunday’s western derby as he continues to isolate under the AFL’s health and safety protocols. Forward Matt Taberner is a chance to play his first game of 2022 as he recovers from a hamstring injury sustained in the lead-up to round 1. Ruckman Sean Darcy has also been listed as a test despite being subbed out of Sunday’s loss to the Saints with an ankle injury. Rebounding defender Nathan Wilson (shoulder) and forward Josh Treacy (ankle) are also a chance to come into the 22.
- Samantha Rogers, Mitchell Woodcock/WEST AUSTRALIAN
GEELONG
Toby Conway (hip) TBC
Flynn Kroeger (hip) TBC
Sam Menegola (knee) test
Gary Rohan (back and hip) TBC
Sam Simpson (concussion) TBC
James Willis (knee) TBC
Geelong will search for a quick turnaround in the midfield against Collingwood this week, with veteran Shaun Higgins to return after he was rested last weekend. Higgins was listed as “managed” for the round 2 loss to Sydney and was the first Cat to be rotated out of the side this season, a plan coach Chris Scott has mentioned multiple times in the past fortnight.
The 256-game midfielder is set to return to face the Magpies, while the Cats facing selection quandaries as Gryan Miers, Mark O’Connor and Sam De Koning are all fit and available to come in. Scott said regular rotations would be a feature of selection all season.
“That was the situation with Shaun last week and it will be the situation with others in the future,” he said.
- Josh Barnes
GOLD COAST
Jack Bowes (shoulder) 5-7 weeks
Charlie Constable (groin) 1-2 weeks
Ben King (knee) season
Bodhi Uwland (back) indefinite
Experienced midfielder Charlie Constable is edging closer to returning from injury but missed last week’s VFL season opener as he continues to recover from a groin concern. Jack Bowes will progress into full contact work in the next few weeks.
- Chris Honnery
GWS GIANTS
Jacob Hopper (knee) ongoing
Josh Fahey (shoulder) ongoing
Conor Stone (hamstring) 3-5 weeks
Zach Sproule (shoulder) 5 weeks
Brent Daniels (foot) 5-7 weeks
Daniel Lloyd (arm) 8-10 weeks
Phil Davis (hamstring) 2-3 months
Jack Buckley (knee) 3-4 months
A brutal hamstring injury to Phil Davis will see him spend nearly three months on the sidelines. Jacob Hopper is still battling a knee injury and won’t return this week.
- Will Hogan
HAWTHORN
Chad Wingard (hamstring) test
Jarman Impey (foot) available
Connor Downie (hamstring) 1 week
Lachlan Bramble (foot) 2-3 weeks
Max Lynch (concussion) unavailable
Hawthorn forward Chad Wingard remains a chance to face Carlton at the MCG on Sunday after being subbed out of last week’s win over Port Adelaide with a hamstring concern. Wingard left the field in the second quarter after experiencing hamstring tightness. But scans have since cleared the Hawks star of serious injury and he will face a fitness test this week.
- Rebecca Williams
MELBOURNE
Kade Chandler - quad - test
Jake Lever - foot - 1-2 weeks
Michael Hibberd - calf - 2-4 weeks
Harry Petty - calf - 2-3 weeks
Daniel Turner - foot - 4-6 weeks
Christian Salem - knee - 5-7 weeks
Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin revealed premiership defender Jake Lever could be sidelined beyond round 4 as the club takes an ultra-cautious approach to his return from a foot injury. Lever, who is overcoming plantar fasciitis, and premiership-winning teammate Michael Hibberd, who suffered a calf strain on the eve of the season, are yet to play in 2022 and won’t take the field against Essendon on Friday night at the MCG.
- Russell Gould
NORTH MELBOURNE
Tarryn Thomas (internal bruising) 4-8 weeks
Luke Davies-Uniacke (concussion) unavailable
Ben McKay (concussion) available
Matt McGuinness (foot) available
Will Phillips (glandular fever) 1-2 weeks
Rising star Tarryn Thomas faces at least a month and possibly double that on the sidelines with internal bruising after copping an accidental kick to the ribs while trying to apply a smother against the Eagles.
- Marc McGowan
PORT ADELAIDE
Aliir Aliir (ankle) 4-5 weeks
Tom Clurey (knee) 2-3 weeks
Charlie Dixon (ankle) assess
Orazio Fantasia (knee) 6-8 weeks
Robbie Gray (knee) assess
Kane Farrell (knee) 2-3 weeks
Trent McKenzie (ankle) assess
Port Adelaide will be hopeful Charlie Dixon and Robbie Gray can return for the showdown. Trent McKenzie is also a test.
- Simeon Thomas-Wilson
RICHMOND
Jack Riewoldt (thumb) will be available of he completes training this week
Dylan Grimes (soreness) will play if he gets through training
Dion Prestia (hamstring) short term
Nick Vlastuin (hamstring) medium term
Thomson Dow (knee) chance to play
Kane Lambert (hip) TBC
Dustin Martin (personal leave) indefinite
Richmond says surgery is off the table for Kane Lambert, who has been upping his training loads as he recovers from a hip complaint. The Tigers are set to welcome back key forward Jack Riewoldt and co-captain Dylan Grimes for Sunday’s clash against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium. Riewoldt missed last week’s win over GWS after thumb surgery but the Tigers say he would be available if he completes training this week. Grimes was a late withdrawal with soreness in round 2 but is also expected to play if he gets through raining. Dow was cleared of serious knee injury after being subbed out against the Giants and remains a chance to play.
- Rebecca Williams
ST KILDA
Jack Billings (hamstring) 2-4 weeks
Jack Bytel (conditioning) TBC
Hunter Clark (shoulder) 4-6 weeks
Nick Coffield (ACL) season
Dan Hannebery (calf) TBC
Zak Jones (personal leave) indefinite
Paddy Ryder (achilles soreness) available
The Saints will asses how ruckman Ryder trains this week after his first competitive hitout in the VFL last weekend since he was sidelined with achilles soreness late last year. Ryder played about three-and-a-half quarters of the match.
- Rebecca Williams
SYDNEY
Tom Papley (hamstring) TBC
Justin McInerney (knee sprain) test
Colin O’Riordan (eye) 2 weeks
Robbie Fox (hamstring) 2 weeks
The Swans are pleased with Papley’s progress from his hamstring injury, while McInerney faces a fitness test this week. O’Riordan suffered a poke to the eye in the VFL and he will miss a couple of weeks while the club gets his vision cleared and checked by specialists. Fox was also a casualty in the VFL, hurting his hamstring.
- Rebecca Williams
WEST COAST
Oscar Allen (foot) 4 weeks
Campbell Chesser (ankle) inactive
Greg Clark (shoulder) 3-4 weeks
Tom Cole (ankle) inactive
Jamie Cripps (pectoral) 3-4 weeks
Andrew Gaff (foot) test
Tom Joyce (ankle) 3 weeks
Jackson Nelson (knee) test
Dom Sheed (ankle) 6-8 weeks
Zane Trew (shin) TBC
Connor West (hamstring) test
Elliot Yeo (calf) 2 weeks
Nic Naitanui, Tom Barrass, Jack Redden, Jamaine Jones, Josh Rotham, Zac Langdon and Harry Edwards will finish their isolation period ahead of the weekend, but ruckman Bailey Williams will miss the game due to health and safety protocols.
- Ben Smith/WEST AUSTRALIAN
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Hayden Crozier (illness) test
Aaron Naughton (calf) available
Jason Johannisen (calf) 2-3 weeks
Josh Bruce (knee) 4-5 months
Toby McLean (knee) 4-5 months
Sam Darcy (foot) indefinite
Stefan Martin (health and safety protocols) TBC
It’s understood Martin, 35, was right in the selection frame to play what would’ve been his 200th AFL match before he tested positive for coronavirus.
Martin had 14 disposals, five clearances and 24 hitouts in what was a disappointing day for the club’s VFL outfit last week.
Some players thought he was likely to get the nod as the Dogs prepare to take on 96kg Swans ruckman Tom Hickey. But Martin will instead watch on from isolation. The Bulldogs confirmed that he was unavailable under the AFL’s Covid protocols.
Aaron Naughton is certain to line up at full-forward and could be supported at times by Marcus Bontempelli, who is still nursing a sore ankle.
Naughton has shaken off a corked calf and been given the green light to spearhead the Dogs’ attack.
The Bulldogs are still investigating Hayden Crozier’s bizarre fainting episode but will regain Bailey Smith when they face a rampaging Sydney on Thursday night as they fight to avoid their worst start to a season under premiership coach Luke Beveridge.
- Sam Landsberger
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