Hurt locker: Latest AFL injury news ahead of Round 1
Geelong is reeling on the eve of the new season after Jeremy Cameron went down at training. Latest injury news here.
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Jeremy Cameron has torn his hamstring for the second time this summer in an injury blow that could see him out for the first month of the season.
The Cats confirmed on Friday that Coleman Medallist Cameron had tweaked his hamstring in the last minutes of training on Wednesday, with scans confirming muscle damage.
Cats football boss Simon Lloyd said he would miss at least the first fortnight of the season.
But having already suffered hamstring issues in January, the club will likely build him up slowly to ensure he does not suffer another recurrence later in the season.
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Coach Chris Scott spoke about the club’s cautious approach with repeat soft tissue injuries last week when he described the caution the Cats would use with Mitch Duncan, who suffered a pair of calf tweaks.
Geelong has not yet named its team for its clash against Adelaide on Saturday but the likely recipient of Cameron’s injury will be ex-Crow Josh Jenkins.
He was already likely to play in the side as the second ruck and back-up forward but with Cameron out he will have to take a leading role in the side.
Darcy Fort (knee) and Esava Ratugolea (broken leg) are already sidelined, so Jenkins will get a chance against his old side Adelaide to prove his worth.
Cats footy boss Lloyd confirmed the injury on Friday morning.
““Jeremy has started his rehabilitation program but will not be available for at least the opening two rounds,” he said.
The Cats will hand debuts to Isaac Smith and Shaun Higgins against potential wooden spooners Adelaide, and take on Brisbane, Hawthorn and Melbourne in the coming weeks.
Scott had only this week spoken about the synergy he was hoping would be formed with the Geelong forward line.
“We’d like to kick a good team score - I think the best forward lines in history, in the best teams have been really cohesive ones,” Scott said.
“I don’t know Jeremy as well but Tom (Hawkins) has proven himself to be a very unselfish forward - even when he kicks a lot of goals in seasons, he’s always high for assists as well.
“I guess if I could have my way, one would be kicking it to the other a fair bit.”
Latest injury news
Here’s how all 18 AFL clubs are tracking with injuries ahead of the season.
ADELAIDE
Adelaide’s key defender stocks are looking alarmingly thin ahead of the clash with Geelong’s star-studded forward line.
Daniel Talia (recovering from knee surgery) is going to miss the start of the season, and on top of that Jordon Butts hurt his ankle in the Community Series match against Port Adelaide but should be OK for Round 1.
Nick Murray, who has joined the club via the SPP, limped into training on Monday after rolling his ankle on Saturday and faces a race against time to be right.
The good news is Tom Doedee and Jake Kelly be right to go.
David Mackay has been ruled out of recent weeks under the new concussion protocols but has also been cleared for selection, while Matt Crouch will miss the season opener with a groin injury.
Outside of the hits to the club’s defence draftee Brayden Cook is recovering from shoulder surgery, young midfielder Ronin O’Connor is out for two weeks with a foot injury, Ben Davis suffered an ankle injury in the SANFL side’s match against Port while Wayne Milera is out for the year after tearing his patella tendon.
BRISBANE
Cam Rayner has been ruled out for the majority of the season with a knee injury, while Darcy Gardiner and Dan McStay – both with knee injuries as well – are also likely to miss the opening rounds of the season. McStay is on track to return by Round 3, while Gardiner looks like he may return by Round 2. Nakia Cockatoo (hamstring) and Noah Answerth (groin) are also tracking well but might play at the VFL level this week to get some match fitness. Connor McFadyen (knee) is also yet to return to full fitness after suffering an ACL injury last July.
CARLTON
Jack Silvagni will be monitored after coming off in the season opener with a shoulder injury.
After some doubt with an ankle injury which saw him limp off in both warm-up matches, key forward Harry McKay played in Round 1.
Mitch McGovern (back) was ruled out of the season-opener, a Round 2 return considered likely.
Caleb Marchbank (calf) and Tom De Koning (back) also missed the start of the season.
Longer-term injury concerns surround Charlie Curnow (knee) and Nic Newman (knee), who are still both some time away from returning.
After sparkling in the AAMI Community Series, recruit Zac Williams sat out Round 1 after being suspended for an errant bump on St Kilda’s Hunter Clark.
COLLINGWOOD
Steele Sidebottom is definitely out of the Bulldogs clash with a calf injury but should be ready for Round 2 according to Nathan Buckley.
Taylor Adams (hamstring) and Brody Mihocek (calf) are both ready to return, while Will Kelly is out with a collarbone injury for 4-6 weeks.
Brayden Maynard should be fine to play after a kick to the shin that slowed him down at training last week.
ESSENDON
Some key Bombers ran out of time to be considered for the Round 1 clash with Hawthorn, but coach Ben Rutten is hoping the fresh faces who will play in red and black for the first time can excite the fans.
Patrick Ambrose (foot), David Zaharakis (knee) and Jake Stringer (Achilles) won’t play in Round 1.
The Bombers are hopeful Zaharakis and Stringer can get some match conditioning in a few weeks’ time. There was good news on Nick Hind’s all-clear for his shoulder, but James Stewart (hamstring) and Michael Hurley (hip infection) face long stints on the sidelines.
FREMANTLE
The Dockers are facing a shortage of talls through injury and suspension.
Impressive rookie Josh Treacy, who was earmarked to debut in Round 1, has been offered a two-match ban for striking in a WAFL practice match.
It adds to Rory Lobb’s knee injury in the Community Series, meaning the Dockers really only have the two tall forwards right now.
Sean Darcy might play in Round 1, having been sidelined for seven weeks with a knee injury, while Sam Sturt has returned after a long lay-off with an ankle injury.
The injuries aren’t just confined to the tall stocks for Fremantle. Michael Walters (hamstring), Bailey Banfield (ankle), Mitch Crowden (calf) and Michael Frederick (calf) are all also on the sidelines.
Walters might return for the Round 2 clash against GWS while Griffin Logue might be right for Round 1 while Luke Valente is also a “test”.
Adam Cerra was rested against West Coast with a calf complaint but should be right while Brett Bewley should also make himself available.
GEELONG
Jeremy Cameron could be out for up to a month after pinging his hamstring in the final training session of the pre-season.
Mitch Duncan lost his race to be ready for Round 1 and could miss more matches as the Cats tread carefully in response to his two calf setbacks this summer. Importantly, the star midfielder has resumed training.
Esava Ratugolea’s refracture of his leg from a stray kick at training has sidelined him for about a month already and likely another few weeks yet.
Luke Dahlhaus (groin) played half a game in a VFL practice game last weekend and should be available for selection, while ruckman Rhys Stanley has recovered from what coach Chris Scott described as a “mild concussion”.
Darcy Fort (knee), Sam Simpson (shoulder) and young gun Cooper Stephens (knee) are out for at least the early rounds of the season.
GOLD COAST
Young gun Matt Conroy has suffered an ACL injury just days out from the season opener in a big blow for the promising youngster.
It puts a dent in the ruck depth with Zac Smith also out with a knee injury (PCL), leaving plenty of work for co-captain Jarrod Witts.
Jy Farrar could also miss Round 1 with a quad strain but will return to full contact training in the coming days.
Rory Thompson (partial ACL tear) and top-10 draftee Elijah Hollands (knee) are both working their way back from ACL injuries.
GWS
Daniel Lloyd (quadriceps) and Jake Riccardi (ankle) — who’s wearing a moonboot on his left foot — are the fresh additions in a double blow to the Giants’ attack.
Fellow forward Brent Daniels (hamstring) is also unlikely to play, while Jesse Hogan (quadriceps) is at least another week from playing at reserves level. Lachie Whitfield (bruised liver) doesn’t have a specific timeline, but coach Leon Cameron hopes to have him back by round four.
Ruck recruit Braydon Preuss and utility Adam Kennedy could be out for up to four more months as they recover from respective shoulder reconstructions. A decision on Phil Davis (knee) will be made later in the week, but Lachie Keeffe (ankle) should be available. Tom Hutchesson (calf) has to pass a fitness test.
HAWTHORN
Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell has ticked the required boxes, including a practice match hit-out last week, and will play in Round 1 after his post-season shoulder reconstruction.
Mitch Lewis (back) and Jack Scrimshaw (jarred knee) are also set to be available for selection. The news isn’t as good for Chad Wingard (calf), with his return not expected until at least early April now.
Jack Gunston is as many as seven weeks away after off-season back surgery, James Sicily (knee) won’t be back until late in the year — if at all — and big man Keegan Brooksby (ankle) is a month off. James Cousins (plantaris) must pass a fitness test, but Seamus Mitchell (ankle) is out indefinitely.
MELBOURNE
Small forward Kysaiah Pickett will attempt to prove his fitness this week as the Demons sweat on the availability of three key players.
He is one of a number of the players the Demons are sweating on before Saturday’s clash with Fremantle at the MCG. Pickett (personal leave), Angus Brayshaw (foot) and gun defender Steven May (concussion) will all be under the microscope. Pickett, 19, took three weeks of personal leave after the passing of his mother but last week returned to the club to resume full training and ramp up his preparation for Round 1. Jack Viney is already out for the clash with the Dockers after summer foot issues, while Jay Lockhart is out medium-term after testicle surgery.
Angus Brayshaw (foot), Jake Melksham (hamstring) and Christian Salem (hamstring) are yet to be ruled out for Round 1 but have had little to no match practice in recent weeks. Ben Brown (knee) was training this week and is nearing a return, while Sam Weideman (leg) is still some time away.
NORTH MELBOURNE
There are a few concerns at Arden St going into Round 1, and the biggest one is star Ben Cunnington (concussion). The dual club champion has just returned to the training track for the first time since copping an elbow to the head in an intra-club match on February 12.
The word is that mild symptoms keep persisting and Cunnington won’t play Round 1, and possibly Round 2 also. He’s still very underdone.
Jed Anderson (calf) and Jared Polec (hamstring) will need to pass fitness tests in order to face Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, while Aaron Hall (groin) and Robbie Tarrant (adductor) are both touch and go.
Trent Dumont (calf) injury and is more likely for Round 2 or 3, but Jed Anderson (calf) and Jared Polec (hamstring) likely to be available.
PORT ADELAIDE
Hamish Hartlett has ruled himself out of the clash with North Melbourne due to a ‘minor niggle’ in his hamstring.
Connor Rozee (foot) and Sam Powell-Pepper (broken hand/personal leave) are also both unavailable.
Todd Marshall (cheek) and Trent McKenzie (corked thigh) are in the mix despite missing the second trial game against Adelaide.
Tyson Goldsack, who is not expected to play AFL this year, is continuing his rehabilitation after spraining his left medial cruciate ligament in a SANFL trial game a fortnight ago.
Rozee’s return timeline will be clearer once he resumes running in the next week.
RICHMOND
The league will face its first real test on the controversial sub rule after Nick Vlastuin was subbed out with an apparent knee injury.
The Tigers defender will be sent for scans, with teammate Kane Lambert suggesting it was ‘more than a knock’ of the knee that sent Vlastuin off. Watch this space.
Veteran defender Bachar Houli (calf) is yet to return to main training but the Tigers don’t think he’s far away.
The issue has lingered since late last year, but Richmond coach Damien Hardwick says Houli is a “probable” Round 2 return.
Noah Cumberland (knee) is still at least a month away, while Ivan Soldo (knee) is expected back late in the year.
ST KILDA
A wayward golf ball which hit Max King in the head last Thursday has ruled the key forward out of Round 1 with mild concussion symptoms. Zak Jones is more likely to play Round 1 than not, having overcome a recent hamstring injury. The Saints have warned they will take a “patient” approach with onballer Dan Hanneberry and his troublesome calf, meaning he will miss the start of the season. Ruckman Paddy Ryder has taken indefinite personal leave to reunite with family, but hopes are he will return to the club within a month. Veteran defender James Frawley will miss at least two months after suffering a serious hamstring injury in the AAMI Community Series win over Carlton. Ruckman Rowan Marshall (foot) looks set to miss the first month of the season, while captain Jarryn Geary (fractured leg) and Ryan Byrnes (hamstring) will be sidelined for extended periods. Recruit Brad Crouch (suspended) will be available in Round 3. Ben Paton (broken leg) will miss the season.
SYDNEY
Important pair Jake Lloyd (knee) and Callum Mills (concussion) are on track to play against Brisbane on Saturday night in good news for the Swans. There is still no exact return date for Lance Franklin (calf), but he completed a 13km football session at the weekend and he could play as soon as Round 2. Sydney is treading cautiously with its superstar forward and will periodically rest him even once he does get back. Ruckman Sam Naismith (knee) will focus on leg and quad strength, as well as change of direction, across the next month before transitioning into match play. Robbie Fox (finger) is still two months off, while Ben Ronke (kneecap pain) is the newest addition after experiencing discomfort in recent weeks. Ronke will enter a rehabilitation phase after exacerbating the issue in a weekend practice match hit-out with GWS.
WEST COAST
Stars Josh Kennedy (calf) and Tim Kelly (thumb) will be available after missing both the Eagles’ pre-season games against Fremantle.
Captain Luke Shuey strained a hamstring at training on Friday but was progressing well and the club hoped it was a two to three-week injury.
Former GWS small forward Zac Langdon is on track to make his club debut so long as he passes the concussion protocols.
Elliot Yeo (osteitis pubis) will start to ramp up his training on Monday, while Jake Waterman (back) is aiming for a return in two to three weeks.
Bailey Williams (ankle) is expected to be sidelined for two to three weeks also and Mark Hutchings (knee) is four to five away.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Easton Wood (hamstring) got through training this week, but he will miss Round 1.
Jason Johannisen was overlooked for the Melbourne pre-season clash and has been left out of the 22 to face Collingwood.
Hayden Crozier (shoulder) is out for an extended period.
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