AFL Round 1 injury and selection news: All the latest updates from around the competition

Hawthorn have revealed a timeline for injured star James Worpel while the Power and Saints have their own concerns. See the latest injury news here.

Hawthorn has breathed a sigh of relief after midfielder James Worpel was cleared of a serious ankle injury from a nasty incident that forced him from the field against Sydney.

Worpel has avoided surgery and will miss three to four weeks with a moderate grade ankle syndesmosis injury after his right leg was caught under himself in a Brodie Grundy tackle during the second quarter of the AFL season opener on Friday night.

Hawthorn fitness boss Peter Burge said the 26-year-old, who is due to come out of contract at the end of this season, would be managed conservatively, suggesting he was unlikely to return until after the Hawks’ round 4 bye.

“(Worpel) has been for scans and the scans are relatively promising. He’s got a moderate-grade syndesmosis ankle injury,” Burge said.

James Worpel. Picture: Getty Images

“We’re thinking it’s a three to four-week turnaround. He certainly won’t need any surgery. It’ll be conservative management like we’ve done before – we had Lloyd Meek, Jack Scrimshaw and Nick Watson last year with the same injury and we were able to turn them around in a pretty reasonable time. We’re confident that we’ll be able to do the same with this one.”

Burge said 2024 forward sensation Calsher Dear would have another scan this week on his back as he recovered from a stress fracture, with both him and Mitch Lewis yet to be placed on a clear timeline for a return.

It came as powerful St Kilda forward Mitch Owens raced the clock to prove his fitness in time for the Saints’ season opener against Adelaide.

Mitch Owens. Picture: Getty Images

Owens, who was cleared of major damage to his AC joint after coming from the field in the practice match against Port Adelaide, will need to pass a fitness test later next week to take his place in the side.

St Kilda had last week refused to rule Max King out of a round 1 return, but the spearhead is yet to rejoin training following arthroscopic surgery on his right knee 12 days ago.

It means King is also set to miss the round 2 Saturday night clash against Geelong, and is more likely to return the week after against Richmond.

The Saints expect both Jack Sinclair (hamstring) and Rowan Marshall (pelvis) to play after missing both pre-season games following injury setbacks over summer.

POWER SKIPPER SET FOR ROUND 1

- Simeon Thomas-Wilson

Port Adelaide captain Connor Rozee trained at Alberton on Monday after scans cleared him of any injury to his toe.

Rozee departed the Power’s internal trial early on Friday evening after hurting his toe after being tackled by Jason Horne-Francis.

The Power said it would take no risks with Rozee - with Zak Butters, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher and Todd Marshall already long-term injuries - and were confident that the skipper would be fine.

He was still sent in for a scan on Saturday and it cleared him of any injury.

Connor Rozee. Picture: Michael Klein

Key defender Esava Ratugolea underwent a testing individual session as he tries to prove his fitness for Round 1.

Ratugolea had to have his meniscus trimmed after hurting his knee in a warm-up and was considered touch and go for Collingwood at the MCG.

The emergence of Jeremy Finlayson as an option in defence does allow the Power to not take any risks with Ratugolea.

Over at West Lakes defender Max Michalanney was still marking the footy with one hand as he comes back from a thumb injury.

Key defender Mark Keane was able to take part in the light session as he returns from a quad issue suffered against Brisbane.

Chayce Jones did running away from the main group as he recovers from an AC joint injury.

Originally published as AFL Round 1 injury and selection news: All the latest updates from around the competition