AFL injury news round 13: All the injury updates from across the league

Zach Reid is set to miss the rest of the season as the luckless defender has been dealt another blow, while the Dons will also lose Mason Redman and Darcy Parish.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 09: Zach Reid of the Bombers looks on during an Essendon Bombers AFL training session at The Hangar on April 09, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Essendon ball winner Darcy Parish is facing six weeks on the sidelines while dashing defender Mason Redman will miss at least Sunday’s blockbuster with Carlton.

And luckless defender Zach Reid could miss the remainder of the season after copping a pectoral injury.

Parish has been out since round 10 with a calf complaint but the Bombers revealed on Tuesday that issue had deepened, with the All-Australian sent for scans after feeling discomfort during a running session on the weekend.

The scans showed a strain in the calf and he is now expected to miss five to six weeks.

Redman will not play against the Blues after scans showed a low-grade hamstring strain after he pulled up sore following Sunday’s loss to Gold Coast.

Zach Reid is likely to miss the rest of the season. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images.

In better news for the Dons, goalkicker Kyle Langford (corked hip) and ruck Todd Goldstein (ankle) will be tested and could play against the Blues.

Nate Caddy (illness) will also be available.

Key defender Reid has been dealt constant injury blows in his nine-game career, including a hamstring strain picked up early in round 1 against Hawthorn.

The torn pectoral could rule him out for three months, potentially ending his season.

“It’s devastating that he now faces another extended period on the sidelines after building a strong block of form in the VFL, which had him on the verge of an AFL recall,” Bombers footy boss Daniel McPherson said.

“He’s still only 22 years old and has plenty of great footy ahead of him, we’re confident his luck will turn and he will be a great long-term defender for the Essendon footy club.”

COLLINGWOOD HOPING TO RE-GAIN ELLIOTT FOR FINALS PUSH

Collingwood high-flyer Jamie Elliott is expected to return in time to build to a finals campaign, with the forward’s foot injury to rule him out for up to eight weeks.

Elliott has not played since round 9 due to a vascular injury, with his former coach Nathan Buckley revealing this week the goalkicker had been left with a “black” foot during games due to a lack of blood flow.

Despite some fears Elliott would be sidelined for a significant time, Pies fitness boss Jarrod Wade said the issue was almost cleared.

Jamie Elliott is battling a foot injury. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“Some of the follow up testing he has had for the vascular issue has shown us that the issue has resolved or is almost getting to the point of getting 95 per cent resolved,” he said.

“We know that now he has had a long lay off and he has not been able to run for the past five or six weeks he will now need a block of work.”

Collingwood has listed Elliott as being out for six to eight weeks, with an eight week return seeing him back in action at round 20.

Elliott has been working in a pool and on a treadmill and is expected to run outside later this week.

Collingwood will test utility Will Hoskin-Elliott’s hamstring before Monday’s King’s Birthday blockbuster against Melbourne, with the Pies sorely in need of injury cover in the forward half.

Jamie Elliott of the Magpies marks over Ben McKay of the Bombers during Anzac Day. Picture: Michael Klein

Key forward Brody Mihocek (hamstring, out for three weeks) and Mason Cox (concussion and knee, five to seven weeks) remain sidelined from that attack, while Reef McInnes (concussion) will be available to face Melbourne.

Key forward Dan McStay is tracking to play some football minutes after the club’s round 15 bye as he recovers from an ACL tear suffered before Christmas.

Each of Jordan De Goey (abdomen, three weeks), Tom Mitchell (foot, up to three weeks), Scott Pendlebury (bicep, three weeks) remain sidelined.

Summer signing Josh Eyre will play in the VFL after a lengthy hamstring injury.

A resurgent Hawthorn is close to gaining spearhead Mitch Lewis (knee) back, with the forward likely to play some match time next week.

Ruck Lloyd Meek (ankle) will be a test before Saturday’s clash with GWS Giants.

North Melbourne co-captain Jy Simpkin has gotten over a quad injury that kept him sidelined since round 8 and will be ready to return for Saturday’s winnable clash with West Coast.

Young gun Colby McKercher (foot) remains out.

LIBBA TO RETURN

Western Bulldogs onballer Tom Liberatore has been given the green light to return to the field in Friday night’s crunch clash with the Brisbane Lions.

Liberatore had sat out the past four matches and underwent a series of tests after being placed in concussion protocols following a round 8 loss to Hawthorn.

However, the 32-year-old now needs only to get through main training on Wednesday to be selected to face the Lions.

Tom Liberatore is set to return on Friday night. Picture: David Crosling

“Tom has built some great continuity in his training in the last few weeks,” Western Bulldogs head of sports medicine Chris Bell said.

“He has progressed as well as we could have hoped and ticked every possible box to declare his availability.”

Fellow midfielder Ed Richards will be further assessed over the next 48 hours but is also expected to be available after missing last week’s win over Collingwood through concussion.

Laith Vandermeer will face a fitness test after suffering a corky to his hamstring against the Magpies, but midfielder-forward James Harmes has been ruled out for three to four weeks with a low-grade hamstring tear.