AFL pre-season 2025: All the latest injury news from across the competition
SuperCoach alert! The Roos have taken a big blow to their pre-season preparations with one of their young guns now in doubt for round 1. Get the latest pre-season injury news here.
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A growing history of hamstring woes means North Melbourne hard nut George Wardlaw will be nursed through a training setback as the Roos wait on scan results.
The tough midfielder had enjoyed a strong pre-season but left the track early on Wednesday after grabbing at his hamstring about 30 minutes into a lengthy session.
Midfield coach Leigh Adams said while the scan results would determine the extent of the problem, Wardlaw would likely “miss a bit of footy”.
“It looks like a hamstring. We’re not sure about the severity of it yet, he’s going to get a scan now,” Adams told reporters on Wednesday afternoon.
“It’s unfortunate news for George, he’s done 90 per cent of the pre-season, he’s been really good form, his body was strong and fit and healthy but unfortunately it looks like he is going to miss a bit of footy.”
Wardlaw already has a concerning history of hamstring woes, having missed five of the last six games of his debut season in 2023 due to a strain.
Adams said that history would mean the club doesn’t push his return.
“The one thing I do know about George is he is really resilient and he has been through it a few times now,” he said.
“He will do his rehab really diligently and make sure he will get himself strong fit and ready to go. How long that is we are not too sure. With his mindset and resilience and professionalism I am sure he will be out there sooner or later.
“Clearly with his history you would think it would be a little bit longer than shorter depending on the severity but we would have to take a pretty cautious approach I would say.”
Wardlaw averaged 19.1 possessions, including 9.6 contested possessions, a game last year in 18 matches and is seen as a key component of Alastair Clarkson’s future midfield.
Midfield running mate Harry Sheezel said he was “shattered” for Wardlaw.
“We will wrap our arms around him. He’s worked so hard on his body the last few years to get it right,” he said.
“This is a bit of a setback, it will be hard for him but I have no doubt he will keep working hard and get his body right.”
The Roos were put through a big session on Wednesday before the club takes a four-day break, powering through four quarters of match play.
Adams singled out fifth-year Roo Tom Powell as an onballer to watch in 2025.
“You can see he has put the size on and he is now ready to take the game on by the scruff of the neck,” he said.
STAR EAGLES RECRUIT HURT IN PRE-SEASON BLOW
Boom recruit Liam Baker has sent a scare through West Coast after hurting his ankle during match simulation on Wednesday.
Baker, who arrived from Richmond during the off-season, reportedly limped from the field and was seen with strapping around his right ankle.
It was reported he left training and headed straight for the rooms after receiving treatment.
The setback came only days after star on-baller Elliott Yeo suffered knee and ankle injuries in a training incident.
Yeo hurt his medial ligament in his right knee and sustained syndesmosis damage while being tackled during match simulation.
“There are always risks involved as we increase the intensity at training to prepare for the season, and unfortunately Elliot has sustained injuries to his right knee and ankle,” Eagles general manager Football Gavin Bell said.
“We are working through his rehab program and a return-to-play timeline.
“At this stage, we’re hopeful he will be available in the early part of the season.”
DOGS DEFENDER RULED OUT OF START OF 2025
Rebounding defender Jason Johannisen has been ruled out of the start of the season after suffering a hamstring injury at training.
The 32 year old will go under the knife to repair the damage, with the Western Bulldogs ruling Johannisen out of action for the next 2-3 months.
With the season less than six weeks away, Johannisen is likely to miss at least the opening two games and could be sidelined until as late as the end of April.
It is the latest setback for the 2016 Norm Smith Medallist, who has endured a wretched run of injury form in recent seasons.
He has played just one full season, with his best run coming in 2018.
But in recent years he has just managed 27 of 71 games, playing just nine matches in 2024.
STAR BOMBER’S OPENING ROUND HOPES IN GUN AFTER LATEST SETBACK
Gun Bombers defender Jordan Ridley will be racing the clock to be fit for the opening match of the season after a hamstring injury at training.
The 26 year old was sent for scans after pulling up sore, with the club ruling him out of the practice match against the Western Bulldogs on February 15.
Ridley had spent time in Qatar during the off-season in a bid to fix his nagging soft-tissue injuries that has plagued his career.
The intercepting back is seen as a key part of Essendon’s defensive unit, however played just nine games in 2024 and only once has played a full season, in 2020 when there was only 17 games.
It adds to a growing list of injury concerns at Essendon, with Jye Caldwell and Ben McKay yet to fully integrate into the team’s training group.
Caldwell had surgery in August after a career-best season at the Bombers, having played through a hip issue in the final weeks of the season.
He is taking part in some match simulation and training drills, with the club hopeful for him to be fit for the start of the campaign.
McKay had a clean out of an existing ankle complaint in December, and has been running away from the group but is yet to return to the fold.
The missing trio of experienced Bombers will worry fans as the season nears, with the club’s campaign starting earlier than ever with an opening round clash with Gold Coast.
TIGER CUB AVOIDS CATASTROPHIC START TO 2025
Richmond’s coveted midfield draftee Josh Smillie has avoided a major hamstring injury after coming from the field during match simulation.
Smillie was joined by fellow draftee Jasper Alger on the sidelines after the injury scare on Friday, but scans revealed it was a minor injury.
Alger hyper-extended his knee in the scratch match but suffered no damage.
Tigers high performance boss Ben Serpell said Smillie would remain in contention for the practice matches in a few weeks’ time.
“Josh has come to the Club and had a sporadic load over the last little while, which is typical of most first years,” Serpell said.
“Because of that (and his minor hamstring issue) we have decided to take a conservative approach with him and give him some consistent training.
“We still expect him to be around the mark for the early parts of the season, hopefully by trial (game) time.
“Jasper hyper-extended his knee in match play last week. He got a little bit spooked, but the scans came back positively.
“He will train a little bit later this week and there is a chance he will get out for match play (on Friday).
“But if not this week, it is going to be next week (that he returns to partaking in match play).”
Meanwhile, key defender Josh Gibcus will miss about two months of the home-and-away season as he slowly progresses from his torn ACL.
Richmond will play West Coast on February 17, followed by a clash with Collingwood on February 26 as a part of the pre-season.
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