AFL round 0 injury list: Darcy Parish in doubt for round 1, Chad Wingard making strong progress for Hawthorn

Brad Scott could be without one of his biggest stars for Essendon’s season opener after an untimely injury blow. Plus, an injured Demon is set for surgery.

Welcome to the round 0 injury list — your home of all the latest injury news from the AFL.

We’ll have you covered with all the latest news from the track or in matches during the opening round of the new AFL season.

Glenn McFarlane was at Collingwood training as the Pies continued their preparations for a preliminary final rematch against GWS and has the latest on Jeremy Howe and Nathan Murphy, while Josh Barnes has notes from clubs who still have another week to prepare for their seasons to begin.

DONS MIDFIELD STAR IN DOUBT FOR ROUND 1

Jay Clark

Star Essendon midfielder Darcy Parish is in serious doubt for the club’s season-opener against Hawthorn on Saturday with hamstring tightness.

Parish pulled up sore from training on Friday and has had scans.

While he is yet to be ruled out for the clash against the Hawks, the Bombers are unlikely to take any risks with the ball magnet.

His absence would be another huge blow for the Bombers as they prepare to give Sam Draper (groin), Nate Caddy (back) and Dylan Shiel (foot) every chance to play against the Hawks.

Parish, who re-signed a long term deal to stay at the club last year, is set to play a major role for the Bombers this year helping spearhead the midfield with Zach Merrett.

Essendon could be without Darcy Parish in round 1. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

BOWEY SET FOR EIGHT WEEKS ON SIDELINES

Glenn McFarlane

Melbourne defender Jake Bowey will miss two months of football with a broken collarbone, compounding Melbourne’s painful opening round loss to Sydney.

Bowey will have surgery this week, with Melbourne General Manager of AFL Football Performance Alam Richardson saying it was a blow for the Demons.

He was subbed out of Thursday night’s game after courageously contesting the ball, colliding with Swan Justin McInerney in the third quarter.

“Jake had some scans upon returning to Melbourne (on Friday afternoon), and these results have confirmed he has suffered a broken collarbone,” Richardson said.

“Jake will undergo surgery in the coming days, and we anticipate that he will be sidelined for approximately eight weeks.

“He has become an important member of our team, and we’re confident that he will approach his recovery with the same level of commitment that he brings to the game.”

Jake Bowey is set for surgery. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

HAWKS BUOYED BY WINGARD PROGRESS

Glenn McFarlane

Hawthorn is increasingly confident Chad Wingard can play a meaningful role this season after recent strong progress in his fightback from a ruptured Achilles.

The 30-year-old veteran suffered the injury in round 22 last year and was expected to be sidelined until the second half of this season.

But the Hawks have been buoyed by his recovery rate and he could play for Box Hill in the VFL within four weeks if he can maintain the same trajectory.

It would be a boost for Sam Mitchell’s Hawks, who have endured a frustrating run of injuries in the rundown to the round 1 clash with Essendon next Saturday.

Chad Wingard could line up for Box Hill in four weeks. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Dylan Moore and Seamus Mitchell look certain starters to take on the Bombers after overcoming their pre-season issues.

Moore was struck down by glandular fever earlier this year, keeping him away from the club for a period of time.

But the important small forward has recovered and said recently he was confident he would be right to play from the first round.

He plans to push hard at training next week to prove his fitness to take on Essendon.

He said recently on SEN: “It was a rough couple of weeks when I first got diagnosed, but I’m starting to do some running and contact stuff now which has been great.”

“I’ve learnt to have a bit more self control during this period – there is no point really pushing anything because I might come out of it on the wrong side.”

Mitchell had surgery last month after suffering a fractured jaw during match simulation but he is closing in on a return for the first game.

Dylan Moore looks like he’s overcome glandular fever which ate into his pre-season. Picture: Michael Klein.

MOORE, MACRAE SET TO BE FIT FOR ROUND ONE

Hawthorn vice-captain Dylan Moore is on track to play in round 1 after a bout of glandular fever, while Western Bulldogs star Jack Macrae has hit full fitness but his selection is not yet guaranteed.

Macrae played some minutes in a VFL hitout last weekend, his only game-time over summer after a late hamstring issue hurt his pre-season.

The ball magnet has no fitness concerns but having not played a full game leading into a round 1 date with Melbourne, his selection remains up in the air.

Defender James O’Donnell will play in a VFL hitout against North Melbourne on Saturday and should he get through the game he will be up for selection to face Melbourne.

O’Donnell has largely been a first-choice pick by Luke Beveridge in defence since joining the club last year and copped an ankle injury in the club’s first practice match against Hawthorn.

All-Australian defender Bailey Dale will also need to get through training next week to face Melbourne.

Hawks half-forward Moore had a battle with glandular fever late in the pre-season but is now seen as a likely starter for an MCG blockbuster against rivals Essendon.

The Hawks held Josh Weddle, Jack Gunston and Harry Morrison out of their final pre-season hitout but all three will be up to play the Bombers.

North Melbourne co-captain Luke McDonald will have to prove himself in the VFL match against Footscray as he pushes to play in round 1 after a pre-season dealing with a hamstring injury.

Should the defender be passed fit, his selection may not be locked in as the Roos field Zac Fisher, Colby McKercher and Harry Sheezel in defence.

Yet he would be captain with Jy Simpkin (concussion) ruled out and his experience would be crucial in an undermanned defence.

McDonald, alongside defender Aidan Corr and forward Eddie Ford, played three quarters of a VFL practice match last week and all three will take on Footscray.

Remade defender Charlie Comben impressed in the VFL last week and will also play this weekend, hoping to break into the side to face GWS Giants next weekend.

Essendon ruck Sam Draper remains very much in the running to face Hawthorn next week and he will play in a VFL scratch match against Northern Bullants on Friday.

Draper played a half against Geelong’s VFL side last week on his road back from groin surgery, while free agent signing Todd Goldstein impressed in the AFL side.

Midfielder Ben Hobbs (shoulder) and draftee Nate Caddy (soreness) will also play in the VFL on Friday.

Jeremy Howe on the track earlier in pre-season. Picture: Michael Klein

HOWE LONG?

The frustration was clear on injured defender Jeremy Howe’s face as he finished mid-session on Thursday, with no clear timeline on his return to the Magpies’ team.

While McRae insisted Collingwood was taking the conservative approach to Howe’s nagging corked calf, the premiership veteran still looked in pain as he came from the ground before having a long chat to the medical staff.

Howe had already been ruled out of the clash with the Giants, but it is not clear if he will be ready to go for the round 1 flag-unfurling game against Sydney on Friday week.

It’s a six-day turnaround from Saturday night to the Swans’ clash, and there is also a six-day gap to round 2 against St Kilda, which complicates matters further.

The 33-year-old trained for an hour before leaving the field for further consultation, heading into the rooms before the end of the session.

“It is an interesting one,” McRae said of Howe’s injury. “He sort of got this kick in the calf and it is just lingering ever so slightly.”

“We have gone the conservative approach. We feel like he could probably play, but there is a slight risk he could injure it, and he could be out for four or five weeks, so those sort of risks, we don’t really want to take at this time of the year.”

Nathan Murphy (right) on the sidelines during a Magpies intraclub match. Picture: Michael Klein

MURPH ON THE MOVE

Collingwood will give Nathan Murphy all the time he needs as he tries to return to competitive football after his battle with concussion.

Murphy was out on the track on Thursday, taking part in some of the non-contact aspects of the Magpies’ training session.

He has spoken openly about his challenges as he endeavours to get himself back in the right “frame of mind” after his latest concussion suffered in the grand final.

He also looks to be working on his technique approaching a contest, turning his head to the side and going side-on at the point of impact.

He worked for some time on several drills with assistant coach Jordan Roughead and new signing Wil Parker.

McRae said the club was continuing to support Murphy as he worked on his craft.

He supported the AFL’s new guidelines on concussion, saying it was important to ensure players’ welfare was being best protected.

“We are all wanting to be better in this (concussion) space and it is all coming really fast,” McRae said.

“We have taken a long time to catch up to this part of our game, and anything we can do to support the players and their futures, I am all in for.

“We’ve got ‘Murph’ in our system and you see (Angus) Brayshaw across the road (at Melbourne). We want our best players to play for a long time.”