AFL injuries 2020: Your club’s injury concerns for every round of the season
An injury to a Collingwood big man has opened the door for a Magpies debut on Thursday night. Who else is fit and who will be on the sidelines when footy restarts? Get the latest from every club.
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After a lengthy break, injury lists have shrunk.
But there are still some key players set to be sidelined at each club for Round 2, and some selection headaches for coaches ahead of the season restart.
We’ve taken a look at every club’s injury list — and what it means for team selection this week.
ADELAIDE
Riley Knight (heel) – 4-6 weeks
Tyson Stengle (club suspension — 4 weeks
Adelaide’s young list will head into Saturday night’s blockbuster Showdown 48 with only Riley Knight and Tyson Stengle unavailable for selection. Crows science and medical co-ordinator Steve Saunders said Knight had trouble with his heel bone during the early COVID-19 period and had a small bone spur removed. Saunders and Knight’s return to running would need to progress slowly. But it looks like defender Tom Doedee is likely to make his long-awaited AFL return after he tore his ACL against Hawthorn in Round 1 last year. Saunders said Doedee had been in great condition for some time. The Crows were put through physical match simulation at training on Saturday, in preparation for playing Port Adeaide, in which teenage defender Fischer McAsey, who made his AFL debut in Round 1, continued to impress coaches. With small forward Stengle out following a club-imposed ban for a drink driving charge during the COVID-19 shutdown, the likes of Ned McHenry could earn a call-up.
BRISBANE LIONS
James Madden (quarantine) – 1-2 weeks
Marcus Adams (foot) – 2-3 weeks
The Lions could not be much better placed entering the season restart, with only two players not in the mix for Round 2 selection. Adams is still recovering from foot surgery but is expected to be back running soon. Captain Dayne Zorko (Achilles) and ruckman Stef Martin (PCL) had been under an injury cloud a couple of weeks ago but have since resumed full training.
CARLTON
Nic Newman (elbow) – Test
Zac Fisher (ankle) – Test
Tom De Koning (ankle) – 1-2 weeks
Caleb Marchbank (knee) – won’t play Round 2
Matthew Kreuzer (foot) – Indefinite
Brodie Kemp (ACL) – Indefinite
Charlie Curnow (knee) – season
Former Hawthorn ruckman Marc Pittonet is in line to take on All-Australian Max Gawn in Round 2. Pittonet, 24, finished fourth in last year’s Liston Trophy after averaging 17 disposals and 38 hit-outs in 14 VFL games, and Alastair Clarkson would’ve preferred to keep the 202cm ruckman. Matthew Kreuzer remains a long way off while coach David Teague will desperately be hoping speedster Zac Fisher gets up for Saturday’s clash. The Blues haven’t beaten Melbourne since 2016 and the clubs haven’t met at Marvel Stadium since 2009, back when Brendan Fevola booted 7.0 and Chris Judd was best-afield in a 57-point win.
COLLINGWOOD
Mason Cox (Knee) – Unavailable
Mark Keane (Quarantine) – Available
Anton Tohill (Quarantine) – Available
Adam Treloar (Calf) – 1-2 weeks
Levi Greenwood (Calf) – 2-4 weeks
Ben Reid (Calf) – 4-6 weeks
Tom Langdon (Knee) – 6-8 weeks
Dayne Beams (Mental health) – Indefinite
Coach Nathan Buckley revealed on Wednesday night that Mason Cox will not play against Richmond in Round 2 after battling a knee complaint. He will instead play in a practice game against Richmond’s non-selected players, with off-season recruit Darcy Cameron making his Magpies debut.
He just missed a couple of match practice sessions – pretty much eight quarters of our preparation, so we’re going in with our hardest fittest team and the players that are most ready for Round 2 and Coxy just falls shy of that,” Buckley said on Fox Footy.
“His preparation hasn’t been great, unfortunately. He came back as fit as anyone, to be honest, from the isolation period, and I don’t think far away, but we just want to get this body of work into him on Wednesday night and see how he goes beyond Round 2.”
Rising Star winner Jaidyn Stephenson will play in a reserves scratch match against Richmond on Thursday.
ESSENDON
Dyson Heppell (foot) – Test
Orazio Fantasia (quad) – 1-2 weeks
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (ankle) – Doubtful
Joe Daniher (groin) – Indefinite
Noah Gown (foot) – Indefinite
Harrison Jones (foot) – Indefinite
Lachlan Johnson (knee) – season
Tom Hird (foot) – Indefinite
The mosquito fleet might be about to be hit with a can of mortein, with both Orazio Fantasia and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti unavailable for the clash with the Swans. The club is adamant Jake Stringer will be 100 per cent after scans on a toe last week and then a training incident – where he hobbled from the groin after being trodden on, before returning later in the session. Heppell is progressing well after foot surgery, then an infection in that same joint, and if he isn’t right to take on Sydney, he won’t be far off. The good news is that underrated defender Patrick Ambrose is back from a PCL issue and Cale Hooker is also ready to roll after hip surgery. Even if McDonald-Tipungwuti is out for a few weeks, the Dons injury list is short enough that they have few excuses not to get it done this year. The list demographic and talent means this team should set its sights on finals.
FREMANTLE
Sam Sturt (back) – Test
Matt Taberner (back) - Test
Joel Hamling (ankle) – 2-4 weeks
Alex Pearce (ankle) – 2-4 weeks
Liam Henry (knee) – TBC
Stefan Giro (knee) – 4-8 weeks
Fremantle head into round two with a slimmer injury list than when they went into isolation. That is the good news. The bad news is they are set to be without their two best key defenders in Joel Hamling and Alex Pearce for a number of weeks after the duo had further surgery on their injured ankles last month. The Dockers are set to welcome back David Mundy (leg), Nathan Wilson (toe), Blake Acres (hamstring) and even possibly spearhead Jesse Hogan (foot and mental health) for their clash against Brisbane on June 13. Cam McCarthy is expected to be available for selection after his shock collapse at training last week, along with Rising Star nominee and popular KFC SuperCoach rookie Sam Sturt despite his back complaint.
GEELONG
Jack Steven (chest) Test
Josh Jenkins (back) Unavailable
Nakia Cockatoo (hamstring) 2-3 weeks
Lachie Fogarty (knee) TBC
Stefan Okunbor (Achilles) Season
All eyes are on recruit Jack Steven as he aims to prove his fitness for Friday night. He was stabbed on May 17 and while he avoided surgery, he has missed most of the Cats’ match preparations. Steven is “desperate” to play, football boss Simon Lloyd said this week, with competitive simulation his final hurdle. He is set to attempt to prove his availability for the clash with Hawthorn in a main training session on Tuesday. Geelong captain Joel Selwood told 3AW he wasn’t sure whether the club might make Steven wait one more week after his stabbing incident but said his training intensity was off the charts. He also revealed Josh Jenkins will be unavailable for selection with a back complaint. Other than that, the Cats have managed to escape the hiatus period largely unscathed and will be champing at the bit for a string of games at home – literally this time around, with their fortress of GMHBA Stadium now hosting games that would have otherwise been at the MCG.
GOLD COAST
Brandon Ellis (calf) — 1 week
Izak Rankine (hamstring) – 1-2 weeks
Mitch Riordan (ACL) – Season
The Suns are just where they would like to be. A calf injury to prized recruit Brandon Ellis will see him miss their first game back, but they are fairly injury free besides that minor blow. Charlie Ballard (shoulder) and Wil Powell (knee) both took part in match simulation last Friday night, showing they had shaken off their injury issues. Ballard looked right at home in defence in that hitout, while third-year Sun Powell spend significant time on the wing and also rotated forward to push his case for a Round 2 call-up. Veterans Pearce Hanley and Jarrod Harbrow also both took part in the session and are ready to return after missing Round 1. But the club has confirmed the much-anticipated debut of Izak Rankine is again delayed, ruling the 20-year-old out of Saturday’s clash with West Coast with a hamstring injury. The Suns are set to take a cautious approach with thr former No.3 pick, saying he is a couple of weeks away from a debut.
GWS GIANTS
Callan Ward (knee) — Test
Tim Tarranto (shoulder) – 4-6 weeks
The Giants have constantly had no shortage of players on their injury list over the past couple of seasons, but enter Round 2 as one of the healthiest teams in the competition. Reigning best-and-fairest Tim Taranto is still some time away with a shoulder, but Zac Williams is set to return after missing Round 1 with Achilles soreness and could spend more time in the midfield to help fill Taranto’s spot. Midfielder Callan Ward is also poised to make a return and play his first game since Round 4 last year after shining in an intra-club hitout on the weekend. However with their first two games coming in the space of five days, the Giants are considering resting him from their Round 2 clash.
HAWTHORN
Jaeger O’Meara (facial fracture) – Test
Changkuoth Jiah (hamstring) — Test
Blake Hardwick (pectoral) – Test
Daniel Howe (foot) – 4-6 weeks
Jarman Impey (knee) – 1-2 months
Will Golds (knee) – Season
The Hawks would love a full line-up ahead of what coach Alastair Clarkson has labelled a “significant challenge” against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on Friday night. However, a cloud remains over key midfielder O’Meara and rising defender Hardwick. The Hawks have said they will give the duo every opportunity to prove their fitness this week and are exploring helmet options to protect O’Meara’s facial fracture. Hardwick is fit again, the main concern for him whether he has done enough contact work since suffering his pectoral muscle before Round 1. Impey is progressing well since having a knee reconstruction last July, but is still some time away. Youngster Changkouth Jiath (hamstring) was the only casualty from their match practice over the weekend, with 43 Hawks taking part.
MELBOURNE
Harley Bennell (calf) — Test
Aaron Nietschke (knee) – Season
Kade Kolodjashnij (concussion) – Indefinite
Almost a clean bill of health for the Demons entering Round 2, with only two exceptions. Young midfielder Nietschke will be out for the season after rupturing his ACL during pre-season training in December. Kolodjashnij has not played an AFL game since Round 3 last year and remains sidelined with ongoing concussion-related issues. Two other Demons who had been on the injury list – Harley Bennell and Aaron vandenBerg – have been back in full training in recent weeks and will push their cases for senior games in coming weeks. Bennell will need the green light from Melbourne’s medical department.
NORTH MELBOURNE
Luke Davies-Uniacke (groin) – TBC
Nick Larkey (foot) — 1-2 weeks
Majak Daw (pectoral) – 3-4 weeks
Kyron Hayden (Achilles) – 3-4 weeks
Flynn Perez (knee) – 4-5 weeks
Kayne Turner (foot) – 4-5 weeks
Ed Vickers-Willis (knee) – 4-5 weeks
Taylor Garner (hamstring) – indefinite
Ben Jacobs (concussion) – indefinite
North Melbourne has a decent injury list but in reality how many of the casualties would be considered walk-up starts in the best 22? Majak Daw (pectoral) certainly, Kayne Turner and Luke Davies-Uniacke potentially, but unfortunately the remainder are far more familiar with the medical room than the selection table. Nick Larkey (foot) was ruled out of their Round 2 clash against GWS on Thursday and is no certainty to be back next week. Fringe Kangaroos Aiden Bonar, Mason Wood, Tristan Xerri and Dom Tyson will again be vying for one of the four interchange spots when coach Rhyce Shaw sits down on Thursday to pick the team. Keen to see Josh Walker in action after the recycled swingman was knocked out early in the Round 1 win over St Kilda, while Jack Ziebell, who injured his knee in the season-opener, has returned in top nick.
PORT ADELAIDE
Mitch Georgiades (calf) — Test
Tobin Cox (quad) – 2-3 weeks
Willem Drew (foot) – 6-8 weeks
Port Adelaide went into the COVID-19 shutdown with eight players on their injury list including former co-captain Ollie Wines (shoulder) and veteran Charlie Dixon (abductor). But the break has proven beneficial and most of their injured players, as well as ruckman Scott Lycett (achilles), have used the break to get their bodies right. Only two players remain on their injury list as they head into Saturday’s Showdown 48.
Robbie Gray, who is a proven performer when it comes to playing the Crows – winning five Showdown medals – gave the Power’s football department a scare when he broke his toe after dropping a weight on it in the gym in May. But coach Ken Hinkley confirmed he’d overcome the injury: “It was a broken toe on his kicking foot as well and there’s always some risk with that but, as of (Saturday), something would have to go wrong again not to have him next Saturday night.”
Young forward Mitch Georgiades (calf), who booted two goals on debut, will be assessed of this week’s game after being on a modified program last week.
Currently sitting top of the AFL ladder, Port go into the Showdown as solid favourites and will celebrate their 150th anniversary this weekend by wearing their historic prison bars guernsey.
RICHMOND
Bachar Houli (calf) – test
Noah Cumberland (knee) – season
Lather, rince, repeat. No, this is not a new COVID-19 guideline but a warning to AFL rivals hoping this unprecedented shutdown would bring Richmond back to the pack. That said, whatever is in the water at Punt Rd should be trialled as a possible coronavirus vaccine because the Tigers are largely immune to injuries. All Australian defender Bachar Houli (calf)
is “highly probable” to play according to Richmond coach Damien Hardwick. First-year Tigers forward Noah Cumberland (knee) will miss the rest of the season after he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament at training last month. The Brisbane Lions Academy product was selected by the Tigers with pick 43 in last year’s national draft. Tigers coach Damien Hardwick has the luxury of potentially naming an unchanged line-up from Round 1, unless the likes of Jack Higgins, Jack Ross, Kamdyn McIntosh or Noah Balta impress on the training track this week.
ST KILDA
No injuries
The Saints are the only team in the competition without any complaints to report, with the Western Bulldogs awaiting on Sunday night. Jake Carlisle missed the opening round with a back issue but has been training throughout the hiatus, but might have to fight for his spot with the likes of Josh Battle, Dylan Roberton and Dougal Howard all fit to play. Jade Gresham suffered a PCL injury in the opening loss to North Melbourne but has recovered fully, with the likes of Ben Long (ankle) and Jimmy Webster (back) also benefiting physically from the extended lay-off.
SYDNEY
Sam Naismith (hamstring) — test
Ben Ronke (Knee) – 1-2 weeks
Lance Franklin (Hamstring) – 7-8 weeks
Sam Reid (Calf) – TBC
Jackson Thurlow (Calf) – TBC
Hopes Lance Franklin would be fit for Round 2 went out the window when the star forward suffered another hamstring injury after returning to club training, which could see him miss the first half of the season. Coach John Longmire revealed on Thursday that luckless ruckman Sam Naismith has hamstring tightness on the eve of Round 2 and will be tested on Thursday. That’s one for SuperCoaches to keep a close eye on. Small forward Ronke is set to miss the club’s Round 2 clash with Essendon due to some bone bruising in his knee, while defender Jackson Thurlow is still increasing his training load after suffering a minor calf strain.
WEST COAST
Mark Hutchings (knee) – 2-4 weeks
Jarrod Cameron (pubic stress) – 2-4 weeks
Mitch O’Neill (back) – TBC
West Coast head into the Gold Coast hub in a strong position, with most of their squad available for selection. Premiership tagger Mark Hutchings had minor knee surgery and is set to miss the restart of the season, while coach Adam Simpson ruled out second-year small forward Jarrod Cameron for round two as he continues to work his way back from a pubic bone stress injury. The Eagles are set to welcome the return of Oscar Allen, who had knee, ankle and hernia troubles during the pre-season, while defender Tom Cole has recovered from a broken thumb. Stars Jeremy McGovern (heel) and Josh Kennedy (elbow) have used the extended break to help overcome niggles they had leading into round one and appear to be fighting fit for their clash against Gold Coast.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Tom Liberatore (knee) – available
Lachie Hunter (club suspension) – 4 weeks
Aaron Naughton (knee) – TBC
Roarke Smith (injured) — 1-2 weeks
Taylor Duryea (groin) – 1-2 weeks
Riley Garcia (knee) – Indefinite
Rhylee West (PCL) – TBC
The Dogs are in a great spot with only a few injuries to key players and will have Aaron Naughton in their side against St Kilda on Sunday night after he overcame knee soreness. Tom Liberatore is fully fit after his own knee battles and while not strictly a like-for-life for the suspended Lachie Hunter he will be a valued member of the midfield. Patrick Lipinski (concussion), Lin Jong (hamstring), and Rhylee West (PCL) are also expected to be available. Taylor Duryea has been helped by the shutdown as he battles groin issues but is set to be sidelined for another 1-2 weeks, along with Roarke Smith.
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