Tigers young gun to miss start of season: Your club-by-club injury guide

Luckless Richmond defender Josh Gibcus will miss the first six to eight weeks of the season as he recovers slower than expected from his long-term knee injury.

The key defender, who has played two games in the last two seasons, has not suffered a specific setback but has not recovered as the club expected.

Tiger Josh Gibcus will miss the start of the season. Credit: Getty

Richmond confirmed on Tuesday that Gibcus would not be available for the early rounds of the season. A club source who could not be named said expectations were that Gibcus would miss at least the first month and possibly about two months of the season.

“He went a bit slower through the early stages of his rehab than we would have liked, but we cannot do anything about that because everyone’s body responds in different ways,” Richmond high-performance manager Ben Serpell said.

“So, he is still a long-term injury prospect, but is tracking quite well otherwise.

“We are unlikely to see Josh in the early rounds. Judson Clarke is the one leading the way among the ACL guys and he is looking at coming back around April.”

Judson Clarke is set for an April return.Credit: Getty Images

Gibcus tore his ACL in round two last season and required a knee reconstruction, sidelining him for the year. The knee injury came after he missed all of 2023 with a severe hamstring injury that required surgery.

Gibcus was taken at pick nine in the 2021 draft and while he has managed just 20 games to date due to his injuries, he showed enough in those games for Richmond fans to be excited by his potential.

“Josh has had two traumatic injuries season on season, which is why what we decided to do is take a conservative approach with him,” Serpell said.

“Josh is a long-term prospect and as we have said all along, we want to look after him. I think all Richmond fans would agree that once he is back, we want him to stay in the team instead of being in rehab again.”

Meanwhile, gun first year player Josh Smillie, who at pick nine was one of the batch of top picks taken by Richmond last year with a rich draft hand, suffered a hamstring injury in training on Tuesday.

“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.”

Richmond play match simulation against West Coast in Perth on February 17 before a practice match against Collingwood on February 26.

Injury blow: Mattaes Phillipou.Credit: AFL Photos

The Saints also received some bad injury news on Tuesday, just a day after defender Dougal Howard dislocated his shoulder at training in a potential blow to his hopes of cementing a spot in a back line without Josh Battle in 2025.

The Saints will be without young utility Mattaes Phillipou for round one after he was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right femur. The 20-year-old’s recovery is expected to take 10-12 weeks. Ruckman Rowan Marshall is also on light duties with a potential stress fracture of his pelvis with the Saints hopeful he will return early in the season.

Meanwhile Essendon defender Jordan Ridley has been ruled out of the Dons’ first practice match after scans revealed he has a minor hamstring strain. The 26-year-old spent time in Qatar last year as the club looked to address his soft tissue problems. Key defender Ben McKay has also had an interrupted pre-season after undergoing ankle surgery just before Christmas.

They’re not the only teams with injury concerns. We take a look at state of each team ahead of the 2025 season.

Adelaide

The Crows are in reasonable shape as they attempt to make finals for the first time since 2017. Nick Murray’s abdominal injury forced him off the track last week, but he will be fine, while recruit Isaac Cumming has recovered from a pre-Christmas hamstring injury and took part in match simulation on Monday. Ruckman Kieran Strachan is not available for round one as he recovers from foot surgery in early December to repair a stress fracture.

Brisbane Lions

Rebounding defender Keidean Coleman is unlikely to be available for round zero as he builds towards a return from a knee reconstruction after rupturing his ACL in opening round last year. He is among a bunch of knee reconstruction returnees including recruit Tom Doedee, Lincoln McCarthy and Darcy Gardiner, while star midfielder Lachie Neale has been spending time in and out of rehab after battling plantar fasciitis last year. He avoided surgery but has been handled with care. Oscar McInerney is also recovering from the shoulder injury he suffered in last year’s preliminary final win.

Oscar McInerney twice dislocated his shoulder against the Cats in the Lions’ preliminary final win.Credit: Getty Images

Carlton

It has been a tough pre-season for the Blues. Nic Newman is potentially out for the season after rupturing his patella tendon and Alex Cincotta’s hip will sideline him for round one. Newman has not completely given up hope of playing again in 2025 as he sought advice on how to fast track recovery, but he is a long shot. Sam Walsh’s return from a hamstring injury is going well as he faces a career managing his body carefully, while Charlie Curnow has been making positive steps on the track after knee surgery before Christmas. Jack Silvagni has been in rehab following last year’s knee injury as he prepares to play down back.

Collingwood

Nick Daicos was battling a sore foot leading into Christmas so he has been on a modified program since returning from the break in the hope the plantar fasciitis subsides. It’s likely to be managed in the early part of the season. Jordan De Goey is close to full training as he recovers from a groin issue. Tom Mitchell faces a long road back from his foot injury, but the signs since Christmas have been more positive than when he was diagnosed with a bone stress reaction in his foot. Lachie Sullivan has been in the rehab group too, but is not far from rejoining full training.

Jordan De Goey and Nick Daicos are working through injury.Credit: Getty Images

Essendon

Alwyn Davey jnr unfortunately required minor knee surgery last week, which is likely to keep him out of calculations for the opening round against Gold Coast. The Bombers have otherwise been relatively healthy. A bout of off-season surgeries including hip surgery for Jye Caldwell, wrist surgery for Andy McGrath and a knee arthroscope for Kyle Langford meant they started pre-season on modified programs, but they are tracking well now.

Fremantle

Ruckman Sean Darcy was sent to Qatar last week as he battles to overcome a knee issue, while champion Nat Fyfe had minor knee surgery this month – the Dockers are hopeful it’s only a minor setback. Michael Walters had similar knee surgery over Christmas and is gradually building his training program. Little-known Docker Odin Jones underwent spinal surgery in November after fracturing a vertebra when he fell at a friend’s house, ruling him out for the season.

Injury-plagued Fremantle ruckman Sean Darcy.Credit: AFL Photos

Geelong

Star recruit Bailey Smith is training well after being pulled back for a short period pre-Christmas due to a minor hamstring issue. Premiership midfielder Cam Guthrie is making slow progress as he looks to overcome a frustrating foot injury in the hope of having a consistent run at it in 2025, but opening round looks unlikely. The Cats’ big man, Toby Conway, just can’t get going – a minor back issue is his latest setback following on from navicular surgery midway through last year – while Shaun Mannagh’s foot caused the Cats to decrease his training load.

Gold Coast

Daniel Rioli is back on track after having an operation on his MCL in early December. The Suns are rapt with his progress as he prepares to make his debut for the club in 2025.

Daniel Rioli joined the Suns from the Tigers for season 2025.Credit: Getty Images

GWS

Stephen Coniglio (shoulder and face) and Josh Kelly (hip) had post-season surgeries, but the pair is slowly building back into full training with no concerns at this stage about availability for round one.

Hawthorn

Skipper James Sicily should be involved in match practice in the next fortnight after recovering from shoulder surgery. Defender Sam Frost is also likely to play a game then, too, as he has made good progress following the foot injury that forced him to miss the semi-final. Will Day is back in full training after shoulder surgery while Jack Ginnivan is back in match simulation after a slow build-up caused by a grumbling adductor. Mitch Lewis will take time as he recovers from a knee reconstruction and Hawks fans are nervously watching Calsher Dear’s progress from a bone stress reaction in his back after his brilliant performance in 2024.

Will Day has recovered from the shoulder injury that ruled him out of finals.Credit: AFL Photos

Melbourne

The Demons have had the odd setback but nothing to threaten availability ahead of round one. Max Gawn is recovering well from a larynx issue and Christian Petracca suffered a broken rib but has been running hard. Kysaiah Pickett returned to training after a leg infection sidelined him and the unlucky Tom Fullarton continues to rehab a hamstring injury. First-round draft pick Xavier Lindsay’s build-up is gradual as he was drafted while rehabilitating a posterior cruciate ligament injury, while intercept defender Jake Lever’s build-up from shoulder and knee operations has been steady.

North Melbourne

Callum Coleman-Jones is out until May with an Achilles injury but defender Aidan Corr should be back in full training following finger surgery in the first week of February. Caleb Daniel’s early January hamstring setback was only minor and he was involved in match simulation last week.

Port Adelaide

Todd Marshall’s season is done after he suffered an Achilles tendon injury while midfielder Willem Drew just had minor surgery on his foot to relieve pain from plantar fasciitis. He will be back in full training in a month.

Richmond

Key defender Gibcus is one of the Tigers’ forgotten talents after an unlucky run with injuries restricted him to just two matches in the past two seasons, so they won’t rush him in his return. The Tigers will have several players returning from knee reconstructions in 2025. Clarke is expected back around April while timelines are less certain on Mykelti Lefau – who also underwent a knee reconstruction in 2022 – and new draftee Taj Hotton, although both are tracking well.

St Kilda

Howard’s shoulder dislocation was a blow as the Saints wait for scans to determine the extent of the injury. Midfielder Paddy Dow spent the Christmas break in hospital with a nasty infection to his knee, which will delay his start to the season, while Hunter Clark has been eased back after missing training a fortnight ago with what the club said was soreness. Top 10 pick Alix Tauru has been on a modified program since the Saints selected him, knowing he needed to recover from a back injury. A stress fracture to his femur will keep Mattaes Phillipou sidelined for three months and ruckman Rowan Marshall is also on light duties with a potential stress fracture to his pelvis.

Dougal Howard is awaiting scans after dislocating his shoulder at training on MondayCredit: Getty Images

Sydney

Key forward Logan McDonald is in doubt for this year’s opening round as his progress from post-season surgery on his ankle has been slow. Club footy boss Leon Cameron said McDonald was focused on strengthening the ankle before joining in full training. Small forward Jesse Dattoli has a lumbar stress reaction in his back, which will sideline him for the next three months.

West Coast

Scans revealed Elliot Yeo had suffered a syndesmosis injury and damage to his MCL at training last week. Rhett Bazzo had foot surgery in January but should be available for round one, and while not injured, Liam Ryan remains under investigation after allegedly being involved in a fight at a music festival.

Western Bulldogs

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is unlikely to play in round one as he deals with personal issues, the club allowing him a flexible training program. After an excellent season last year Adam Treloar has had an interrupted pre-season with a calf niggle keeping him out of match simulation last week alongside high-flying forward Aaron Naughton, who also sustained a calf injury before Christmas. English has an abdominal injury.

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