AFL injury news round 2: All the latest updates from around the competition

Bailey Smith has been ruled out of Geelong’s clash with St Kilda, while a young Pie is set to miss the rest of the season. Get the latest injury news here.

Bailey Smith will miss tonight’s clash with St Kilda due to a calf issue.

The brilliant ball winner pulled up with a sore calf after his excellent debut performance in the demolition job over Fremantle in round 1.

But the Cats believe it is not a significant injury that will keep him out for an extended period.

Geelong will take a cautious approach in the belief he will miss only one game with the calf soreness.

The Cats at this stage are preparing for him to play next week against Brisbane in the game at the Gabba.

Bailey Smith is out of Geelong’s clash with St Kilda. Picture: Getty Images

It was initially set for the season opener but was rescheduled to round 3 due to Cyclone Alfred.

The Cats’ high performance team had a strong view it is better for Smith to have the week off and not risk a more significant injury as they look to go deep into finals again this year.

His spot in the team could be taken by hard nut Ted Clohesy or veteran playmaker Mitch Duncan.

Clohesy’s hardness around the ball could be prioritised over the elite ball use by Duncan.

Ruck Rhys Stanley is the other emergency for the game.

Reef McInnes left the field following this incident.#AFLDogsPiespic.twitter.com/bf9XRowH89

— AFL (@AFL) March 21, 2025

PIES FEAR WORST AS MCINNES HEADS FOR SCANS

— Josh Barnes

Collingwood confirmed on Saturday that Reef McInnes has suffered an ACL injury.

The Pies have listed the 22-year-old as out indefinitely.

“We are incredibly disappointed for Reef,” Magpies footy boss Charlie Gardiner said.

“He had an enormous summer and showed some really strong form in the pre-season and opening rounds of the season in a new defensive role.”

A former forward, McInnes was just starting to forge a partnership with Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe in defence before the cruel blow.

Reef McInnes will likely miss the rest of the season. Picture: Getty Images

McInnes signed a one-year deal late last year to stay at Collingwood and has played 23 games across five seasons.

“It’s devastating for the young man and his family and all of us, we put a lot of trust and hope in Reef that it was going to be a good season for him,” Pies coach Craig McRae said on Friday night.

The Pies will have to re-jig their defensive set-up but should have dasher Oleg Markov (calf) available to return after next weekend’s bye, if needed.

Ball magnet Tom Mitchell is hopeful of a return soon after the bye, with an ankle twinge his latest setback.

But the veteran is certain he is past foot issues that plagued his 2024 season.

Jordan De Goey got through his first game of the season on Friday night without any issue after an interrupted pre-season.

Ollie Lord was hurt in a SANFL trial match.

LORD HURT IN SANFL TRIAL MATCH

— Simeon Thomas-Wilson

Port Adelaide key forward Ollie Lord will undergo scans on his shoulder after he injured it in a SANFL trial game.

Lord fell on his shoulder early on in the Magpies’ trial game against West Adelaide on Saturday.

He was removed from the game and had his arm put in a sling.

While the Power are hopeful it isn’t a serious injury, it has to wait for Lord to get in for a scan to learn the extent of the injury.

He is facing at least a week on the sidelines, which has come at a terrible time for the 23-year-old.

Lord was not selected for the Power’s Round 1 side against Collingwood and despite that heavy loss he was not called into Ken Hinkley’s side for its clash against Richmond at the Adelaide Oval.

This has piqued the interest of rival clubs, with Melbourne and Geelong two clubs keeping a close eye on the key forward.

Contracted until 2026, Lord was tipped to have more opportunities this season with Charlie Dixon retired and Todd Marshall injured.

But Power assistant Josh Carr said Port wanted to field a smaller forward line and Lord was also “a little bit off in terms of his own form”.

“In previous years he’s been knocking the door down,” Carr said.

“He’s probably a little bit of a product of those pre-season injuries (to Ivan Soldo and Dante Visentini) because in the pre-season games, he played in the ruck a lot.“We’re just trying to give him his best chance now to go forward at the Maggies (SANFL) and get his form up so that when he comes into the AFL team, he comes in with confidence.”

Originally published as AFL injury news round 2: All the latest updates from around the competition