It was a bumper Tuesday with clubs releasing their injury updates which included some key info on popular players like Matt Rowell, Jarrod Brander, Bailey Smith and Nat Fyfe.

ROWELL GONE
This year’s must-have player Matthew Rowell (AF $527k, SC $470k – MID) is gone for 2020. The Gold Coast Suns confirmed he’d undergo surgery and will miss the next three months, effectively ending his season.

Suns Football Operation GM Jon Haines said: “It will be quite a significant amount of time out of the game.

“Typically these can be a three month and beyond recuperation period so we’d expect that will be typical of his case but we’ll see how it progresses.”

Time to trade him out but you can also start penciling him into your 2021 sides.

BRANDER BACK
West Coast have kept their cards close to their chest on the hip/lower back injury which forced Jarrod Brander (AF $354k, SC $235k – DEF/FWD) out of their Round Five game against Sydney but provided an update on Tuesday.

Eagles Football GM Craig Vozzo said: “He’s slowly gotten through the early part of this week and we’re confident he’ll do some more full training tomorrow and then we’ll assess whether he can play after that.”

With Luke Shuey (AF $671k, SC $507k – MID) and Jamaine Jones (AF $273k, SC $161k – FWD) both ruled out for this weekend’s clash with Adelaide with hamstring injuries, Brander will definitely be in contention if fit.

On Jones, Vozzo added: “Scans have shown that’s lower-grade as well. We think it’s probably a two-week injury, possibly three, but we’ll see how things pan out.”

CONCUSSED DOGS
Bailey Smith (AF $569k, SC $459k – FWD) and Laitham Vandermeer (AF $297k, SC $225k – MID/FWD) are ticking boxes on their way to proving their fitness for Round Six game against Carlton.

The pair were both concussed and forced out of Saturday night’s game against North Melbourne but the good news is they’ve got a Sunday game, giving them maximum recovery time.

Dogs Medical Services Manager Chris Bell said: “Both have recovered well over the last few days, and we will work through AFL concussion protocol to determine their availability towards the end of the week.”

Lachie Hunter’s return to availability may be a spanner in the works for Vandermeer, but he may also simply come in for Lin Jong who sustained a syndesmosis injury against North which will sideline him for six to eight weeks.

GAME OF FYFE
There continues to be positive vibes around a Nat Fyfe (AF $755k, SC $670k – MID) return in Round Six with the Dockers confirming he’s a “good chance to play”.

Freo Football GM Peter Bell said: “Nathan’s got really good strength in that right hamstring and he’s progressed really quickly over the past few days. He’s been running really well.

“Clearly, we’ll give him a thorough test on Wednesday to see how he pulls up. He’s a good chance to play.”

Meanwhile, Jesse Hogan and Griffin Logue were both ruled out, opening the door for other talls but Brennan Cox is a chance to return.

GOOD WARD
GWS coach Leon Cameron declared midfielder Callan Ward (AF $564k, SC $496k – MID) is “fine and available this week” after missing Sunday’s match with Hawthorn due to soreness.

Ward, who returned in Round Two after missing a year with an ACL injury, was frustratingly withdrawn on Saturday, after full lockout, leaving many coaches who own him short.

Expensive midfielder Tim Taranto (AF $835k, SC $555k – MID) is one to put on the watchlist as he’s closing in on a return from a shoulder injury sustained in pre-season.

Cameron said: “Tim Taranto is ready to return too. He’ll be considered for selection. He’s our reigning best and fairest and would be a great inclusion to our midfield when he’s ready.” You’d best be advised to wait for his price to drop.

OTHERS
Sydney confirmed two debutants for Sunday’s game against Richmond in Dylan Stephens (AF $262k, SC $189k – MID) and Chad Warner (AF $194k, SC $117k – MID). Stephens was pick five in last year’s National Draft, hence his hefty price tag.

It seems like we all missed out on a cheap ruck downgrade option with Sydney coach John Longmire admitting Joel Amartey (AF $170k, SC $123k – RUCK) was close to a debut before injury intervened.

“Unfortunately he did a groin on the weekend as well so he’s missing for a couple,” Longmire said. “He would’ve been a real chance of playing this weekend if he had got through last week’s hit-out.”

Carlton confirmed relatively popular AFL Fantasy forward Jack Silvagni (AF $424k, SC $280k – FWD) will be a test to return from a ribs/lung injury sustained a fortnight ago.

Geelong coach Chris Scott floated the idea of resting Gary Ablett (AF $612k, SC $458k – FWD), although that’s far from confirmed, labeling it an option and giving no timeframe on it.

TOMORROW
Nathan Buckley will front the press where we’ll hopefully get an update on Brayden Maynard’s (AF $670k, SC $543k – DEF) mystery injury which forced him off late in Friday’s game against Essendon.