Plenty of clubs released their injury updates on Tuesday, with Max Gawn confident of a return, Adelaide offering insights into their injured rookies and some big Essendon ruck news.

CROWS GALORE
Adelaide’s weekly injury update included numerous relevant AFL Fantasy and SuperCoach players so we’ll start with that.

Shane McAdam (AF $394k SC $292k FWD) looks likely to play after Adelaide’s bye despite being kept off late last round with a thigh injury.

The Crows website said: “McAdam received minor treatment to his thigh for a contusion in the fourth quarter against the Cats.

“The 25-year-old could have returned to play following assessment, but with only two minutes remaining was left off. He will train as normal this week and be available for selection against the Hawks.”

Rookie defender Will Hamill (AF $286k SC $210k DEF) is close to a return from concussion.

Adelaide Head of Science and Medicine Steve Saunders said: “Will is going really well, he’s training fully with no poor reactions to contract training. We’re looking like seeing Will out playing against Hawthorn on Tuesday.”

Andrew McPherson (AF $360k SC $284k DEF) isn’t far off recovering from his hamstring issue either.

Saunders said: “He’s looking really good. While we’re thinking he may be ready for the Hawks, we’ll weigh that decision up on the weekend and see if he needs another week before returning. More likely the game after against GWS.”

The bad news is Ben Davis (AF $182k SC $123k FWD), who hasn’t played since Round One, has a fresh foot complaint.

Saunders said: “Ben reported some low-level pain in the middle of the foot last week. We sent him off for scans and they showed a low-level stress reaction, but no fracture.

“We’re offloading Ben for a week to see how he settles, then we’ll assess him on Thursday. It’s a bit too early to say (on a return date), we think he could return in two-to-three weeks.”

Brad Crouch (AF $676k SC $445k MID) is also in line to return against Hawthorn after a hamstring injury.

GAWN UPDATE
The relevance of Max Gawn (AF $920k SC $721k RUCK) has dropped over the past fortnight with coaches selling as he’s missed more games, but there’s some light at the end of the tunnel if you held.

Gawn told AFL 360: “I’ve got a training session tomorrow and basically if I complete it I’ll play and if I don’t complete it I won’t. I’m pretty confident I’m going to complete the session though… I should be able to tick it off.”

Demons Performance Manager Darren Burgess was more adamant when he said: “Max got through his match sim training yesterday, no problems. He’ll train tomorrow and be available for selection for the game against St Kilda.”

Burgess provided an update on new injury Tom Sparrow (AF $363k SC $282k FWD) who hurt his collarbone against the Bulldogs.

He said: “Unfortunately Tom Sparrow fractured his clavicle during the game. He’s going to miss probably about four weeks or so depending on how that recovers.”

TAGGER BACK
Owners of Fremantle’s star players beware, GWS have declared Matt de Boer (AF $409k SC $339k MID) is almost ready to return from his hamstring injury.

GWS Head of Medical Cullan Ball said: “He’s done really well and is on track to play this next match. He’s just got to get through a fitness later in the week and we expect him to be available.” Fremantle plays GWS on Saturday.

Callan Ward (AF $477k SC $408k MID) will also miss a month with his compound dislocation of his finger effectively ending his AFL Fantasy and SuperCoach season.

OTHERS
Tom Bellchambers (AF $426k SC $314k RUCK) has succumbed to a knee injury which will rule him out for two games, which boosts Sam Draper’s (AF $334k SC $271k RUCK) job security.

Essendon Head of Medical Services David Rundle said: “Tom hyperextended his knee against the Gold Coast Suns and sustained some bone bruising. He’s pulled up sore (again) and won’t be available this week.”

Elliot Yeo (AF $646k SC $473k MID) wasn’t on the Eagles plane to the Queensland on Tuesday and his groin issue will keep him out for a while still.

Eagles Football GM Craig Vozzo said: “Elliot is progressing well… Probably another couple of weeks of slow and steady build up, and then we’ll make a decision from there.”

Vozzo said Jack Redden (AF $515k SC $386k MID) is a “chance” to play Richmond which may impact Xavier O’Neill’s (AF $188k SC $123k MID) job security.

It was a busy night at the Tribunal, with Luke Dahlhaus (AF $498k SC $352k FWD) and Sam Powell-Pepper (AF $547k SC $364k MID/FWD) both getting off their one-game bans.

After a blistering Round One, Luke Dunstan (AF $656k SC 505k MID) is on the comeback trail from a pectoral injury and the Saints say he could be “an important inclusion in the coming weeks”.

TOMORROW
Coaches John Worsfold, Damien Hardwick, Alastair Clarkson and Adam Simpson will all speak to the media ahead of their Thursday matches.