Essendon released news of three long-term injuries including Jye Caldwell, while St Kilda provided an update on Rowan Marshall’s return and Nathan Buckley discussed possibly tagging Lachie Neale.

UPDATES

Essendon confirmed popular early season pick Jye Caldwell (AF $529k SC $348k M/F) will be out for 6-8 weeks with a hamstring injury.

Bombers Football General Manager Josh Mahoney said: “Scans confirmed that Jye sustained a more significant hamstring strain, and we will see how he progresses over the next week, but unfortunately we expect him to miss the next six to eight weeks of football.

Sam Draper (AF $453k SC $378k MID) has sustained the dreaded syndesmosis and will be out for the first half of the season.

Mahoney said: “Sam will see a specialist in the coming days with confirmation of a syndesmosis injury but we are hopeful he will be back and playing for the 2nd half of the season."

Dylan Shiel (AF $722k SC $548k MID) is also going to be for a lengthy stint with a knee issue.

Mahoney said: “Dylan will be required to have a knee arthroscopy... At this stage, we don’t anticipate he will return to the field for at least the next 4 to 6 weeks."

Saints coach Brett Ratten offered an update on ruck duo Rowan Marshall (AF $738k SC $557k R/F) and Paddy Ryder (SF $575k SC $505k RUCK), which will impact Paul Hunter's (AF $212k SC $102k RUCK) job security.

Ratten told AFL360: "Marshall will play some reserves this week. Maybe a half, we’ll just have a look at that through training... Marshall would be a couple of weeks.

"We’re just waiting for paddy to tell us when he is going to come back. He’s in good spirits. He’s doing all his training... we’ll have to get him back and assess him but he’d be at least 2-3 weeks away from playing AFL."

Brodie Grundy (AF $839k SC $648k RUCK) and Jordan De Goey (AF $590k SC $435k FWD) both missed training as Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley explained: "Grundy and De Goey had a sniffle & missed training (today) so they followed COVID protocols & stayed home."

Buckley also spoke about possibly tagging Lachie Neale (AF $829k SC $721k MID) in Thursday's game which has been moved to Melbourne.

The Pies coach said: "Neale is a quality player. He doesn't often put two bad ones together... He's definitely someone we'll consider. O'Connor's job was strong but there's a team element to that to stifle his influence."

Staying with the Pies, Will Kelly (AF $172k SC $135k FWD) is set to return to VFL this weekend after a shoulder injury.

Collingwood High Performance manager Kevin White said: “He got through full contact last week. No longer restricted and available to play in the VFL this weekend."

Brisbane may be short a legitimate ruckman for the Pies clash, with Oscar McInerney (AF $534k SC $443k RUCK) battling an ankle issue sustained in Friday's loss to Geelong, while back-up Archie Smith (AF $299k SC $217k RUCK) is unavailable.

Brisbane High Performance Manager Damien Austin said: "We’ll give him every chance, we’ll see how he progresses today and what he can manage at training tomorrow before making a call."

On Smith, the Lions said in their injury update: "Unable to be considered for selection due to Achilles and shoulder injuries. Has been completing his rehab training away from the club having been granted leave for family reasons."

Jarrod Berry (AF $661k SC $521k MID) "faces a fitness test at training in Melbourne on Tuesday" after being a late withdrawal against Geelong with a hamstring worry.

Port put out their injury update with Lachie Jones (AF $240k SC $139k DEF) "progressing well" from his hamstring strain and a chance to play this weekend, most likely in the SANFL.

The Power also declared Connor Rozee (AF $518k SC $377k FWD) available to play Round 3 against West Coast after foot surgery.

Sydney coach John Longmire offered updates on James Rowbottom's (AF $347k SC $405k MID) knee and Jordan Dawson's (AF $610k SC $458k DEF) hip issue.

On Rowbottom, Longmire said: "We're not sure yet. We'll wait and see. We don't want to rush him. If he's not right, he won't play. We'll make that call tomorrow."

On Dawson, he said: "From what I understand, he's OK. He got a couple of decent knocks but from what I understand, he's OK."

Giants veteran Sam Reid (AF $350k SC $297k DEF) was offered a two-game ban by the AFL MRO for rough conduct for bump on Nat Fyfe which left him concussed.

TOMORROW

We've no coach press conferences in the diary, with Nic Naitanui, Luke Breust and Isaac Smith doing the honours. Most clubs will put out their weekly injury updates in the afternoon/evening.