Injuries are all important at this time of year, impacting pre-season continuity and ruling out players of early rounds, opening the door for others. Here’s all the latest.
INJURIES
Carlton midfielder Sam Walsh (AF $854k SC $576k MID) will have an injury interrupted lead-up to Round 0, effectively making him tough to pick given the Blues have an early bye. “Sam experienced back soreness after completing match simulation last Monday,” Carlton General Manager of Football Brad Lloyd said.
“After further assessment it has been decided to reduce his training loads. We will take a no-risk approach with Sam’s return to play, therefore he will not feature in the upcoming practice games, with the Club to provide a further update on Sam’s progress prior to our Round Zero clash against Brisbane.”
St Kilda defender Jack Sinclair (AF $922k SC $596k DEF) is aiming to be available for Round 1 despite a calf issue that has him listed as 2-3 weeks.
Saints Executive General Manager of Football David Misson said: “As for Jack Sinclair, it’s about making sure his body is tip-top for the season proper so we’ll manage his workload over the coming weeks.”
View Honeyball’s full 2024 AFL pre-season injury list
St Kilda teammate Paddy Dow is “touch-and-go for the opening rounds” due to a knee issue.
Western Bulldogs CEO Ameet Bains offered an update on Jackson Macrae (AF $829k SC $558k M/F). He told SEN: “I think the most significant (injury) was Jack Macrae who’s obviously had some hamstring tightness. He’s touch and go for this week – he probably doesn’t get up.”
There’s been some hype around West Coast 2023 Draft selection 38 Clay Hall (AF $200k SC $117k MID), but he was injured in the club’s internal practice game on Friday from an Elliot Yeo tackle and didn’t return, ruled out for 3-4 weeks.
West Coast General Manager Football Gavin Bell said: “Pleasingly, the scans came back with the best possible result for Clay. He has impressed everybody at the club with his attitude in his first pre-season and we look forward to him being back in action soon.”
In good news from the Eagles, Elliot Yeo (AF $633k SC $447k D/M) looks fit and firing in pre-season. West Coast coach Adam Simpson told SEN WA: “He’s put in a good 3-4 months. He hasn’t missed a beat. We’ve managed him to a certain degree. He’s ready to get back to play full-time midfield. He’s really taken a step forward.”
North Melbourne recruit Zac Fisher (AF $623k SC $378k FWD) will play on managed minutes in their match sim against Collingwood on Wednesday. North Head of Performance Kevin White said: “Zac has just finished his peak loading phase of footy-specific work and running conditioning, as well as increasing his hamstring work in gym.”
Rookie Zane Duursma will miss North’s match sim against Collingwood with knee soreness.
Essendon defender Jordan Ridley will sit out their match sim against St Kilda on Friday having only returned to main training in recent weeks. He is expected to be available for Friday week’s Community Series game.
Hawthorn have had a raft of injuries to key defenders, namely a season-ending ACL injury to James Blanck, 6-8 week hamstring injury for Changkuoth Jiath and a 12-14 week toe injury for Denver Grainger-Barras.
The Hawks have added young defender Ethan Phillips via SSP selection, but captain James Sicily nominated Jai Serong (AF $322k SC $174k DEF) for a chance to step in. He said: “I’m still confident. We’ve got young Serong, who has just turned 21 and has played a couple of games and had a good preseason.”
Collingwood’s first pick in last year’s Draft Harry DeMattia (AF $228k SC $117k MID), who went selection 25, will miss a lengthy period with injury.
Pies EGM Football Graham Wright said: “This is an unfortunate setback for Harry who injured his finger during a training drill on Monday. Whilst he is expected to be sidelined for an 8–12-week period.”
Brayden Maynard (shoulder), Brody Mihocek (calf) and Josh Daicos (calf/Achilles) have all returned to full Magpies training recently.
Brisbane confirmed a hamstring strain for Connor McKenna which will rule him out for 3 weeks, which could help Keidean Coleman’s scoring in the meantime.
Lachie Neale will miss Brisbane’s match sim against Gold Coast after off-season groin surgery, while Hugh McCluggage will play following a corked thigh.
GWS rookies Phoenix Gothard and James Leake will both have delayed starts to their 2024 campaigns due to glandular fever and a quad strain.
Harry Perryman (hamstring) and Isaac Cumming (quad) will both miss Opening Round and Finn Callaghan (shoulder) is no certainty either. Brayden Preuss (back) won’t play until Round 6 at the earliest.
View Honeyball’s full 2024 AFL pre-season injury list
