Tuesday’s injury reports are starting to trickle out with key updates across the board to help guide your Round 5 trade targets and trade-outs.
Adelaide mid Izak Rankine is in doubt for the Crows’ Thursday clash with Geelong in Gather Round after experiencing calf tightness last game.
Crows coach Matthew Nicks said: “I don’t know as yet (if Izak will play), we don’t really get a chance to train this week unfortunately, but we’ll have a Captains’ Run tomorrow which we would like to see him get involved in, but we’ll just see how he pulls up.
“He got a knock to the calf, there’s some bleeding there but there’s no muscle damage, so it’s one we just need to be mindful of. The speeds that he gets up to it does put some pressure on that calf, so the last thing we want is to lose him for a month or so.
“At the moment there is some doubt but he’s pretty confident (that he’ll play), and I think with it being a huge weekend of footy and a big Thursday night game, Izak enjoys the big stage, so he’s really pushing to play.”
Hawthorn mid Will Day will miss 3-4 months of footy after scans revealed he’s suffered a stress fracture in his foot.
The Hawks update said: “After returning to training during the club’s bye over the weekend, Day reported some soreness in his foot following a session. Subsequent scans revealed he had suffered the stress fracture in the navicular bone of his foot, with the 23-year-old to undergo surgery in the coming days.”
Fremantle have confirmed Nathan O’Driscoll will miss more than a month due to a syndesmosis injury.
Dockers high performance manager Phil Merriman said: “He’s had scans which have revealed a syndesmosis injury. That will be treated with a non-surgical, conservative approach, and we will hopefully see him again in four to five weeks.”
Fremantle ruckman Luke Jackson is expected to miss several weeks too, with Dockers coach Justin Longmuir confirming on AFL360 that he’d suffered a “low grade hamstring injury”.
He said: “We think it’s a low grade hamstring injury. He’ll leave that hole (in ruck) for probably the next couple of weeks.”
West Coast have revealed Elijah Hewett sustained a calf strain at training prior to last round’s loss to GWS and will miss another game.
High Performance Manager Mat Inness said: “Elijah suffered a low-grade calf strain last Thursday at main training. It was extremely low-grade, however due to the injury happening on the Thursday, playing this week is just too soon, so he will miss this week.”
Inness said Jack Hutchinson will be available for selection this week if he gets through training, having recovered from a hamstring strain.
GWS have listed Stephen Coniglio (glute irritation) and Brent Daniels (abdominal strain) as tests for their Sunday clash with St Kilda.
On Coniglio, GWS said: “Will continue to be assessed throughout the week and will need to get through Friday’s main training in order to be available for Sunday’s clash with the Saints. “
On Daniels, GWS said: “Brent Daniels will also be given until Friday to prove his fitness as he manages an abdominal strain. The classy small forward was subbed out in the third quarter of Sunday’s round four win with general soreness, with assessment later revealing the abdominal strain.”
North Melbourne didn’t mention ruckman Tristan Xerri in their injury report despite some reported hamstring concerns, while Finn O’Sullivan is “available” to return after missing their last game with illness.
St Kilda skipper Jack Steele is in the mix to return following a knee complaint. The Saints update said: “Steele will be given every chance to return to the field this week, joining his teammates in Adelaide ahead of Gather Round. The Saints’ skipper missed Round 4 with a knee complaint but is on track to face the Giants.”
Essendon young gun Elijah Tsatas is “expected to be available for selection” having missed their last game due to a hand injury. The Dons revealed he’s “returned to full training following the early season bye”.
The Dons have confirmed Jye Caldwell has been ruled out for 4 weeks due to a hamstring strain.
Geelong coach Chris Scott offered an update on Mitch Knevitt’s status. He said: “We made the pre-emptive call on Mitch Knevitt, who would’ve been in our 22, with a little bit of a foot issue. Our feedback is with 48 hours to go, that he’s looking better. We’ve still got a few decisions we have to make.”
Xavier Lindsay will face a fitness test later in the week as he bids to return for Melbourne following a low-grade medial ligament injury.
Melbourne’s High Performance Manager Selwyn Griffith said: “Xavier had a great training session over the weekend.
“He’ll look to integrate this week with determination of his availability after Thursday’s main training session.”
The Dees also confirmed Jake Lever will miss up to 8 weeks with a syndesmosis injury and young forward Matt Jefferson is a test to return from a hand fracture.
Collingwood have confirmed Jordan De Goey will miss their Gather Round game due to ankle and Achilles inflammation, before being assessed for Round 6.
Lachie Schultz will miss 2-3 weeks after suffering a minor hamstring strain at training.
