Tuesday’s injury reports are starting to trickle out with key updates across the board to help guide your Round 14 trade targets and trade-outs.
Geelong have provided an update on Bailey Smith’s potential return from hamstring tightness, listed as a “test”.
The Cats update said: “Bailey was experiencing low level hamstring tightness pre-match and the Club decided to take a cautious approach, and he didn’t take his place in the team. We will assess his availability for the game against Essendon later this week.”
Port Adelaide midfielder Jason Horne-Francis has been cleared to play this round following a hamstring injury.
The Power’s injury update said: “Port Adelaide’s Jason Horne-Francis will be available for this Sunday’s game against Melbourne. The 21-year-old has now completed his rehab since sustaining a hamstring injury in Round 11, and will re-join full training this week.”
Sam Darcy appears set to return from a knee injury for the Western Bulldogs. Bulldogs Head of Sports Medicine Chris Bell said: “Sam’s progress has gone really smoothly across the last eight weeks.
“He’s been the ultimate professional and his commitment to the (rehab) program has been outstanding. He is back to full strength now and has had some continuity in his training the last couple of weeks. If Sam gets through training tomorrow like I expect, we’ll see him back in the colours.”
Jason Johannisen will miss 1-2 weeks due to illness suffered during their bye.
St Kilda have confirmed Mattaes Phillipou will miss another game due to a plantaris muscle issue, while Jack Macrae should return along with Liam Stocker.
The Saints update said about Macrae and Stocker: “The pair, who have been key contributors to the Saints’ first half of the season, will be available for selection after passing respective fitness tests during the squad’s main training session this morning.”
Gold Coast have cleared Noah Anderson following a heavy bump from Tom Stewart. The Suns update said: “Captain Noah Anderson received precautionary scans following Saturday night’s game against Geelong, with those scans clearing Anderson of injury.
“He will return to training with the remainder of the squad later this week in preparation for the Round 15 game against GWS.”
Richmond provided a positive update on Jayden Short who is a test to return from a calf injury.
Tigers High Performance Manager Ben Serpell said: “He has started to make some gains, but he will remain a test for when we face the Western Bulldogs in Round 15.”
Rookie Campbell Gray, however, will miss an indefinite period of time following a knee injury suffered in the VFL. He’s been listed as TBC.
Serpell said: “As reported over the weekend, Campbell sustained a posterolateral knee injury. We will allow Campbell to rest this week and try to put together some timelines later in the week once we return to training.”
Hawthorn high performance manager Peter Burge provided an update on James Sicily’s recovery from a hip/abdominal injury. He said: “We’ve just taken a step back to try and settle things down there and he’s certainly settling.
“So really just some very low-level straight line running at this stage and we’re looking to progress that over the next week, with the aim to return after the bye but we’ll just have to keep reassessing day by day and how far he can progress. We want the best version of Sic out there, so right now he’s just doing some straight line running and we’re doing some strength work and just giving him that chance to settle down so we can build back into football. And we’ll have some more updates over the next week about what that looks like after the bye.”
North have also confirmed Charlie Comben won’t need surgery on a small crack in his shoulder blade but will miss 2-3 weeks.
Essendon have ruled out Mason Redman for 3 weeks due to a calf injury, while Melbourne has reported midfielder Jack Viney is a chance to play this week after several weeks out with concussion.
West Coast backman Tom Cole will need to be assessed due to hamstring tightness which might open the door for a Bo Allan full game or Tom McCarthy’s debut.
