Every club’s full injury list revealed ahead of AFL pre-season

The clubs that did not make finals will return to training on Monday as the first-to-fourth-year players start their summers, while some veterans can join them for extended pre-seasons.

But there will be plenty of players on the sidelines, or on modified programs, after post-season clean outs.

Here is the status of players who may see a delayed start to the pre-season.

ADELAIDE

Just the one off-season surgery for the Crows with young forward/ruck Toby Murrayhaving a minor ankle procedure. Captain Jordan Dawsondidn’t need to go under the knife in a boost, while midfielder James Peatlingwill be looking to hit the ground running after ending the season with a groin/hip complaint.

Expected return to training: 16/11 (1st-4th years)

BRISBANE

The reigning premiers won’t report for the start of pre-season until the end of the month given they finished their campaign later than 16 other clubs, so we won’t have a proper indication of who went under the knife until the football department is back on deck in a few weeks’ time. Last year the likes of Josh Dunkley, Jaspa Fletcherand Kai Lohmannall had post-grand final surgery and had staggered returns to training. It is likely that spearhead Logan Morrissaw a specialist after ending the season with a stress fracture in his back.

Expected return to training: 30/11 (1st-4th years)

CARLTON

There’s a few long-term injuries that the Blues are hoping are back on track for 2027. Harry O’Farrell missed the 2026 campaign with an ACL tear, but the club kept him out longer than required to give him a strong lead into the upcoming pre-season. Jesse Motlopand Matt Carroll are both on their respective knee reconstruction timelines, with Motlop expected back over the summer while a Carroll return is a mid-season prospect.

Expected return to training: 16/11 (1st-4th years)

COLLINGWOOD

Brayden Maynardheadlined the Pies going under the knife, with a shoulder reconstruction capping off an injury-plagued second half of 2026. He dislocated his shoulder on King’s Birthday and then made it back before injuring the MCL in his knee. He won’t start full training until at least the new year. The ACL crew - Jamie Elliott, Oscar Steeneand Reef McInnes- are all progressing as this masthead revealed the trio this week travelled to Ireland for a five-day intensive program with Enda King, a world-renowned physiotherapist who uses 3D biomechanics in ACL rehabilitation.

Expected return to training: 16/11 (1st-4th years)

ESSENDON

The Dons will restart pre-season with an unusually clean bill of health for a club that has been smashed by injuries in recent years. Young stud Sullivan Robey will begin running as pre-season returns after knee surgery and will hope to be back into full training in the new year. Nic Martin will begin taking part in more and more drills as pre-season wears on after his own knee scare. Dyson Sharp, Archie Robertsand Lewis Hayesall had shoulder surgeries but should be good to go for pre-season. Brayden Fioriniis over the back issue that troubled him last season.

Expected return to training: 9/11 (1st-4th years)

FREMANTLE

The Dockers dodged a massive bullet when scans revealed captain Alex Pearcehad only suffered a partial achilles tear, along with a calf strain, in the grand final. The captain is expected to return to full training during pre-season. Sean Darcyfeatured for Peel Thunder in the WAFL grand final but was carrying a niggly knee. The Dockers expect him to be ripe for pre-season after some rest. Fremantle otherwise says its list was in good health heading into the off-season, with the players reporting they weren’t suffering from fatigue despite the club’s deep run into finals.

Expected return to training: 30/11 (1st-4th years)

GEELONG

There was one busy surgical suite down the highway this off-season. Jeremy Cameronwas sent in for revision surgery on the forearm he battled for the entire season, and he was joined by star midfielder Bailey Smith. The midfielder had a full shoulder reconstruction, with the pair both expected back at the start of the pre-season, albeit on modified programs. Expect full contact training to wait until after Christmas. The Cats will be hoping to see Harley Barker, who missed his whole first season with an ACL injury from his draft year, and Toby Conway, who has been seldom sighted battling chronic injuries his entire career. Sam De Koning(left shoulder) and Mitch Edwards (right knee) both had clean outs after the season finished, but the club expects the pair to return for the start of the pre-season.

Expected return to training: 16/11 (1st-4th years)

GOLD COAST

Gold Coast ended the season with a near-clean bill of health. Alex Davieshad minor foot surgery prior to round 24 and will be ready to go for the start of pre-season. Luckless midfielder Will Grahamstruggled with soft tissue and shoulder injuries this year but will present for the 2km time trial on Monday ready to put 2026 behind him. Beau Addinsall’s start to pre-season will be delayed after suffering a stress reaction in his foot. But reigning best and fairest Bodhi Uwlandwill be good to go on his return despite breaking his toe last month running into a wheelie bin while cycling.

Expected return to training: 9/11 (1st-4th years)

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY

Josh Kelly remains the biggest watch for the Giants as he attempts to return from his hip resurfacing surgery. Kelly has hit every milestone in his rehabilitation, but the next step is to start integrating back into full training. No player has ever had the procedure in the AFL, and so the Giants are taking a cautious approach. Tom Greenis tracking well after rupturing his ACL at the start of the year. He will have a modified training block before Christmas, and looks a strong round one chance. Darcy Jonesis also set for a full pre-season after being sidelined for all of 2026 after an ACL tear in the Giants’ 2025 elimination final loss to Hawthorn. Finn Callaghanis already back running after ankle surgery late in the season.

Expected return to training: 9/11 (1st-4th years)

HAWTHORN

The Hawks have a clean bill of health heading into a November 23 return, ready for a premiership assault. Conor Nash is the only player that will see a modified program due to a pre-existing injury, still returning from the neck nerve issue that plagued his 2026 campaign. He is still expected to be fit to start the pre-season, but may not have a full workload until after Christmas.

Expected return to training: 23/11 (1st-4th years)

MELBOURNE

One of the Demons’ headline recruits tops the list of surgical recipients this off-season after Zane Duursmahad shoulder surgery to round out his 2026. He’ll be in the non-contact training group when he officially starts training at Melbourne in coming weeks, with strength the focus for him with an eye to full training towards the end of December. Jai Culleyhit an important milestone in his ACL recovery, running for the first time in October. He is not expected to be available to be fit for the start of the season, but the timeline will be in the first six weeks of the campaign. Brody Mihocekis also a watch on his neck injury, with the club yet to establish a timeline on his return to footy.

Expected return to training: Nov 16 (1st-4th years)

NORTH MELBOURNE

Defender Toby Pinkalso underwent shoulder surgery, and remains amid a running program as he rebuilds his strength. It’ll be non-contact training only upon his return to duty at the club, with his strength tests at the end of November to determine the next steps. Tom Powellrequired what the club described as “some medical intervention” on a recurrent groin injury and while he’s been on a modified program in the short-term, he will rejoin group training this month. Defender Griffin Logueset the questions flying when he needed a full shoulder reconstruction last month due to a “non-football incident”. The club has been cagey on the details, but he won’t join contact training until January.

Expected return to training: Nov 9 (1st-4th years)

PORT ADELAIDE

Spearhead Mitch Georgiades and vice-captain Willem Drewboth went under the knife. Georgiades had a shoulder arthroscopy to fix an issue that had bothered him throughout the year, while Drew had a plantar fascia release after having the same procedure on his other foot last year. Defender Logan Evanshad shoulder surgery before the season was done. But the big watch is going to be on captain Connor Rozeeand his recovery from his serious hamstring injury sustained in round 2, and the subsequent nerve issues he has had. He recently went to England to link up with a specialist in nerve issues with injuries. He has been in at Alberton most days running and has people at the Power confident his recovery is going well and he will be able to do a lot of pre-season.

Expected return to training: 9/11 (1st-4th years)

RICHMOND

The Tigers’ surgery squad was made up of just four, with all done and dusted before the season had even ended. Sam Cumming had shoulder surgery and isn’t likely to be back into contact training until the new year, but is expected to be right for match simulations and certainly for Round 1. Jacob Hopper went under the knife on his ankle, while Tom Sims and Rhyan Mansellboth had foot issues taken care of with the latter trio all tracking well at this stage. Josh Smillie is back running and has looked healthy during off-season sessions.

Expected return to training: 9/11 (1st-4th years)

ST KILDA

An important pre-season for Tobie Travagliawill be delayed as the runner eases back from surgery on stress reactions in both feet. The youngster played through some pain this year before being sent for off-season surgery. Sam Flanders(achilles surgery in early June) is eyeing a return to some training in the new year. Tom De Koningand Jack Silvagniboth had shoulder surgery post-season and will be running from the get-go at the least. Jack Sinclair(calf) and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera(hamstring) ended the year injured but are good to go. Max King(hamstring) is still an unknown quantity.

Expected return to training: Nov 9 (1st-4th years)

SYDNEY

Callum Millsis the only long-term injury concern for the Swans this off-season, after rupturing his ACL in the qualifying final win against the Lions. He had surgery in September and the club is hopeful he can return to play in the back half of 2027. Tom Papleywas the other major player to undergo off-season surgery after injuring his knee in the preliminary final against Fremantle. The knock would have seen him miss a potential grand final with a grade-two MCL strain. He had both knees operated on post-season, but while he will be fit for round 1 he is facing a potential suspension for his alleged drug test failure. Will Edwards is also on track for round one following his severe ankle dislocation in August. The key defender was out of his moon boot by mid-September.

Expected return to training: 23/11 (1st-4th years)

WEST COAST

Freshly crowned best and fairest Harley Reidhad minor shoulder surgery in September, but the Eagles expect him to be ready for the start of pre-season. Harry Edwardsis tracking well after the AFL ordered him to undertake a specialised concussion rehabilitation program. The key defender has been spotted running with his teammates. Reuben Ginbeyfinished the 2026 season on the sidelines with a quad injury, but he almost returned to play late in the season and looks as fit as ever. Deven Robertson, Noah Longand Sam Allen recently travelled to the United States to work with world-renowned rehabilitation and reconditioning expert Bill Knowles as they eye an early return. Former Lion Robertson suffered an ACL injury last April, Long missed the entire 2026 season after dislocating his knee during a pre-season game while 2025 draftee Allen arrived at the club recovering from an ACL.

Expected return to training: 9/11 (1st-4th years)

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WESTERN BULLDOGS

The Dogs are feeling fresh after a bountiful off-season. The biggest recruit in the trade and free agency space, Zak Butters, received a clean out of the ankle that cost him the final weeks of his Power career. But the new Dog is expected to be working up to full fitness before Christmas before launching into his first campaign at the kennel. Key forward Sam Darcyis back running at the club and is eyeing a return to football in the opening month of the new season. He’s had two seasons interrupted - either partially or completely - due to injuries in the same knee, so the club will be cautious in ramping up his workload.

Expected return to training: 24/11 (1st-4th years)

Originally published as Every club’s full injury list revealed ahead of AFL pre-season