Richmond v Carlton (Thursday, 7:30PM AEDT)
Draft prodigy Sam Lalor has been named to start in the forward three despite a pre-season head knock, but that is just about where the good news ends for the Tigers who have five players on their long-term injury list with ACL problems.
1 week: Jonty Faull (back)
2-3 weeks: Josh Smillie (hamstring)
4-5 weeks: Dion Prestia (achilles), Hugo Ralphsmith (hamstring)
Not before Round 5: Noah Balta (suspended)
TBD: Judson Clarke, Josh Gibcus, Taj Hotton, Mykelti Lefau, Tylar Young (all ACL injuries)
Jack Silvagni will play his first AFL game since Round 19 of 2023 after being named in Carlton's back right pocket, whilst Sam Walsh is good to go after a pre-season hamstring concern.
Cleared to play: Sam Walsh
1 week: Charlie Curnow (knee), Orazio Fantasia (calf), Corey Durdin (ankle)
2 weeks: Ben Camporeale (ankle), Rob Monahan (groin), Hudson O'Keeffe (hamstring)
3-5 weeks: Matt Duffy (knee), Marc Pittonet (calf)
TBD: Alex Cincotta (hip), Elijah Hollands (personal reasons), Nic Newman (knee), Jagga Smith (ACL)
Hawthorn v Essendon (Friday, 7:40PM AEDT)
James Worpel was added to the Hawthorn injury list after a ligament problem in his ankle last round, but Changkuoth Jiath got through a VFL practice match last weekend and is available for selection.
Cleared to play: Changkuoth Jiath
3-4 weeks: James Worpel (ankle)
6-7 weeks: James Blanck (ACL)
TBD: Sam Butler (broken leg), Calsher Dear (back), Mitch Lewis (ACL)
Peter Wright picked up a 'high grade ankle strain' in Essendon's VFL practice match last weekend and is expected to be out for up to six weeks.
Cleared to play: Harrison Jones
1 week: Alwyn Davey (meniscus tear)
2-3 weeks: Jayden Laverde (hip), Darcy Parish (back)
Not before Round 4: Vigo Visentini (suspended)
4-6 weeks: Peter Wright (ankle)
TBD: Nik Cox (concussion), Matt Guelfi (hamstring)
Geelong v Fremantle (Saturday, 1:20PM AEDT)
Geelong will be missing two of their best six defenders for quite some time, but last week's weather disruptions last week means that new recruit Bailey Smith will make his club debut in their first match of the season.
3 weeks: Jake Kolodjashnij (groin)
4-6 weeks: Xavier Ivisic (ankle)
2-3 months: Jed Bews (finger surgery)
TBD: Tanner Bruhn (finger), Toby Conway (back), Cam Guthrie (achilles)
On the other hand, Fremantle had two defenders passed fit on Thursday as Alex Pearce and Josh Draper both got named to play in the back three. However, veteran Nat Fyfe is out for another week along with key forwards Michael Walters and Shai Bolton.
1 week: Nat Fyfe (knee), Shai Bolton (leg), Michael Walters (knee)
2-3 weeks: Sean Darcy (ankle), Hayden Young (hamstring)
TBD: Odin Jones (back), Charlie Nicholls (back)
Sydney v Brisbane (Saturday, 4:15PM AEDT)
Taylor Adams is the one forced change that Sydney had to make this week after he hurt a hamstring in Opening Round.
1-2 weeks: Ned Bowman (quad), Will Edwards (leg), Patrick Snell (hamstring)
3-5 weeks: Taylor Adams (hamstring), Harry Cunningham (foot), Robbie Fox (calf), Errol Gulden (ankle), Logan McDonald (ankle), Callum Mills (plantar fascitis)
TBD: Riak Andrew (shoulder), Jesse Dattoli (back), Will Edwards (leg), Aaron Francis (concussion), Indhi Kirk (concussion)
The heartbreaking news that Lincoln McCarthy seriously injured his right knee for a second time headlined Brisbane's preparations. Brandon Starcevich has been cleared of concussion and was named on the bench.
1-2 weeks: Darcy Gardiner (ACL)
4-5 weeks: Tom Doedee (ACL)
TBD: Keidean Coleman (ACL), Lincoln McCarthy (ACL)
Collingwood v Port Adelaide (Saturday, 7:35PM AEDT)
As we expected last week, Mason Cox has recovered in time for this important meeting with the Power and alongside him is high profile recruit Dan Houston. Josh Daicos and Jeremy Howe both passed fitness tests on Thursday, so it'll be a strong Collingwood side lining up.
Cleared to play: Jeremy Howe, Josh Daicos
1-2 weeks: Will Hayes (corky), Jordan de Goey (knee), Will Hoskin-Elliot (knee)
3-4 weeks: Illiro Smit (throat), Oscar Steene (finger), Oleg Markov (calf)
TBD: Harvey Harrison (ACL), Tom Mitchell (foot)
Esava Ratugolea couldn't get through training this week, whilst the remainder of Port's casualty ward are either medium or long-term.
1-2 weeks: Esava Ratugolea (knee)
4-6 weeks: Tom Anastasopoulos (ankle), Zac Butters (ankle)
TBD: Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (back), Todd Marshall (achilles)
Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne (Saturday, 7:35PM AEDT)
Where to begin with this one... the Bulldogs have been forced to start debutants on the wing and the half-forward flank because of their immensely long and costly injury list. At least four of their teammates passed fitness tests this week!
Cleared to play: Rhylee West, Laitham Vandermeer, Bailey Dale, Ed Richards
2-4 weeks: Anthony Scott (patella)
4-6 weeks: Marcus Bontempelli (calf), Liam Jones (hamstring), Adam Treloar (calf)
6-8 weeks: Lachie Jacques (thigh), Jason Johannisen (hamstring)
TBD: Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (personal reasons), Cody Weightman (knee)
George Wardlaw picked up a serious hamstring injury and is reportedly at least one more month away from returning to training for the Roos.
1 week: Zane Duursma (quad), Zac Fisher (hamstring)
3-4 weeks: Josh Goater (hamstring)
5-6 weeks: George Wardlaw (hamstring)
7-8 weeks: Brayden George (ACL)
3-4 months: Callum Coleman-Jones (achilles)
Adelaide v St Kilda (Sunday, 12:35PM AEDT)
Ruckman Kieran Strachan became Adelaide's first long-term casualty of 2025 after undergoing surgery to repair a stress fracture in his right foot.
Not before Round 2: Brodie Smith (suspended)
2 weeks: Chayce Jones (shoulder)
2026: Kieran Strachan
Mitch Owens made St Kilda's interchange after surviving a pre-season shoulder scare. They're set to welcome back a litany of quality players in the next few weeks.
1-3 weeks: Dan Butler (achilles), Liam Henry (knee), Max King (knee)
3-5 weeks: Cooper Sharman (hand), Alix Tauru (back)
2-3 months: Mattaes Phillipou (thigh), Dougal Howard (shoulder)
TBD: Paddy Dow (knee)
Melbourne v GWS Giants (Sunday, 3:20PM AEDT)
Melbourne lost both Shane McAdam and Andy Moniz-Wakefield to pre-season injuries, whilst Marty Hore wasn't named for their first game of the season.
1-2 weeks: Marty Hore (hand), Jake Melksham (hamstring)
Not before Round 4: Kysaiah Pickett (suspended)
3-4 weeks: Jai Culley (foot), Judd McVee (hamstring)
5-6 weeks: Luker Kentfield (pneumonia)
7-8 weeks: Koltyn Tholstrup (bone stress)
2026: Andy Moniz-Wakefield (ACL), Shane McAdam (achilles)
Tom Green is back for the Giants but those fans anticipating Jake Stringer's club debut are going to have to wait for one more week.
1 week: Jake Stringer (hamstring), Jesse Hogan (thumb), Jack Ough (adductor)
Not before Round 3: Joe Fonti, Toby McMullin, Jake Riccardi, Harvey Thomas (all suspended)
Not before Round 5: Josh Fahey (suspended)
2 weeks: Kieren Briggs (concussion)
3-4 weeks: Ryan Angwin (ankle), Phoenix Gothard (finger)
TBD: Logan Smith (illness)
West Coast v Gold Coast (Sunday, 6:10PM AEDT)
West Coast will be without Dom Sheed for the rest of the season after he sadly ruptured an ACL training, whilst Liam Ryan failed a fitness test this week.
1 week: Bo Allan (illness), Rhett Bazzo (foot), Liam Ryan (hamstring)
5-7 weeks: Callum Jamieson (ankle and knee), Elliot Yeo (ankle and MCL)
TBD: Dom Sheed (ACL), Campbell Chesser (ankle)
Gold Coast ruled out both Mac Andrew and Sam Flanders early in the week but are expecting to see them on the training track ahead of Round 2.
1 week: Mac Andrew (chest), Sam Flanders (back)
7 weeks: David Swallow (PCL)
11 weeks: Leo Lombard (shoulder)
