There's set to be plenty of attention on the injury front from across the AFL as clubs look to be in ship-shape for the home stretch to September.

Ahead of the final bye round, clubs are gearing up for an enticing Round 16, with some clubs to be without key players while others will welcome back some personnel.

A Crows forward is no certainty of suiting up against Richmond on Sunday, while Port Adelaide has put a line through a Brownlow Medal winner.

Collingwood will be forced into multiple changes, while the latest at Richmond, St Kilda, Essendon, Brisbane, Carlton and more has been revealed.

Here's all the latest injury news from across the AFL...

Star Hawks trio a test

Hawthorn could have all of James Worpel, James Sicily and Mitch Lewis playing in the brown and gold this weekend.

Worpel (quad) and Sicily (hip/abdominal) will need to get through training to play against North Melbourne in Tasmania in what would be a great boost for coach Sam Mitchell following the bye.

The Hawks could also see forward Lewis play his first game since recovering from an ACL injury sustained last season.

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Mitchell Lewis during the AFL match between Hawthorn and St Kilda in Round 4, 2022 (Photo by Cameron Grimes / Zero Digital Media)

 

Defender Jack Scrimshaw is at least another week away with his hamstring issue. 

Setbacks for two Saints

St Kilda have confirmed Mattaes Phillipou will miss up to another month with a Plantaris injury that saw him ruled out of the weekend's actions with just minutes to go before the opening bounce. 

Phillipou had no issue with the ailment until close to the game, with his latest setback costing him a further 3-4 weeks.

A setback has also struck Dougal Howard, who is now listed as 'TBC' on St Kilda's injury list as he continues to recover from a hamstring issue.

Fremantle could regain skipper

Dockers captain Alex Pearce could make his return from a shin injury this Sunday when Fremantle host St Kilda.

Pearce has missed action since Round 11 due to the ailment, with the defender needing to get through training unscathed to play.

He came close last week but fell short, with Fremantle more confident this week. 

Trio Sam Switkowski (hamstring), Sam Sturt (knee) and Will Brodie (concussion) could all return as early as next week, while Hayden Young (hamstring) is up to a month away.

Carlton star under injury cloud

Blues backman Jacob Weitering has been listed as a test for this Thursday's trip to South Australia to face Port Adelaide.

Weitering suffered an ankle issue in Saturday's loss to North Melbourne, but played out the game, and will now need to get through training this week to be cleared to play the Power.

"Has recovered well from rolled ankle in Saturday's game and will aim to train tomorrow to be available to play," a club update on Tuesday read.

Carlton will confirm their squad on Wednesday night, while coach Michael Voss will address the media earlier in the day. 

Collingwood pair sidelined

Magpie Billy Frampton will miss at least a month after hurting his calf in the win over St Kilda.

Frampton will be sidelined for 4-5 weeks due to the moderate strain.

The injury comes as Collingwood will be without Beau McCreery for this weekend and a further two weels due to a hamstring concern, while draftee Charlie West will make his debut when the Magpies host West Coast at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.

Defender Brayden Maynard is listed as a test for Round 16 and will need to get through training to play the Eagles. 

Big boost incoming for Essendon

Essendon could have five players back in action for their next game as they recover through their bye weekend.

The Bombers could welcome the returns of Kyle Langford, Jordan Ridley, Mason Redman, Zach Reid and Saad El-Hawli in time for their Round 17 clash with Gold Coast.

Tall trio Ben McKay (foot), Harrison Jones (ankle) and Nik Cox (concussion) remain listed as TBC for returns. 

No return for Tiger, season over for project ruckman

Richmond have stated defender Jayden Short will miss another week with his ongoing calf issue.

The premiership Tiger hasn't played since Round 8, having been a late out the following match and since being forced to the sidelines.

The Tigers revealed the defender is "likely" to miss another match. 

โ€œShorty is likely to miss another week,โ€ Richmond high performance manager Ben Serpell said.

โ€œAs I said last week, he was a test, but he probably didn't perform as well as we would have liked him to, not just from an injury perspective but from a performance perspective.

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PERTH, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 29: Jayden Short of the Tigers kicks the ball during the 2022 AFL Round 07 match between the West Coast Eagles and the Richmond Tigers at Optus Stadium on April 29, 2022 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

โ€œWe will give him another week here and test him leading into our Geelong week game in a couple of weeks.โ€

Pick 1 selection Sam Lalor could play this weekend after suffering a hamstring injury, while fellow draftees Harry Armstrong (hamstring) and Josh Smillie (conditioning) could be back next week along with Josh Gibcus (knee). 

Midfielder Kane McAuliffe will miss up to a month with a quad injury, with Campbell Gray (knee) facing a similar timeframe. 

The Tigers have also confirmed ruckman Mate Colina's season is over, having required shoulder surgery following an incident in the VFL.

Roos duo no certainty for Tassie trip

North Melbourne duo Jack Darling (leg) and Jackson Archer (hamstring have both been listed as tests for this week's matchup with Hawthorn in Launceston.

Darling suffered a cut to his shin on the weekend but managed to play out the win over Carlton, while Archer reported tightness in his hamstring early into his stint in the VFL.

"Given Jackson's recent hamstring injury the cautious approach was taken to remove him from the game," North Melbourne physio Brenton Egglestone said in a club update. 

"He's pulled up well in the following days. We'll build up his work this week and he'll be a test later in the week."

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 18: Jack Darling of the Kangaroos warms up ahead of the round six AFL match between North Melbourne Kangaroos and Carlton Blues at Marvel Stadium, on April 18, 2025, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 18: Jack Darling of the Kangaroos warms up ahead of the round six AFL match between North Melbourne Kangaroos and Carlton Blues at Marvel Stadium, on April 18, 2025, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

North Melbourne could have Eddie Ford (foot), Josh Goater (quad) and Aidan Corr (calf) available for selection in the next three weeks. 

Setback for Lions defender

Brisbane backman Tom Doedee will spend a stint on the sidelines after entering concussion protocols from a win over Geelong in the VFL on the weekend.

Doedee's setback comes as the Lions prepare for a bye, meaning he may not miss any action.

The bye could also see Keidean Coleman (quad) and Henry Smith (foot) available in time for Brisbane's next matchup with Port Adelaide in Round 17. 

Crow forward a "test" for Tigers contest

Adelaide is hopeful Luke Pedlar will overcome a corked quad to face Richmond on Sunday.

"Luke Pedlar got a knee to the bottom of his quad, top of his knee, in the Hawthorn game," Adelaide High Performance Manager Darren Burgess said.

"It's pulled up a little bit sore, he ran well today and we're hoping he'll be able to train on Thursday and play this weekend, but he'll be a test at this point."

Veteran midfielder Matt Crouch is continuing his recovery from a hip injury, and will begin integrating into main training over the next fortnight.

"Crouchy is running really well and he will be training with the main group probably within two weeks and available in around that four-week mark," Burgess said.

Oscar Ryan has progressed nicely from a jaw issue, while Tyler Welsh (toe) and Toby Murray (ankle) are still a month away.

Power midfielder ruled out as defender set to return

Port Adelaide's Ollie Wines will miss a second consecutive game due to a knee injury he sustained in Round 14, while Aliir Aliir will return on Thursday.

Power recruit Jack Lukosius will play on limited minutes in the SANFL after a long layoff since Round 2, fracturing his kneecap in Round 2.

Lukosius then suffered a setback in his back, but has integrated back into full training in recent weeks.

Demons recruit sidelined

Melbourne's Aidan Johnson will spend at least a month on the sidelines after requiring ankle surgery.

The call to have the draftee go under the knife comes after Johnson experienced discomfort with his ankle throughout the first half of the season.

โ€œHe had a couple of incidents that compromised his training,โ€ Melbourne high performance lead SelwynGriffith said.

โ€œTo best manage the rest of his year, we opted for an arthroscope. He's recovered really well, and this week we'll focus on strength and range of motion as his wound heals. A clearer return timeline will come in the next couple of weeks.โ€

Melbourne has also listed Charlie Spargo (scapula) for a potential return in the next fortnight, while Oliver Sestan (hamstring) is up to a month away.

Giants cavalry arrives

The Giants could welcome back Kieren Briggs and Stephen Coniglio after the club's mid-season bye, with the side confirming they are a "test" for Round 17.

The pair have been sidelined with ankle and glute issues, but have overcome them in a bid to return early next month.

Youngsters Jack Ough and Phoenix Gothard should also return to the VFL.

However, the news isn't as good for Conor Stone, who will miss the remainder of the 2025 season with scans confirming an incomplete fracture in his navicular.

Dashing defender Lachie Whitfield has entered concussion protocols, but could be available for the Eagles clash next week, pending he passes all required tests.