Brisbane forward Lincoln McCarthy will unfortunately miss an extended period after suffering another ACL setback.
Meanwhile, Carlton is hopeful that Sam Walsh will be deemed available for Thursday's clash against Richmond after Charlie Curnow was ruled out, while there's mixed news for Collingwood.
Here's the latest on the injury front across theย AFLย landscape...
Collingwood guns in doubt as tall is cleared
Collingwood half-back Josh Daicos is no certainty of suiting up for Saturday's game against Port Adelaide as he deals with an ankle concern.
Daicos was able to play out Sunday's loss to the Giants despite the ailment, which will limit the speedy Magpie for most of this week.
Collingwood remain confident Daicos will face the Power, however he will need to prove his fitness over the coming days.
Veteran defender Jeremy Howe (knee) is also a test for Round 1, while Will Hoskin-Elliott (back), Oleg Markov (calf) and Jordan De Goey (groin) are not available.
The magpies will receive a boost in the form of ruckman Mason Cox, who has overcome a pre-season finger injury.
Luckless Lion downed by cruel injury
Brisbane forward Lincoln McCarthy has been confirmed to have ruptured his right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and will be sidelined indefinitely.
McCarthy, who missed the premiership success in 2024 after tearing the same ACL in Round 8, was pushing for a return to football this weekend before the unfortunate news.
"It's incredibly disappointing and heartbreaking for Linc, his family and everyone at the Brisbane Lions to see him injure his ACL again," Lions general manager of football, Danny Daly said.
"But we have all been so impressed with the way Linc dealt with his last ACL injury and how committed he was to return, so we have no doubt he will tackle this injury with the same attitude.
"In the meantime, everyone at the club will rally around Linc and support him through this process and he is a fan favourite as well so no doubt they will be sending their support for Linc."
Two key Suns defenders to miss Round 1
The Suns will be without stars Mac Andrew and Sam Flanders in their Round 1 clash with West Coast as the two recover from respective injuries.
Andrew suffered a chest injury in the opening 10 seconds of Gold Coast's practice match against Sydney, and sat out the rest of the encounter. The club have confirmed while he won't play against the Eagles, Andrew will return in Round 2.
Flanders will also miss Round 1, as well as Round 2, with a back injury. Flanders has been carrying the injury throughout the pre-season, missing both trial games, and is anticipating a return in Round 3.
Significant Saints duo ready to go
St Kilda will savour the availability of star duo Rowan Marshall and Jack Sinclair.
The star pair successfully reintegrated into training last week after overcoming minor pre-season setbacks.ย
"Jack and Rowan have been really diligent in their respective recoveries, and we look forward to their inclusion on Sunday," Saints EGM Football David Misson said.
Forward Mitch Owens (shoulder) is in the frame for Round 1 but will need to prove his fitness.
Forward trioย Max Kingย (knee),ย Dan Butlerย (Achilles) andย Cooper Sharmanย (hand) have been ruled out of Sunday's game.
Carlton's Walsh cleared to play
Blues midfielder Sam Walsh has been cleared to play in the club's Round 1 contest against Richmond at the MCG.
Walsh has overcome a hamstring issue that put his playing chances in jeopardy, but the club has confirmed he is right to go.
Unfortunately, small forward Orazio Fantasia has suffered a low-grade calf strain in the pre-season contest against GWS and will miss Round 1.
Fantasia could return in Round 2 alongside Charlie Curnow (knee) while Hudson O'Keefe (hamstring) and Corey Durdin (ankle) are on a similar timeline.
Father-son gun Ben Camporeale is on a modified program regarding his ankle but shouldn't miss too much football.
Swans coach provides timeline on injured midfielder
Sydney's midfield depth has suffered another setback with midfielder Taylor Adams expected to miss 3-4 weeks with a hamstring injury, senior coach Dean Cox confirmed on Tuesday. Adams sustained the heartbreaking injury during the final quarter of their Opening Round match against Hawthorn.
"Unfortunately for Taylor, he's hurt his hamstring," Cox said.
"He had scans on Sunday and got the news yesterday. He'll probably be three to four weeks, which is unfortunate for him and the footy team.
"He's an experienced player so he'll deal with it as well as he possibly can. We thought he was going to play an important role for us in the early part of the year, but he'll just have to rehab now and create an opportunity for someone else."
Premiership Cat downed
Geelong defender Jed Bews is set to spend the next two months on the sidelines following an injury to his right finger.
Bews had surgery to repair the tendon and is currently in a splint. He'll be able to complete conditioning work and light touch training.
Fellow defender Jake Kolodjashnij will also miss the opening weeks of the season following groin soreness.
Midfielder Tanner Bruhn has no timeline on his return from a finger injury but had avoided surgery.
Ruckman Toby Conway is back running and is progressing well through his reconditioning block but will not be rushed back into the senior side.
In more positive news, mature-aged forward Shaun Mannagh is available after overcoming a bone stress injury in his foot.
Power defender to be assessed before Pies clash
Port Adelaide tall Esava Ratugolea will need to prove his fitness ahead of the club's Saturday night contest with Collingwood.
Ratugolea underwent a knee arthroscopy last month and has now integrated back into full training in a bid to make himself available for Round 1.
Fellow key defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher is progressing well from his back injury but still remains at least two months away.
Star midfielder Zak Butters continues his rehab (4-6 weeks) from a knee injury while youngster Tom Anastasopoulos will have ankle surgery to repair a syndesmosis injury.
Dockers recruit in doubt for season opener
Fremantle gun Shai Bolton is no certainty of suiting up in Saturday's meeting with Geelong as he deals with a leg issue.
7 News'ย Mitch Cleary has revealed that Bolton pulled up sore from the Dockers' pre-season clash against Melbourne and will now need to prove his fitness at Wednesday's training session.
Bolton is said to be nursing a potential lower leg stress-related injury that could see him sidelined for this week's trip to Kardinia Park.
The Dockers are already set to be without Sean Darcy (knee), Nat Fyfe (knee) and Hayden Young (hamstring) for the start of their new campaign, with Josh Draper (hamstring) another needing to prove his fitness.
Richmond's prized pick available
Richmond could unleash their top draft pick from last year's crop.
Sam Lalor was under an injury cloud following his fractured jaw, and subsequent concussion, during a match simulation against West Coast.
Tigers fans will be hoping that the decision to give away contracted premiership stars for the next generation of talent will pay off, starting with Lalor's appearance on Thursday.
Fellow draftee Josh Smillie won't be available for selection and is likely to miss two to four weeks following a hamstring issue.
Spearhead forward Tom Lynch will be in the frame for selection after overcoming his concussion.
Midfield duo Dion Prestia (Achilles) and Hugo Ralphsmith (hamstring) will likely miss the next month of football.
Young forward Jonty Faull (back) is a test to play football this weekend but will be treated cautiously.
Saints spearhead to miss again
St Kilda forward Max King will miss the club's Round 1 clash against Adelaide.
King underwent an arthroscope on his knee late last month to solve a lingering problem after suffering an injury in the Saints' intra-club.
The 24-year-old is reportedly yet to start training since the surgery but is believed to be building up his loads this week.
King will miss the Crows clash and could be in line for Rounds 2 or 3.
Draftee Alix Taura has returned to full training since being drafted last year.
Tauru suffered a stress fracture in his back following the AFL Draft Combine.
Hawthorn midfielder cops cruel injury
Hawks midfielder James Worpel will miss the next month of football.
Worpel fortunately escaped surgery on his ankle, with scans showing "relatively promising" signs, despite the diagnosis of a moderate-grade syndesmosis ankle injury.
Sam Butler and Mitchell Lewis are still working through the rehab on their respective leg injuries with no timeline set.
As is Calsher Dear as he tends to his back.
Key defender James Blanck is making progress on his ACL injury from last year, and is deemed to be five to seven weeks away.
Changkuoth Jiath narrowly missed senior selection but played in the VFL.
Jiath is recovering from a hip injury but could be in the frame for Friday night's contest against Essendon.
Carlton's cautious Curnow approach
The Blues will give Charlie Curnow every second to make himself right, but they won't rush the two-time Coleman medallist.
Curnow was officially ruled out of the traditional Thursday night blockbuster against Richmond, with his eyes on Hawthorn in Round 2.
The Victorian club said: "Curnow has been able to seamlessly integrate back into full training, after recovering strongly from a minor knee procedure last month and is on track to return in the early rounds."
"Curnow will not feature inย this Thursday night's Round 1 blockbuster against Richmond, with the Club instead opting to ensure the 28-year-old benefits from an additional block of full training."
Sam Walsh is expected to be available while small forward Corey Durdin will miss the opening month of the 2025 season due to an ankle injury.
Jagga Smith, Nic Newman and Alex Cincotta are all sidelined for the majority of the year.
Swans veteran cruelled again by injury
Sydney is yet to confirm the total damage on Taylor Adams' hamstring after he left the field during the last term on Friday.
Adams has had a wretched run of soft-tissue injuries in recent years, and that has seemed to have followed him to New South Wales.
"Unfortunately for Taylor it's a tight hamstring, so we'll find out how bad that is," Cox said.
"It wasn't great for him to be in that position. He's one of the senior ones in that forward line to really try and quell and keep the ball in our front half.
"We'll get it assessed and let everyone know."
Giants ruck suffers concussion
GWS ruckman Kieran Briggs will miss at least Sunday's clash against Melbourne after he was admitted into concussion protocols.
Suffering a heavy collision in the victory against Collingwood, Briggs was stretchered off the field, with the club confirming the head knock.
The Giants tall will be sidelined for a minimum of 12 days per the AFL's guidelines, but by all reports, he has recovered well.
