The new AFL season has settled in, but unfortunately, so have the injuries.
A bevy of soft-tissue injuries and unfortunate incidents have placed the new rules and interpretations in the gun, with players feeling the heat for the increased velocity of any given match.
Here's all the latest injury news from across the AFL...
Mixed news for Lions
Brisbane will be conservative with Hugh McClugagge's calf, while top draftee Dan Annable will be sidelined for up to four months with a shoulder injury after he dislocated it during the Round 1 clash with Sydney.
Annable will have surgery on Thursday.
Logan Morris should return to face St Kilda, while Zac Bailey and Darcy Gardiner will be recalled following their suspension.
Cody Curtin (chest), Tom Doedee (wrist/knee), Koby Evans (ankle) and Luke Lloyd (ankle) are all set to make their football returns this weekend after ticking off injury concerns.
Pie delight as utility set for VFL clash
Collingwood defender Reef McInnes is set to play VFL this weekend on limited minutes, returning after a long layoff from an ACL injury he suffered 12 months ago.
Premiership duo Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe will be assessed throughout the week ahead of Friday's clash with GWS, but are expected to be available.
Saint sidelined
St Kilda defender Anthony Caminiti will miss at least four weeks of football following a hamstring injury he sustained during the win over GWS.
Draftee Charlie Banfield dislocated his shoulder in the VFL, with the club yet to determine the "most appropriate management plan".
Bombers duo set for reserves
Essendon will watch on as Jordan Ridley and Tom Edwards make their long-awaited return to the VFL this weekend after long layoffs.
Ridley has made a full recovery from his calf injury, and is set to play his second ever reserves game.
Edwards tore his ACL last year, and will join the dashing defender.
Dyson Sharp is a test for this week after injuring his ankle.
Mason Redman will miss at least six weeks with a meniscus tear.
Danger downed
Geelong will be without captain Patrick Dangerfield for this week against Adelaide, and might be pushing for the Easter Monday clash against Hawthorn after reaggravating his calf.
"Pat reported some calf soreness following the match against Fremantle, with subsequent assessment and scans confirming a low grade calf injury," Geelong Cats EGM Football, Andrew Mackie.
"Given Pat missed our opening round game with a similar complaint, we'll take a cautious approach and get some loading into his training with his return to play at this stage earmarked for Easter Monday, or the week after."
Midfielder James Worpel is still listed as a test while impressive forward Jay Polkinghorne will be assessed after showing early signs of stress in his foot.
Swan out after bizarre MCG incident
Untried ruckman Will Green will miss up to 12 weeks following his freak accident at the MCG, requiring surgery to repair his 5th metatarsal in his foot.
The Swans could regain Isaac Heeney following their Round 3 bye after he suffered from hamstring tightness, missing last week's loss to Hawthorn.
Mature-age draftee Billy Cootee has received clearance from a specialist regarding his hip issue, and could play football following the bye.
Blue boom
Francis Evans and Adam Cerra could be in the frame to return to action this week, while dashing defender Adam Saad has been ticked off to be available for selection.
Evans (knee) and Cerra (hamstring) have yet to play in 2026, and will need to complete the week's training sessions.
Matt Cottrell and Billy Wilson will also return through the VFL.
Disco'd out
Melbourne defender Dan Turner will miss at least the next two weeks after suffering a hand injury in the loss to Fremantle.
"Daniel experienced hand pain during the second term on Saturday and was subsequently removed from the remainder of the game," The club's AFL High Performance Manager Selwyn Griffith said.
"Scans then confirmed that he had fractured a bone in his hand. He is now recovering from surgery, and we'll get a clearer timeframe on his return once the wound has healed, but we're hopeful he'll only miss a few weeks."
Young pup
Western Bulldogs forward Laitham Vandermeer will need to tick off required concussion testing to be available for selection, but the Round 3 bye will give him a greater chance to return.
Midfielder Tom Liberatore suffered a low-grade hamstring strain, and will miss at least the next two weeks.
Liberatore will miss the Round 4 clash against Essendon.
Roo hamstrung
North Melbourne defender Griffin Logue is the latest victim of the hamstring strain, with the club confirming he'll miss the next two weeks.
"Griff presents well with our strength and physio assessments," North Melbourne head of performance Kevin White said.
"He will build through our rehab program across the next two weeks and have a battery of testing to tick off along the way."
Josh Goater and Luke Urquhart could feature at any level this weekend, pending they get through the required training sessions.
Giant ins
GWS could regain Toby Bedford (hamstring), Aaron Cadman (pelvis) and Brent Daniels (hamstring) for Friday's blockbuster against Collingwood.
They will lose Jack Buckley as he failed his concussion test after a heavy hit late in the loss to St Kilda on Saturday. He has now entered the mandatory 12-day protocol.
Power out
Port Adelaide is set to be without captain Connor Rozee for an extended period after succumbing to a serious hamstring injury that confirmed a tendon rupture, which will likely require surgery.
A timeline has yet to be revealed on his return, but is set to miss at least 12 weeks.
Miles Bergman is still a chance to play next week despite an ankle injury in Sunday's win over Essendon.
Scans showed a sprain to the medial ankle, and bruising of the heel.
Richmond count cost as injury toll mounts
Captain Toby Nankervis and Tom Lynch will miss an extended period of football after the pair suffered hamstring injuries in the loss to Gold Coast.
Nankervis will miss 6-8 weeks, while Lynch falls narrowly in front, with his timeline around 4-5 weeks.
"Toby Nankervis is probably the most serious out of them all," Richmond High Performance Manager Ben Serpell said.
"It was a contact injury, similar to the mechanism that Harry Armstrong sustained a hamstring injury with last year, but nowhere near as bad, thankfully.
"Unfortunately, that's going to see him on the sidelines for six to eight weeks.
"It's not as serious as Toby Nankervis. Nevertheless, he'll still sit out for four to five weeks."
Nathan Broad is out for Round 3 with a minor calf injury.
It is timely for the Tigers given Samson Ryan has been ticked off from a foot injury.
"Samson's got through his rehab at this stage, and we're expecting him to have a little bit of game time this weekend," Serpell said.
"We'll let the coaches make their decision on what level he plays at this weekend."
Bomber blow as leader set for surgery
Essendon's Mason Redman will gave surgery in the coming days on a torn meniscus he sustained during Sunday's loss to Port Adelaide.
"Whilst Mason's injury is unfortunate for both him and our team, as a member of our Player Leadership Group, he'll continue to be a strong presence around the playing group during his recovery," General Manager of Football Daniel McPherson said.
"It is a frustrating setback but 'Red' is as tough as they come, and we know he will attack his rehab with his usual professionalism and commitment.
"We all look forward to seeing him back out there once he's fully recovered."
Crows recruit downed
Adelaide forward Callum Ah Chee will miss at least six weeks with a hamstring injury he suffered in Friday's loss to the Western Bulldogs.
It was a high-grade strain when attempting to lunge for a spoil.
Veteran Rory Laird will miss 1-2 weeks with a minor calf strain, as defender Josh Worrell will be monitored after playing through a calf issue.
