Every team has kicked off their 2026 campaign after a stirring Round 1 saw 18 clubs participate.
However, with the return of footy, so is injuries.
Here's all the latest injury news from across the AFL...
Swan not singing song as coach provides Heeney update
The Sydney Swans are still yet to provide an update on Isaac Heeney's hamstring, but they will be hoping for a positive diagnosis in light of the bleak news that befell Errol Gulden. After starting the season seemingly back to his dynamic, game-breaking best, the midfielder will miss up to four months after the club opted to have his dislocated shoulder operated on.
Swans coach Dean Cox provided a Heeney update, saying he's more unlikely to take on the Hawks.
"He's probably more unlikely than likely (with) the five-day break," Cox said on SEN.
"We got the scan back and the results were better than we hoped ... there's no structural damage. Any player on a five-day break, you really look at.
"We'll assess Isaac ... and make the decision from there. But I'd rather be open and honest and at this stage, it's more unlikely than likely."
Bulldogs youngster in frame for Crows
Promising Bulldogs key forward Jordan Croft is in the frame to return from a jarred back, in a development that would bolster an already humming side ahead of their mouthwatering clash with the Adelaide Crows this Friday night.
The second generation Dog is listed as a test, after missing his side's demolition of the Giants on the weekend, after landing heavily in a marking contest against the reigning premiers in Opening Round.
Head of Sports Medicine for the club, Chris Bell, provided an update on the three-gamer, and a few of his teammates, on Monday evening.
“These (Croft's) symptoms are continuing to improve across the last week, so we will work through a process with Jordan to make sure he is feeling 100% before we declare his availability," he said.
Lachy Carmichael sustained a nasty corky in the VFL, too, with Bell outlining his recovery.
“He had expected (the) pain and swelling associated with this injury which impacted his ability to train, but he is showing good improvements this week and will be put through his paces at main training to determine his availability.”
Arty Jones and Laitham Vandermeer are coming towards the end of their respective stints in the AFL's concussion protocols, too.
Premiership Tiger ready to turn Suns off
At Punt Road, a pair of premiership Tigers have been cleared to return to AFL action, in a major boost for Adem Yze ahead of a daunting clash with a rampant Gold Coast Suns outfit.
Fan favourite Nick Vlastuin has come out the other side of a conservative management period, with the club opting not to take risks with their influential key defender.
High performance manager Ben Serpell spoke of the big picture approach his club are taking with the 31-year-old triple-premiership player.
“In retrospect, he probably could have been okay to play last week, but we took the opportunity to get some more training into him," Serpell said.
“He's such an important player in our team, he's still got 20-plus games to go this year, so we thought we'd get some more training into him, but expect to see him out there this weekend.”
Fellow premiership hero Dion Prestia has recovered from his latest hamstring injury, and is expected to feature at some level this weekend.
The news is not as promising for Tasmanian small forward, Rhyan Mansell, who suffered a minor fracture in his wrist in the Tigers' loss to the Blues. The Tigers are anticipating an absence of up to a month for the tenacious tackler.
Saint downed
St Kilda will be hoping a quad injury to budding youngster Mattaes Phillipou is on the minor side, after the promising South Australian saw his wretched run with his body continue in the weekend's clash with Melbourne.
