The AFL's pre-season always has plenty of intrigue as excitement builds towards a new season.
Which players are returning? Who's lighting up the track? Is there an early favourite for the premiership? Or the Brownlow?
But on the flip side, injuries and suspensions have plagued summer clashes, which in some cases, have put sides on the back foot before the new campaign begins.
From career-altering injuries to heavy hits and a slithery snake, we assess some of the biggest practice match disasters over the years.
8Powell-Pepper salty over 2024 campaign
Sam Powell-Pepper's 2024 season never got going, literally.
A match simulation against cross-town rivals Adelaide spelt trouble for the uncompromising Power forward, who took out his aggression on Mark Keane.
A bump gone wrong saw the Tribunal hand down a four-match suspension, which Port Adelaide accepted.
Powell-Pepper returned in Round 5 against Fremantle, but unfortunately, his season wouldn't last much longer.
Three weeks later, the former first-round pick suffered an ACL injury, ending his campaign.
In hindsight, the suspension during the pre-season was a bad omen.
