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.
5State of Origin revival counts injury toll
Sam Taylor. Callum Ah Chee. Matt Rowell. Jacob Weitering.
Despite the successful return of State of Origin to the AFL landscape, the hotly contested pre-season clash did come with its negatives. Injuries.
The fear of clubs losing players to injury on the eve of the upcoming season was always going to be a deterrent for the marquee clash.
GWS will miss Taylor for the medium term after scans confirmed a high-grade hamstring strain; Rowell will watch idly by as the Suns kickstart their season, needing surgery on an injured finger.
Ah Chee (hamstring) and Weitering (fractured rib) both failed to play out the contest, but Adelaide and Carlton remain hopeful they will be available for the start of the season.
