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.
4Andrew Welsh's horrific leg injury
Essendon leader and midfielder Andrew Welsh missed the opening three months of the 2009 season after breaking the fibula bone in his right lower leg during an intra-club match at the Whitten Oval.
Welsh also dislocated his ankle and suffered ligament damage.
The now-Bombers president played 11 games in 2009, and added another 17 in the following two seasons before hanging up the boots.
Welsh called time after 162 games, flagging the significant operations and the unknown recovery time as his reasons.
