The new year is here, with AFL clubs and their players nearing their first pre-season sessions for 2026 as the home and away campaign now sits just three months away.
Each club's planning for Opening Round or Round 1 will hinge on the fitness of its squad, with pre-season injury concerns unfortunately inevitable.
Some clubs will enter the 2026 season already a man or few down, with long-term setbacks from 2025, or more recent injuries and late-season suspensions, putting a line through some players' selection prospects for the start of the season.
Let's take stock of each club's early-season unavailabilities to get an idea of who will be missing for the start of the 2026 campaign.
Adelaide
Izak Rankine (suspension, one game)
The four-game suspension to Izak Rankine for a homophobic slur late last season, coupled with Adelaide's straight-sets finals exit, has meant the star Crow will miss his side's Round 1 bout with Collingwood at the MCG. The good news is that his absence looks to be the only selection concern at this point in time. Young midfielder Sid Draper (groin) is a watch however, having been limited on the track so far this summer. Off-season surgeries for Darcy Fogarty (toe) and Reilly O'Brien (elbow) haven't heavily impacted their pre-seasons.
Brisbane
Eric Hipwood (knee)
The Lions are in line to have a swarm of senior players ready to go for Opening Round when they host the Bulldohs on March 7. The early season start does have a few players against the clock though, including new recruits Sam Draper (Achilles) and Oscar Allen (calf/Achilles). They're both in line to play pre-season games, while Jack Payne (knee) and Noah Answerth (Achilles) will also eye the start of the club's premiership defence following mid-year setbacks. The one confirmed omission is Eric Hipwood, who dealt with further ACL concerns late into last season and will miss a significant portion of his 2026 campaign.
Carlton
Harry O'Farrell (knee)
The Blues won't have second-year defender Harry O'Farrell for most, or potentially all of, 2026, given his ACL rupture in August and long-term playing prospects, with Carlton unlikely to rush the young tall back. In a potential boost, the club could have Brodie Kemp (Achilles) back from his long-term setback for the start of the new season. Nic Newman (knee) and Jagga Smith (knee) are both expected to be ready for Round 1, while Matt Cottrell (foot) is also in the mix.
Collingwood
The Magpies could be close to full fitness for their Opening Round bout with St Kilda, however multiple players will be racing the clock. Beau McCreery's off-season foot surgery shouldn't put a line through his chances of the season opener, despite a limited pre-season. Lively forward Bobbby Hill is in a similar position due to complications with a hamstring concern. Reef McInnes could also be in the frame off the back of his ACL rehabilitation, with that setback occurring last March. Off-season procedures for Dan Houston (hip) and Dan McStay (shoulder) have also eaten into their summer programs.
Essendon
Tom Edwards (knee)
Nic Martin (knee)
Nick Bryan (knee)
Lewis Hayes (knee)
Essendon's nightmare 2025 injury run will eat into their new campaign, with a setback to Nic Martin's recovery from a mid-year ACL injury already ending his 2026 season. ACL injuries to Lewis Hayes, Thomas Edwards and Nick Bryan from last year are also set to see the Bombers a few men down for Round 1 at least. A back concern for top 10 draft pick Sullivan Robey isn't expected to delay his rookie year.
Fremantle
Sam Sturt (knee)
A further knee concern for fringe utility Sam Sturt is set to see the Docker miss an extended period. Sturt underwent a knee reconstruction late into last season after it was revealed his ACL was not stable. Veteran Corey Wagner underwent surgery on a ruptured pectoral late into last season but isn't tipped to miss the Round 1 clash with the Cats.
Geelong
Harley Barker (knee)
Geelong's main injury concern comes in the form of first-round draft pick Harley Barker, who suffered an ACL injury in July. The teenager won't be rushed back to the field in his first year, meaning Cats fans may not see the South Australian feature until 2027. A big watch will be on young ruckman Toby Conway (back/foot) following another year heavily impacted by injuries, while Coleman Medal winner Jeremy Cameron (broken arm) should be ripe for Opening Round against Gold Coast following his injury in the grand final.
Gold Coast
Elliott Himmelberg (knee)
The Suns suffered two ACL injuries in 2025, one being to new recruit Elliott Himmelberg in May. With an expected year-long rehabilitation, the ex-Crow will likely aim for a return in the middle of this year. Star defender Charlie Ballard's 2025 season was over in Round 1, giving him a chance to suit up for the start of the new season when the Suns host the Cats in early March.
GWS
Josh Kelly (hip)
Darcy Jones (knee)
Nathan Wardius (knee)
A trio of Giants are likely to miss most of 2026, with veteran midfielder Josh Kelly's campaign interrupted by hip surgery. The procedure is expected to have Kelly in consideration for the home stretch. Speedster Darcy Jones' September ACL injury places his campaign in some doubt, while forward Nathan Wardius is also recovering from a knee rupture in August and faces an extended period out of action.
Hawthorn
Star Hawk Will Day (foot) has slowly lifted his loads over the pre-season, with the club hoping to have the best and fairest winner back in full training come February. Skipper James Siicly has also been dealt an interrupted pre-season after undergoing shoulder surgery, but he too is tipped to be fit for the start of the new season. Midfielder Finn Maginness (kidney) has been in non-contact training and could be some time away, given the delicacy of his ailment, but the club has yet to rule out an Opening Round spot for the tagger.
Melbourne
Jake Bowey (foot)
Integral defender Jake Bowey's opening couple of months to the 2026 campaign have been shot by a Lisfranc injury that was uncovered late into last year. The setback will see the premiership Demon sidelined until close to the mid-year mark in what is an untimely blow for new coach Steven King. Melbourne have also had a host of players sidelined for most, or all, of pre-season so far, with Jack Viney, Jack Henderson, Changkuoth Jiath, Thomas Matthews, Shane McAdam, Andy Moniz-Wakefield and Daniel Turner among those limited.
North Melbourne
The Roos seemingly have a clean bill of health for the start of the season. That's not to say their pre-season so far hasn't seen a few sidelined, with Josh Goater, Jackson Archer, Colby McKercher, Hugo Mikunda, Aidan Corr, Charlie Spargo, Brayden George and Cam Zurhaar all not featuring at the club's recent match simulation during its trip to Queensland.
Port Adelaide
Ollie Wines (suspension, two games)
Sam Powell-Pepper (knee)
Brownlow Medal winner Ollie Wines still has two games of his three-game suspension to serve from last year's Round 23 offence on Carlton's Cooper Lord. That ban puts a line through matches against North Melbourne and Essendon, with a return scheduled for Round 3 when the Power host West Coast. Another cruel ACL blow to Sam Powell-Pepper last July will eat into the start of his 2026 campaign. Off-season concerns for stars Zak Butters and Jason Horne-Francis aren't expected to delay their campaigns.
Richmond
Judson Clarke (knee)
Richmond youngster Judson Clarke was unfortunately sidelined by an ACL for the second time in as many years when he went down in the VFL in July. That injury places him out of action for the start of another season, with his last AFL game coming in Round 2 of the 2024 season. Second-year tall Thomas Sims is no certainty for Round 1 due to a foot concern, while Josh Smillie (quad) is working his way back from surgery and is unlikely to be seen until February.
St Kilda
Further concerns surrounding Max King's knee arose in December, with the Saints spearhead's return delayed until the end of this month. One more setback and his Opening Round chances will just about be dashed. The Saints have also listed Mason Wood (calf) and Jack Silvagni (groin) with TBC return timeframes, but there's no expectation they miss the start of the season. Young ruckman Alex Dodson is in line to return from a hamstring issue in mid-January.
Sydney
Veteran midfielder Taylor Adams' pre-season was thrown into disarray in December due to a partial tear of his Achilles. Having avoided the worst-case scenario, he's expected to be back training in January, giving his Opening Round chances some life. Skipper Callum Mills went down with a hamstring injury in November but is in line for the season opener against Carlton.
West Coast
Liam Baker (suspension, one game)
Jack Hutchinson (ankle)
Sam Allen (knee)
A one-game rough conduct ban for Liam Baker for his final round hit on Chad Warner last year means he'll miss his side's season opener against Gold Coast, returning a week late to take on North Melbourne in the club's first home game. Utility Jack Hutchinson will miss the start of the season after discovering a stress fracture in his ankle in the pre-season. Draftee Sam Allen is also set to miss the opening couple of months as he continues to recover from an ACL injury that ruined his 2025.
Western Bulldogs
A handful of Bulldogs are working through interrupted pre-season programs due to injury, with young midfielder Ryley Sanders (hamstring) among them. Small forward Cody Weightman is still nursing the knee issue that saw him miss the entire 2025 season, and is up against the clock for the Opening Round clash against Brisbane. Star trio Ed Richards, Sam Darcy and Aaron Naughton underwent shoulder reconstructions but are no chance of missing any action.
