AFL Injury List 2025: All the pre-season medical news, Supercoach tips

Tom Naghten

Kieran Francis

AFL Injury List 2025: All the pre-season medical news, Supercoach tips image

And just like that, the 2025 AFL season looms on the horizon!

While some teams charge forward into the new year at full strength, others are looking to fill gaps in their sides as the pre-season injury toll mounts.

The Sporting News keeps you updated will all the medical news across the competition ahead of another big premiership season.

MORE: The complete 2025 AFL fixture

Read on for all the latest AFL injury news:

Adelaide injury news

PlayerInjuryEstimated return
Chayce JonesShoulder2 weeks
Mark KeaneHipTest
Max MichalanneyThumbTest
Brodie SmithSuspensionRound 2
Kieran StrachanFoot2026
  • Ruckman Strachan has been ruled out for the season due to stress-related foot issue
  • Adelaide's defence will be light for round one if defenders Keane and Michalanney don't pass tests

Updated: March 5

Brisbane injury news

PlayerInjuryEstimated return
Callum Ah CheeCalfTest
Keidean ColemanACL4-6 weeks
Tom DoedeeACL4-6 weeks
Darcy FortHamstringTest
Darcy GardinerACL1-2 weeks
Brandon StarcevichConcussionTBC
  • Several Lions with interrupted pre-seasons, but most expected to be get some practice match action in
  • Doedee, Coleman and Gardiner the main concerns as they continue their recoveries from ACL injuries
  • Starcevich is in concussion protocols and should be right for start of season after Opening Round postponement

Updated: March 5

Carlton injury news

PlayerInjuryEstimated return
Ben CamporealeAnkle2 weeks 
Alex CincottaHipTBC
Charlie CurnowKnee1-2 weeks
Matt DuffyKnee1-2 weeks
Corey DurdinAnkle4-6 weeks
Rob MonahanGroinIndefinite
Nic NewmanPatellaIndefinite
Hudson O'KeeffeHamstring3-5 weeks
Marc PittonetCalf5-6 weeks
Jagga SmithACL2026
Sam WalshHamstringTest
  • Curnow has had a screw taken out of his knee, delaying his start to the season
  • The Blues are confident Walsh will feature in at least one practice match
  • Newman's season was over before it begun, while Walsh should get some practice matches under his belt
  • Smith tore his ACL in an innocuous incident in the match simulation against St Kilda
  • Pittonet will the start of the season with a calf issue

Updated: March 5

Collingwood injury news

PlayerInjuryEstimated return
Joel CochranRibs1 week
Mason CoxFinger1-2 weeks
Jordan De GoeyKnee1-2 weeks
Harvey HarrisonACLTBC
Dan HoustonSuspensionRound 1
Tom MitchellFootTBC
Illiro SmitThroat2-3 weeks
Oscar SteeneFinger3+ weeks
  • Brownlow winner Mitchell is dealing with a bone-stress injury and could be worked back slowly
  • De Goey is no guarantee for Opening Round

Updated: March 5

Essendon injury news

PlayerInjuryEstimated return
Nik CoxConcussionTBC
Alwyn DaveyMeniscusTBC
Matt GuelfiHamstring6-8 weeks
Darcy ParishBackTBC
  • Guelfi will go in for surgery on a hamstring issue and miss the opening few rounds
  • Parish is in doubt for the season opener with a troublesome back injury

Updated: March 5

Fremantle injury news

PlayerInjuryEstimated return
Sean DarcyAnkle3-5 weeks
Josh DraperHamstringTest
Nat FyfeKneeTBC
Odin JonesBack2026
Alex PearceAnkleTest
Hayden YoungHamstringTBC
  • Darcy is headed in for surgery to remove a screw in his ankle and will miss the first few rounds
  • Young and Draper have both suffered minor hammy strains and will miss at least round one
  • Fyfe is reportedly set to miss the Dockers' opener
  • Jones needed spinal surgery after fracturing a vertebrae and will miss the 2025 season

Updated: March 5

Geelong injury news

PlayerInjuryEstimated return
Cam GuthrieAchillesTBC
Tanner BruhnFingerTBC
Toby ConwayBackTBC
Xavier IvisicAnkle4-6 weeks
Shaun MannaghFoot2-3 weeks
  • Guthrie has been sent for minor surgery on an Achilles issue
  • Bruhn has a finger injury with the prognosis unknown

Updated: March 5

Gold Coast injury news

PlayerInjuryEstimated return
Mac AndrewChestTest
Charlie BallardAnkleTest
Sam FlandersBack1-2 weeks
Leo LombardDislocated shoulder10 weeks
David SwallowPCL8 weeks
Jed WalterSuspensionRound 1
Lachie WellerHamstringTest
  • Swallow will be sidelined for two months with a PCL injury
  • Andrew, Ballard and Weller were tests for Essendon clash but will benefit from Opening Round match postponement
  • Flanders is still a week or two away
  • Lombard dislocated his shoulder in the practice match against Brisbane

Updated: March 5

GWS injury news

PlayerInjuryEstimated return
Ryan AngwinAnkle5 weeks
Josh FaheySuspensionRound 5
Joe FontiSuspensionRound 3
Phoenix GothardAnkleTest
Tom GreenCalf1-2 weeks
Jesse HoganThumb2-3 weeks
Toby McMullinSuspensionRound 3
Jake RiccardiSuspensionRound 3
Jake StringerHamstring2 weeks
Harvey ThomasSuspensionRound 3
  • Green is set to miss the start of the season with a calf strain, Hogan and Stringer are also sidelined
  • Angwin is still more than a month away
  • The fallout from the Giants' end-of-season celebrations means five players will be unavailable for the start of the new campaign

Updated: March 5

Hawthorn injury news

PlayerInjuryEstimated return
James BlanckACL6-8 weeks
Sam ButlerLegTBC
Calsher DearBackTBC
Changkuoth JiathHipTest
Mitch LewisACLTBC
  • Jiath has had a setback on a hip injury and is currently sidelined
  • Blanck and Lewis remain on the comeback trails from ACL injuries
  • Dear had a bone-stress injury and his return will be managed cautiously

Updated: March 5

Melbourne injury news

PlayerInjuryEstimated return
Marty HoreHandTBC
Luker KentfieldPneumoniaTBC
Shane McAdamAchilles2026
Judd McVeeHamstring4-6 weeks
Jake MelkshamHamstringTBC
Andy Moniz-WakefieldKnee (ACL)2026
Kysaiah PickettSuspensionRound 4
Charlie SpargoAchillesTBC
Koltyn TholstrupBone stress6-8 weeks
  • McAdam's season is almost certainly over after he ruptured his Achilles 
  • The Demons have several players working back following pre-season niggles, with Tholstrup the most concerning, ruling him out for the start of the season
  • Moniz-Wakefield tore his ACL against North Melbourne in match simulation

Updated: March 5

North Melbourne injury news

PlayerInjuryEstimated return
Callum Coleman-JonesAchilles10-12 weeks
Zane DuursmaQuadTest
Zac FisherHamstringTest
Brayden GeorgeACL6-8 weeks
Josh GoaterHamstring5-6 weeks
George WardlawHamstring5-7 weeks
  • Coleman-Jones and George won't be ready for the early part of the season
  • Wardlaw picked up a nasty hamstring injury that will keep him out for up to three months
  • Goater has has a setback and will be sidelined for more than a month

Updated: March 5

Port Adelaide injury news

PlayerInjuryEstimated return
Zak ButtersKnee5-7 weeks
Todd MarshallAchillesTBC
Esava RatugoleaKneeTBC
Dante VisentiniKneeTBC
Brandon Zerk-ThatcherBackTBC
  • Butters required surgery on his knee with the vice-captain sidelined for up to eight weeks
  • Marshall is a doubt to play at all on 2025 after rupturing his Achilles
  • Zerk-Thatcher is expected to miss the start of the season
  • Ratugolea has been sidelined with a meniscus issue

Updated: March 5

Richmond injury news

PlayerInjuryEstimated return
Noah BaltaSuspensionRound 5
Judson ClarkeACLTBC
Josh GibcusACLTBC
Jonty FaullBackTBC
Taj HottonACLTBC
Sam LalorConcussion/jawTest
Mykelti LefauACLEarly season
Dion PrestiaAchillesEarly season
Hugo RalphsmithHamstringEarly season
Josh SmillieHamstringEarly season
Tylar YoungACLEarly season
  • The Tigers have a host of players on the comeback trail from ACL injuries, with Clarke the closest to a return
  • Lalor will be sidelined following a head knock and jaw fracture in a pre-season hit out against the Eagles
  • Smillie has had a hamstring setback and bene ruled out of the opening few rounds
  • Ralphsmith will miss the opening few weeks with a hamstring problem, while Prestia has an Achilles concern

Updated: March 5

St Kilda injury news

PlayerInjuryEstimated return
Paddy DowKneeTBC
Liam HenryKnee3-4 weeks
Dougal HowardShoulder8-10 weeks
Max KingKnee1-3 weeks
Mitch OwensShoulder1-3 weeks
Mattaes PhillipouFemur8-10 weeks
Cooper SharmanHand4 weeks
Alix TauruBack6-7 weeks
  • King has been sent for minor knee surgery and is unlikely to be ready for round one.
  • Howard requires surgery on a shoulder injury and will be sidelined for three months, while Phillipou will also return mid-season
  • Owens injured his shoulder in the final practice match but was cleared of major damage and could feature in round one
  • Sharman has fractured his thumb and will require surgery

Updated: March 5

Sydney injury news

PlayerInjuryEstimated return
Ned BowmanQuad2-3 weeks
Caiden ClearySuspendedRound 2
Harry CunninghamFoot4-5 weeks
Jesse DattoliBackTBC
Will EdwardsLeg1 week
Robbie FoxCalf6 weeks
Brodie GrundyKneeTest
Errol GuldenAnkle5+ weeks
Logan McDonaldAnkle5 weeks
Callum MillsPlantar Fasciitis4 weeks
Tom PapleyAnkleTest
Patrick SnellHamstringEarly season
  • McDonald's recovery from an ankle injury has been slower than expected and he's no guarantee to be ready for the Swans' season opener
  • Mills will also miss the opening few weeks with a foot problem
  • Grundy limped off the track with a knee injury and will miss the Community Series
  • Fellow forwards Buller and McLean have had interrupted pre-seasons
  • Papley is nursing a minor injury that shouldn't prevent him from playing in Opening Round
  • Cunningham is in a moon boot, with an assessment to come next week
  • Gulden fractured his ankle in the final pre-season match

Updated: March 5

West Coast injury news

PlayerInjuryEstimated return
Rhett BazzoFoot2-3 weeks
Campbell ChesserAnkleTBC
Callum JamiesonAnkle/Knee6-8 weeks
Dom SheedACL2026
Elliot YeoMCL/AnkleTBC
  • Sheed's season is over following a ruptured ACL at training
  • Yeo looks set to miss the start of the year after picking up an injury during match simulation

Updated: March 5

Western Bulldogs injury news

PlayerInjuryEstimated return
Marcus BontempelliCalf6 weeks
Bailey DaleQuadTest
Jason JohannisenHamstring8-10 weeks
Liam JonesHamstring6 weeks
Ed RichardsCalfTest
Anthony ScottPatellaTest
Adam TreloarCalf3 weeks
Jamarra Ugle-HaganPersonalTBC
Cody WeightmanKnee10 weeks
Rhylee WestHamstringTest
  • Bontempelli is expected to miss six weeks with a "complex calf injury"
  • Weightman set to miss around three months following knee surgery
  • English picked up a knock in pre-season and will be managed 
  • Question marks remain over Naughton, Scott and Ugle-Hagan's pre-season availability
  • Treloar is expected to miss the opening weeks of the season after struggling with a calf issue
  • Johannisen required surgery on a hamstring issue and will miss the start of the season
  • Jones will miss at least two months with a high-grade hamstring strain

Updated: March 5

Tom Naghten

Tom Naghten is a senior editor at The Sporting News Australia where he's been part of the team since 2017. He predominantly covers boxing and MMA. In his spare time, he likes to watch Robbie Ahmat's goal against the Kangaroos at the SCG in 2000.

Kieran Francis

Kieran Francis is a senior editor at The Sporting News based in Melbourne, Australia. He started at Sportal.com.au before being a part of the transition to Sporting News in 2015. Just prior to the 2018 World Cup, he was appointed chief editor of Goal.com in Australia. He has now returned to The Sporting News where his passions lay in football, AFL, poker and cricket - when he is not on holiday.