Peter Larkins

with Dr Peter Larkins

Doc Larkins, footy's first and most respected media medico, gives his take on the injury lists of all 18 AFL clubs. He writes exclusively every week for AFL.com.au.

 Adelaide
PlayerInjuryEstimated Return
Ricky HendersonKneeSeason
Josh JenkinsAnkleSeason
Nick JoyceShoulderSeason
Tom LynchFootSeason
Brent ReillyShoulderSeason
Aidan RileyLegSeason
Daniel TaliaCorked buttockTest
Luke ThompsonAnkle1-2 weeks
Taylor WalkerKneeSeason

The Doc says: Talia has a badly corked buttock and will be treated all week. No other new concerns for the Crows this week and no likely returns. 

 Brisbane Lions
PlayerInjuryEstimated Return
Claye BeamsKneeSeason
Simon BlackAdductor1-2 weeks
Jonathan BrownFootSeason
Justin ClarkeAC jointSeason
Daniel MerrettAnkleSeason
Brent MoloneyHamstring1-2 weeks
Jared PolecAnkleSeason
Stephen WrigleyKneeSeason

The Doc says: Merrett broke his left ankle in an awkward tackle and had internal fixation surgery Monday. Black continues to struggle with chronic groin issues and is well down on his match conditioning. Moloney is unlikely to play again this year. 

 Carlton
PlayerInjuryEstimated Return
Andrew CarrazzoCalfSeason
Andrew CollinsQuad1 week
Shaun HampsonKnee2 weeks
Chris JuddKnee2 weeks
Matthew KreuzerCalfTest
Brock McLeanQuad1 week
Heath ScotlandQuadTest
Andrew WalkerGastroAvailable
Matthew WatsonFootSeason
Simon WhiteNeckSeason
Chris YarranFingerTest

The Doc says: McLean will almost certainly miss after a right quad injury was sustained last weekend. Scotland is more minor with a quad cork and is a better prospect to play. Walker will play but Kreuzer is only an outside chance. 

 Collingwood
PlayerInjuryEstimated Return
Luke BallCalfTest
Dayne BeamsBackTest
Martin ClarkeAnkleSeason
Jamie ElliottHamstringTest
Alex FasoloFootSeason
Corey GaultGroinSeason
Michael HartleyShoulderSeason
Ben SinclairShoulderTest
Dale ThomasAnkleSeason
Alan TooveyKneeSeason
Clinton YoungHamstringTest

The Doc says: Ball has his second calf injury in three weeks and is most doubtful for this weekend. Beams was a late withdrawal with back tightness and should be right to go. Elliott is unlikely but Sinclair is some chance if he gets through a fitness test late in the week. 

 ESSENDON
PlayerInjuryEstimated Return
Travis ColyerCalfTest
Stewart CrameriAnkleTest
Courtenay DempseyHamstringSeason
Dustin FletcherHamstring1-2 weeks
Marty GleesonShoulderSeason
Scott GumbletonHamstringTest
Dyson HeppellFootTBC
Michael HurleyAnkleTest
Nick KommerThumb2-3 weeks
Jason WinderlichHamstringTest

The Doc says: Heppell is unlikely to return. Crameri and Hurley both aggravated old ankle injuries and will be sore if selected – Crameri more likely to miss. 

 Fremantle
PlayerInjuryEstimated Return
Kepler BradleyKneeSeason
Max DuffyHamstring3 weeks
Jonathon GriffinKneeSeason
Garrick IbbotsonAchillesTest
Luke McPharlinCalf1 week
Sam MenegolaKneeSeason
Viv MichieKneeSeason
Anthony MorabitoKneeSeason
Clancee PearceCalfTest
Aaron SandilandsCheekboneTest
Hayden SchloitheAnkleSeason
Josh SimpsonShoulderTest
Tanner SmithShoulderSeason
Nick SubanHamstring1 week
Michael WaltersKnee1 week

The Doc says: Suban injured his hammy and was subbed out in the first quarter - is likely to miss. Ballantyne is still limited by right shoulder instability and is a liability if he has further subluxation episodes in games. Freo has decided to not risk McPharlin this week and will assess him again next week. The Dockers have also ruled Walters out with knee bruising, which they hope is this week only, and Sandilands is in the mix to play but will have further tests late in the week. 

  Geelong
PlayerInjuryEstimated Return
Josh CowanHamstring3-4 weeks
Lincoln McCarthyFootIndefinite
Hamish McIntoshAnkleSeason
Daniel MenzelKneeSeason
Dawson SimpsonKneeSeason
Nathan VardyPelvisTest

The Doc says: Vardy has a heavily corked hip/pelvis on the left side and is very doubtful this week. Will need to train freely late in the week before a decision is made. No other concerns for the Cats who have reasonably healthy list. 

  Gold Coast
PlayerInjuryEstimated Return
Nathan BockLegSeason
Andrew BostonChestTBC
Greg BroughtonAchillesTBC
Clay CameronHipSeason
Sam DayHamstringTest
Daniel GorringeGroinTBC
Kyal HorsleyKneeSeason
Jesse LonerganHamstringSeason
Tom LynchKneeSeason
Brandon MateraAnkleSeason
Tom NichollsKneeSeason
Alex SextonShoulderSeason
Zac SmithKneeSeason
Seb TapeConcussionTest

The Doc says: Tape is a good chance to return. Boston (sternum), Broughton and Gorringe are all very sore and I wouldn't expect the Suns to risk them this week. 

  Greater Western Sydney
PlayerInjuryEstimated Return
Aidan CorrAnkleSeason
Josh GrowdenHipSeason
Will Hoskin-ElliottHipSeason
Jono O'RourkeShoulderTest
Rhys PalmerFootSeason
Jonathon PattonKneeSeason
Andrew PhillipsHipSeason
Sam ReidHipSeason
Devon SmithHipSeason
Liam SumnerAchillesTest
Jacob TownsendHipSeason
Adam TreloarAnkleTest
Callan WardHipSeason

The Doc says: Sumner is the only new concern and is likely to be given a rest this week. Treloar may be given a run. 

  Hawthorn
PlayerInjuryEstimated Return
Jordan LewisCorked hipTest
Paul PuopoloCalfTest
Cyril RioliAnkleTest
Ryan SchoenmakersKneeSeason
Liam ShielsAnkleTest
Matt SucklingKneeSeason
Alex WoodwardKneeSeason

The Doc says: Shiels re-injured his right ankle early in the game and is doubtful. Rioli also has right ankle soreness but should settle with physio. Lewis and Puopolo are ready to push for selection. 

  Melbourne
PlayerInjuryEstimated Return
Sam BleaseAnkleSeason
Shannon ByrnesFootSeason
Mitch ClarkFootSeason
Tom CouchHamstringTest
Michael EvansFootSeason
Jack FitzpatrickConcussionTest
Jesse HoganKnee4 weeks
Jeremy HoweConcussionTest
Daniel NicholsonGroinSeason
David RodanKneeSeason
Nathan StarkAnkle2-4 weeks
James StraussShoulderSeason

The Doc says: Rodan has been reported as an ankle sprain but it is his LARS reco knee that is causing concern. Initially doctors thought it was a simple medial ligament but further assessment is required to rule out yet another ACL setback. Fitzpatrick and Howe will have more concussion assessments but are likely to be OK. Blease has undergone ankle surgery to prepare for 2014. 

  North Melbourne
PlayerInjuryEstimated Return
Tom CurranFootSeason
Majak DawKneeSeason
Cameron DelaneyToe/kneeSeason
Nathan GrimaFootSeason
Taylor HineAnkleTest
Andrew SwallowAchillesSeason
Robbie TarrantFace/concussionTest
Scott ThompsonBruised lungSeason
Max WarrenCollarboneSeason
Mason WoodKneeSeason
Sam WrightShoulderTest

The Doc says: Tarrant was subbed out with face/concussion concerns and will be tested late in week. Wright has ongoing right shoulder laxity and was sore after re-injuring himself last week. Will most likely continue to play with protective strapping.  

  Port Adelaide
PlayerInjuryEstimated Return
John ButcherHipTest
Dom CassisiHamstringTest
Brad EbertCorked buttockAvailable
Cameron HitchcockHamstringTest
Jack HombschCheekboneTest
Jarrad ReddenHip/shoulderSeason
Paul StewartWristTest
Chad WingardAdductorTest

The Doc says: Wingard has a left adductor strain and is doubtful. Butcher and Cassisi have missed two but Butcher is more likely. Hitchcock is less likely to be risked. 

  Richmond
PlayerInjuryEstimated Return
Matt ArnotBackSeason
Chris KnightsKneeSeason
Liam McBeanAnkleSeason
Kamdyn McIntoshShoulderSeason
Brett O'HanlonAnkleSeason
Cadeyn WilliamsShoulderSeason

The Doc says: No new reported injuries this week. The Tigers have a healthy list heading into finals although Riewoldt and Cotchin are both being carefully managed with knee soreness. 

 St Kilda
PlayerInjuryEstimated Return
Jackson FergusonKneeSeason
Sam FisherToeSeason
Justin KoschitzkeCalfTest
Daniel MarkworthKneeSeason
Terry MileraAnkleSeason
Ahmed SaadProvisional suspensionSeason
Tom SimpkinLegSeason
Arryn SipossShoulderSeason
Rhys StanleyCollarboneSeason
Spencer WhiteWristSeason

The Doc says: No new injuries for the Saints. Kosi is likely to make an appearance in his 200th game.  

  Sydney Swans
PlayerInjuryEstimated Return
Adam GoodesKnee1-2 weeks
Dan HanneberyKnee1 week
Lewis JettaShinTest
Alex JohnsonKneeSeason
Harrison MarshHamstringSeason
Sam ReidQuadSeason
Lewis Roberts-ThomsonKnee1 week
Rhyce ShawKneeSeason
Nick SmithKneeTest
Tommy WalshHamstringSeason

The Doc says: A bad weekend for the Swans with knee injuries to Shaw, Hannebery and Smith. Shaw will most likely have LARS ACL surgery this week with a view to an early return to play in the 2014 season. The club expects Hannebery should only miss one week but he is some chance to miss two. Smith is likely to play. Reid has been ruled out for the rest of the season after chronic left quad tears recurring since round nine. Jetta is well below match fitness but may be given a run to assess his suitability for finals.
 

  West Coast
PlayerInjuryEstimated Return
Brant ColledgeAnkleSeason
Jack DarlingHamstringTest
Shannon HurnAnkleSeason
Daniel KerrKneeSeason
Mark LeCrasRibsSeason
Nic NaitanuiSorenessSeason
Mark NicoskiWristSeason
Will SchofieldCheekboneSeason
Luke ShueyHamstringTest
Callum SinclairKneeSeason
Beau WatersShoulderSeason
Sharrod WellinghamAnkleTest

The Doc says: Darling has a right hammy strain and would be high risk if he plays this week - is most doubtful. Wellingham re-injured his left ankle and will be sore all week but may play after testing. Shuey should return. Schofield does not need surgery but has been ruled out after an off-field assault. 

  Western Bulldogs
PlayerInjuryEstimated Return
Adam CooneyIllnessAvailable
Brett GoodesBroken armSeason
Shaun HigginsFootSeason
Jason JohannisenShoulderSeason
Nick LowerCheekboneSeason
Josh PruddenAnkleSeason
Jack RedpathKneeSeason
Clay SmithKneeSeason
Jake StringerFootSeason
Tom WilliamsShoulderSeason

The Doc says: The Dogs have already lost a number of key players who have had surgery to prepare for 2014. Cooney (viral illness) should recover to play this week.