Eddie Betts will miss the first few rounds due to a calf injury. Picture: AFL Photos
MADE POSSIBLE BYMLC

WITH round one fast approaching, our reporters have been doing their homework to find out the health of your club's list.

Who will be right for the season-opener, who is touch and go, who will be watching from the sidelines? We find out when your wounded stars will get back on the park. 

Adelaide Crows

PLAYER INJURY ESTIMATED RETURN
 Riley Knight  Achilles  3-4 weeks
Updated: Thursday, March 19

Early prognosis

The Crows have almost a full list to choose from with Knight the only player sidelined in his recovery from minor Achilles surgery. Defender Tom Doedee isn't ready for AFL selection yet, but would've played in a SANFL trial this weekend before it was cancelled. Doedee – who tore his ACL in round one last year – will increase the amount of match simulation time he gets at training in the next couple of weeks to get ready to play at AFL level. - Lee Gaskin

Brisbane Lions

PLAYER INJURY ESTIMATED RETURN
   Nil  
 Updated: Tuesday, March 17

Early prognosis

Still no worries for the Lions. They'll have a full list to pick from ahead of playing Hawthorn at the MCG on Sunday. – Michael Whiting

Carlton

PLAYER INJURY ESTIMATED RETURN
 Eddie Betts  Calf  3-4 weeks
 Charlie Curnow  Knee  Indefinite
 Brodie Kemp  Knee  Indefinite
 Harrison Macreadie  Hamstring  Test
 Caleb Marchbank  Knee  1-2 weeks
 Harry McKay  Groin  3-4 weeks
 Sam Petrevski-Seton  Quad  Test
 Lachie Plowman  Ankle  Test
 Updated: Tuesday, March 17

Early prognosis

The Blues' forward line is looking lean, with Betts likely to miss the first month of the season after straining his calf at training over the weekend. McKay will miss round one due to an ongoing groin complaint, while Curnow's timeline remains unclear after dual knee setbacks. Marchbank is still dealing with bone bruising to his knee and won't play the season-opener, while Petrevski-Seton will have to prove his fitness after playing only a half in a VFL practice match a fortnight ago as he recovers from a quad issue. Plowman should be OK, having rolled his ankle in the second round of pre-season games.Riley Beveridge

Collingwood

PLAYER INJURY ESTIMATED RETURN
 Taylor Adams  Hip  Available
 Dayne Beams  Mental health  Indefinite
 Lynden Dunn  Knee  4-6 weeks
 Levi Greenwood  Knee  15-20 weeks
 Tom Langdon  Knee  Indefinite
 Scott Pendlebury  Illness  Test
 Ben Reid  Ankle/foot  Test
 Matt Scharenberg  Hip  Available
 Jaidyn Stephenson  Hand  Available
 Adam Treloar  Hamstring  1-2 weeks
 Travis Varcoe  Shoulder  4 weeks
Updated: Tuesday, March 17

Early prognosis

Skipper Pendlebury is odds-on to lead the Magpies in the round one clash with the Western Bulldogs on Friday after tests cleared him of the coronavirus. Adams pulled up sore in the final hitout in the Marsh Community Series against St Kilda and Stephenson suffered a bruised left hand in a VFL practice match on Saturday but the club says both will be available for selection. Treloar will miss at least the season-opener and Reid could also be in doubt. Scharenberg came off second-best in a marking contest at training on Friday but escaped with a bruised left hip that wouldn't stop him from playing in the off-chance he received a call-up. Varcoe is close to rejoining the main group after a shoulder reconstruction and Langdon is back running, albeit very lightly, as he deals with a potentially career-threatening knee issue. Greenwood seems determined to smash the traditional 12-month recovery timeframe for a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, while the Woods will also be conservative with Dunn in his bid to return from a second knee reconstruction. Meanwhile, Beams is reportedly set to retire. - Ben Collins

Essendon Bombers

PLAYER INJURY ESTIMATED RETURN
 Patrick Ambrose  Knee  4-6 weeks
 Tom Bellchambers  Knee  Available
 Joe Daniher  Groin  Indefinite
 Sam Draper  Knee  5-7 weeks
 Noah Gown  Foot  Indefinite
 Dyson Heppell  Foot  TBC
 Mitch Hibberd  Knee  Available
 Cale Hooker  Hip  1-2 weeks
 Lachie Johnson  Knee  Season
 James Stewart  Groin  Available
 David Zaharakis  Thigh  Available
Updated: Tuesday, March 17

Early prognosis

Essendon has had some better news on the injury front if round one does go ahead, with Zaharakis, Bellchambers, Hibberd and Stewart all available for selection. Jake Stringer and Conor McKenna are also ready to play against the Dockers. The club can't put a timeline on Heppell's return from his foot injury, but Hooker is closing in on getting back after surgery on his hip. - Callum Twomey 

Fremantle

PLAYER INJURY ESTIMATED RETURN
 Blake Acres  Hamstring  5-7 weeks
 James Aish  Calf  Test
 Michael Frederick  Hamstring  Test
 Stefan Giro   Knee  12 weeks
 Joel Hamling  Ankle  8-10 weeks
 Liam Henry   Knee  Test
 Stephen Hill  Quad  TBC
 Jesse Hogan  Mental health  Indefinite
 David Mundy  Leg  1 week
 Alex Pearce  Ankle  2 weeks
 Luke Ryan   Back  Test
 Sam Switkowski  Back  TBC
 Nathan Wilson  Toe  2 weeks
 Hayden Young  Quad  Test
Updated: Tuesday, March 17

Early prognosis

The Dockers have fast-tracked their expected returns for David Mundy, Alex Pearce and Nathan Wilson just a week after estimating they won't be available until round four or five. They are being conservative with Stefan Giro, however, after the midfielder spent time with the main training group. The Dockers confirmed on Tuesday Hayden Young had experienced quad tightness, resulting in his training load being managed. James Aish and Luke Ryan need to pass fitness tests after being withdrawn from the second Marsh Community Series match. - Nathan Schmook

Geelong Cats

PLAYER INJURY ESTIMATED RETURN
 Nakia Cockatoo   Hamstring  2-3 weeks
 Mitch Duncan  Hip  Test
 Jake Kolodjashnij  Hip  2-4 weeks
 Nathan Kreuger  Knee  1-2 weeks
 Stefan Okunbor  Achilles  Indefinite
 Joel Selwood  Hamstring  Test
Updated: Tuesday, March 17

Early prognosis

Selwood got through match simulation unscathed on Saturday and now it will be a matter for the match committee to determine whether he's done the required work. Duncan played minutes in last Friday's VFL scratch match against Werribee but still has hoops to jump through after a heavily interrupted summer. Kreuger will ramp up his training, while a decision will have to be made on Kolodjashnij in coming weeks now there's no VFL. - Mitch Cleary

Gold Coast Suns

PLAYER INJURY ESTIMATED RETURN
 Charlie Ballard  Shoulder  6-8 weeks
 Pearce Hanley  Calf  Test
 Jarrod Harbrow  Groin  Test
 Jack Hombsch  Rib  Test
 Anthony Miles  Chest  TBC
 Wil Powell  Knee  6-8 weeks
 Izak Rankine  Shoulder  Test
 Mitch Riordan  ACL  Season
 Alex Sexton  Hamstring  1-2 weeks
 Rory Thompson  Knee  Test
 Jarrod Witts  Foot  Test
Updated: Tuesday, March 17

Early prognosis

Plenty of question marks for the Suns, but captain Witts is certain to play after a couple of weeks of strong running following his broken foot. Harbrow is a big concern and might come up just short, while Rankine will be available and is expected to play. – Michael Whiting

GWS Giants

PLAYER INJURY ESTIMATED RETURN
 Matt Flynn  Knee  TBC
 Xavier O'Halloran  Ankle  2-3 weeks
 Tommy Sheridan   Calf  2-3 weeks
 Zac Sproule   Knee  3-5 weeks
 Tim Taranto   Shoulder  4-5 months
 Callan Ward   Knee  3-5 weeks
 Zac Williams  Achilles  Test
Updated: Tuesday, March 17

Early prognosis

All eyes will be on star defender Williams ahead of the Geelong clash, after he missed the Marsh Community Series. He's been training and should be fit to play, the Giants will just need to decide if he needs some more work on the track to make sure he's ready for full games at match intensity. - Adam Curley 

Hawthorn

PLAYER INJURY ESTIMATED RETURN
 Will Golds  Knee  Season
 Jack Gunston  Ankle  Test
 Blake Hardwick  Chest  10 weeks
 Dan Howe  Foot  TBC
 Jarman Impey  Knee  TBC
 Jacob Koschitzke  AC joint  3-4 weeks
 Mitch Lewis  Ankle  Test
 Josh Morris  Knee  4-6 weeks
 Tim O'Brien  Eye  Test
Updated: Tuesday, March 17

Early prognosis

Gunston ramped up his training involvement last week and took part in internal match simulation on Friday, so he looks on track to appear in round one after pre-Christmas ankle surgery. Lewis, O'Brien – who also sat out the Hawks' Marsh Community Series finale – and Harry Morrison were among those who didn't play, with the former looking the biggest outsider of that trio to be available. Howe competed in the scratch match but limped off early with another foot issue and will undergo surgery. Mathew Walker is also injured but the club is yet to say what his issue is, following a similar trend with players who aren't senior regulars. Impey continues to increase his running loads in his recovery from a knee reconstruction last year. – Marc McGowan

Melbourne

PLAYER INJURY ESTIMATED RETURN
 Harley Bennell  Calf  TBC
 Kade Chandler  Wrist  1 week
 Kyle Dunkley  Foot  Test
 Mitch Hannan  Groin  TBC
 Kade Kolodjashnij  Concussion  TBC
 Harry Petty  Groin  TBC
 Braydon Preuss  Knee  3-5 weeks
 Christian Salem  Glandular fever  Test
 Aaron vandenBerg  Foot  TBC
Updated: Tuesday, March 17

Early prognosis

The club has been optimistic Salem will be available for round one but a recent bout of glandular fever has him in doubt. Sam Weideman should be available after rolling his ankle in the second Marsh Community Series game. Max Gawn and Steven May have declared themselves starters after pre-season knee injuries. The long game continues for Bennell after another calf strain while Joel Smith has had an interrupted summer and mystery surrounds what's been troubling him following an infected foot over the New Year period. - Jennifer Phelan

North Melbourne

PLAYER INJURY ESTIMATED RETURN
 Ben Brown  Calf  Test
 Luke Davies-Uniacke  Groin  TBC
 Kyron Hayden  Achilles  8-10 weeks
 Ben Jacobs  Concussion  TBC
 Flynn Perez  Knee  8-10 weeks
 Kayne Turner  Sesamoid/foot  8-10 weeks
 Ed Vickers-Willis  Knee  TBC
 Marley Williams  Suspension  Round 3
Updated: Tuesday, March 17

Early prognosis

Brown looks to have won his race to be fit from a calf injury he sustained in mid-February and needs only to come through the Roos' training session on Thursday. He won't have played a pre-season game before running out for Sunday's clash with St Kilda. Captain Jack Ziebell (calf) played two-and-a-half quarters in North Melbourne's VFL practice match against Collingwood on Saturday and is also set to go for the AFL side's season-opener. – Marc McGowan

Port Adelaide

PLAYER INJURY ESTIMATED RETURN
 Charlie Dixon  Adductor  Test
 Willem Drew  Foot   TBC
 Riley Grundy  Knee  TBC
 Scott Lycett  Achilles  Test
 Jackson Mead  Hamstring  TBC
 Jake Patmore  Hamstring  1-2 weeks
 Jack Watts  Calf  TBC
 Ollie Wines  Shoulder  4-6 weeks
Updated: Thursday, March 19

Early prognosis

Dixon and Lycett need to get through the club's final training session this week to be cleared for Saturday night's clash with Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium. Wines is expected to be available to play in a month, however he would need a couple of weeks of training and match simulation before being ready to play in the AFL side. Watts remains a wait and see proposition with a calf injury slowing him door in his return from a badly broken leg. There's no timeline on Drew's return after the young midfielder had surgery to repair a fracture in his left foot suffered in the Power's pre-season win against the Western Bulldogs. - Lee Gaskin

Richmond

PLAYER INJURY ESTIMATED RETURN
 Bachar Houli  Calf  TBC
 Jack Graham  Shoulder  Test
 Kamdyn McIntosh  Ankle  Test
 Toby Nankervis  Adductor  Test
Updated: Tuesday, March 17

Early prognosis

Graham, McIntosh and Nankervis were expected to play in a VFL practice match on Friday before it was cancelled because of COVID-19 precautions. They're back training but are somewhat in limbo after limited pre-seasons and it appears unlikely any of them will be ready for Thursday night. Houli will miss with the calf he strained at training on Tuesday and will have scans to determine the severity. – Jennifer Phelan

St Kilda

PLAYER INJURY ESTIMATED RETURN
 Jarryn Geary  Facial fracture  Available
Updated: Tuesday, March 17

Early prognosis

Geary needed surgery to repair what the club called a "minor" facial injury, sustained against Collingwood in the second Marsh game. He's expected to be available for selection for the season-opener against North Melbourne. Dylan Roberton looks to have ticked all the boxes to put his hand up for round one but Jimmy Webster's limited pre-season means he might struggle to get to the line.Jennifer Phelan 

Sydney Swans

PLAYER INJURY ESTIMATED RETURN
 Robbie Fox  Ankle  Test 
 Lance Franklin  Knee  2-3 weeks 
 Lewis Melican  Hamstring  1-2 weeks
 Sam Reid  Calf  Test
Updated: Tuesday, March 17

Early prognosis

Franklin won't face the Crows and has already been ruled out of round two when the Swans take on Essendon at the SCG. A round three clash against Gold Coast on the road might be his target. Reid is back in full training, but he also won't make the trip to Adelaide. Both key forwards need more training in the legs before they're considered for a return. - Adam Curley

West Coast Eagles

PLAYER INJURY ESTIMATED RETURN
 Oscar Allen  Ankle  Test
 Jarrod Cameron  Pubic bone  5-7 weeks
 Tom Cole  Thumb  5-7 weeks
 Jack Darling  Cheekbone  Test
 Luke Foley  Pubic bone  TBC
 Daniel Venables  Concussion  Season
Updated: Tuesday, March 17

Early prognosis

Allen was part of the 'A' team during Friday's match simulation and is now looking likely to play in round one. Darling was best on track in that session, according to Luke Shuey, and also looks set for the season-opener. Cameron is expected to miss up to eight weeks with the pubic bone stress injury that has hampered him previously. Cole's fractured thumb is a medium-term concern, but the defender will be able to maintain fitness during his rehab. - Nathan Schmook

Western Bulldogs

PLAYER INJURY ESTIMATED RETURN
 Tory Dickson  Adductor  Test
 Taylor Duryea  Groin  4 weeks
 Riley Garcia  Knee  Indefinite
 Will Hayes  Suspended  Round 2
 Lin Jong  Hamstring  4 weeks
 Tom Liberatore  Knee  3 weeks
 Aaron Naughton  Knee  Test
 Laitham Vandermeer  Hamstring  Test
Updated: Tuesday, March 17

Early prognosis

Naughton and Dickson have ramped up their running and are in the frame for a round one return. Liberatore is also tracking well from his knee injury. - Jourdan Canil

*Placed on the club's long-term injury list