Concerns for Pies; Saints Face 'Unusual' Injury Setbacks in AFL

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With a week and a half until pre-season play, AFL clubs are already being hit by costly injuries, and there are a handful in particular that have been hardest hit.

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Foxfooty.com.au runs through the seven sides struck most significantly by injuries ahead of the home-and-away season.

ST KILDA

The Saints have been struck significantly by injury this pre-season in their preparation to make a run at a finals return.

In a massive blow for one of their key ascending talents, forward-midfielder Mattaes Phillipou is expected to spend between three and four months on the sidelines due to a stress fracture in his right leg. After a blistering finish to last season, the 20-year-old was expected to enhance his midfielder minutes further in his third season.

Star ruckman Rowan Marshall is currently sidelined with a pelvic issue, but senior coach Ross Lyon says he will “definitely” play in Round 1 despite seeming in some doubt.

“He’ll definitely play round one,” Lyon told AFL.com.au of Marshall’s status.

“A little bit unusual; a bit of a stress injury, or a precursor like a hotspot … we did a leadership camp in New Zealand, and he actually slipped going down a bit of a hill, so we think that just sort of flared it up.

“We had a CAT scan, there’s no stress or fracture, it’s just settled and he’s moving so he’ll probably appreciate the rest of a week or two.”

But in case of any setback going forward, the Saints added former SANFL tapster Harry Boyd as necessary depth after Tom Campbell’s exit to Melbourne.

Key defender Dougal Howard will miss the next three months after a shoulder dislocation. It is especially costly for St Kilda, who notably lost Josh Battle to Hawthorn in the off-season.

Utility Hunter Clark is another to find himself hampered this pre-season, recovering from a groin setback but bidding to be available by the start of the campaign.

Exciting key-position interceptor Alix Tauru continues to rehabilitate a back stress fracture but is gradually increasing his training loads, with little depth currently supporting gun Cal Wilkie in the defensive third as Zaine Cordy and Arie Schoenmaker prepare for more responsibility.

Meanwhile, Liam Henry is making progress in a return to full training after off-season knee surgery for an injury suffered last season.

Mattaes Phillipou will be sidelined to start the year, in a blow for the Saints. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

WEST COAST EAGLES

A luckless Dom Sheed is the most recent of the Eagles to go down injured this pre-season, with the 29-year-old heartbreakingly going down with an ACL tear earlier this week. Sheed has only played 24 games in his last three years, and that figure looks highly likely to stay that way heading into 2026.

Only a week prior, long-time teammate Elliot Yeo went down in a double-blow at training. The midfielder was tackled during match simulation, leading to syndesmosis damage to his right ankle as well as concerns for the medial ligament in his right knee. The club is hopeful Yeo will become available during the early stages of the season, however a timeline for his return is still yet to be determined.

Emerging star Harley Reid is currently on a modified training program due to an ankle niggle. However, both he and Jake Waterman (back) are expected to be fit for their home-and-away season opener against Gold Coast.

Concerns for Pies; Saints Face 'Unusual' Injury Setbacks in AFL

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Luke Beveridge’s club has been inundated with injuries in recent weeks, with soft tissue injuries to all of Adam Treloar (calf), Jason Johannisen (hamstring) and Liam Jones (hamstring) reported inside the last week.

Jones’ injury was classed as a ‘high-grade’ hamstring and looks to be the most affected, while Treloar and Johannisen will miss at least the first three rounds at AFL level.

Star ruck Tim English has had his abdominal injury managed throughout pre-season, although there is no insinuation at this stage that he will miss Round 1.

Star forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has been away from the club for the most part this pre-season, however, he took a promising step back to joining his AFL teammates on Monday, training with Footscray’s VFL side as per the Herald Sun’s Jay Clark.

A kneecap subluxation to Anthony Scott during match simulation last month leaves the 29-year-old also in doubt for Round 1.

Treloar’s injury could well open the door for Ryley Sanders to play a more consistent role in the Bulldogs’ midfield, while 2023 father-son draftee Jordan Croft could loom as a tall replacement up forward for Ugle-Hagan.

CARLTON

Important rebounder Nic Newman ruptured his patellar tendon and will miss the entire season, with the Blues looking to more than one to help fill his void. Ollie Hollands has spent time training across half-back this pre-season, while veteran Sam Docherty could also slot back there.

Alex Cincotta will spend at least two more months on the sidelines after undergoing hip surgery.

Crucial midfielder Sam Walsh has been limited due to a hamstring issue, but the Blues believe he will be ready to play in Round 1. Given the accumulator’s detailed soft-tissue history and high threat of recurrence, the key for the Blues will be appropriately managing his loads.

Dual Coleman medallist Charlie Curnow underwent off-season ankle surgery in September before knee surgery in December, with his timeline for return to full training still uncertain as he looks to ramp up with gameplay nearing.

ESSENDON

The Bombers are close to regaining Jye Caldwell and Ben McKay in full training, with the former to return after a long stint on the sidelines backdating to last year.

Ridley, a highly influential interceptor and a tremendous security blanket for McKay, has been sorely missed in Brad Scott’s side during his absences.

According to AFL Media’s Cal Twomey, Darcy Parish (back) and Sam Durham (ribs) aren’t likely to play in the Bombers’ first pre-season hitout against the Western Bulldogs, but he adds the club expects the pair to return for Essendon’s second pre-season bout against Geelong in late February.

Small forward Alwyn Davey Jnr underwent knee surgery late last month and will be in his own race against the clock to put his hand up for selection against the Suns.

FREMANTLE

The Dockers have copped a few minor issues recently, with their high-profile recruit and a burgeoning midfielder set for brief stints out.

Mercurial forward Shai Bolton is in some doubt to play in the Indigenous All Stars match due to a minor calf strain, while influential midfielder Hayden Young will watch from the sidelines following a low-grade hamstring setback.

Question marks continue to linger over ruckman Sean Darcy, who is expected to be fit for the start of the season but spent two weeks in Qatar working to resolve a knee issue that has plagued him in recent seasons.

Skipper and crucial defender Alex Pearce tweaked an ankle during a recent match simulation but will be fine and raring to go for Fremantle’s Round 1 clash with Geelong.

Developmental tall Odin Jones will miss the entire season following a freak injury, while Nat Fyfe and Michael Walters continue in their recoveries from respective off-season knee surgeries.

COLLINGWOOD

The Magpies will be sweating on the health of Jordan De Goey in the lead-up to the season, with the prolific midfielder currently sitting out training due to a clash of knees that resulted in bone bruising. Scans didn’t reveal any structural damage, but per the Herald Sun, he will be sidelined one week. This comes as De Goey continue to manage his groin.

The nature of bone stress injuries — effectively rendering the victim completely inactive during recovery — makes it more difficult on Mitchell to return before the start of the season. The Pies have not released an official update on that situation since early December.