Hawthorn
Match simulation: v Western Bulldogs, February 23, Whitten Oval
Community Series: v Western Bulldogs, March 2, UTAS Stadium
Mitch Lewis (ankle): The full-forward has recovered from a foot issue but rolled his ankle earlier this month. He stepped back into training this week so should be available for practice games.
Mabior Chol (knee): The recruit was delayed in his first pre-season with Hawthorn after a PCL injury he suffered in the VFL grand final but is back in full training.
Seamus Mitchell (hamstring): Still at least a week away from full training and in some doubt for pre-season matches.
Will Day (foot): A stress fracture in Day’s foot hit the Hawks hard and the reigning best-and-fairest winner is still in a moon boot. The midfielder will likely be assessed within the next three weeks to map out his return, essentially ruling him out of pre-season games, but he is still a chance for round 1.
Changkuoth Jiath (groin): Back from a training camp in Qatar with a bounce in his step, Jiath is at full fitness.
Jack Ginnivan (corkie): No real concerns for the recruit, who copped a knock at training on Monday.
Denver Grainger-Barras (ankle): Tweaked his ankle at training on Monday but the injury is minor. Should be back into full training within the next fortnight.
Chad Wingard (Achilles): All signs point to a mid-season return for Wingard, who has been running and making good progress.
Melbourne
Community Series: v Carlton, February 28, Ikon Park
Clayton Oliver (personal): The gun midfielder was granted extended leave by the Demons, not returning to pre-season training with teammates earlier this month as he deals personal issues.
Jake Melksham (knee): The forward is slowly building but faces a long road to recovery after rupturing his ACL last August.
Harry Petty (foot): The defender turned forward is expected to return to full training next week.
Christian Salem (hamstring): The rebounding defender has experienced some recent hamstring awareness, but the Demons expect him to be back in full training in coming sessions.
Lachie Hunter (calf): The wingman experienced a minor calf issue during the Christmas break and has been managed as he works his way back.
Ben Brown (knee): The luckless key forward had fresh knee surgery on Thursday after suffering some minor damage and won’t be back to full fitness for six to eight weeks.
Tom Fullarton (hamstring): The recruit has been sent for scans with fears he has seriously injured his hamstring.
North Melbourne
Match Simulation: v Collingwood, February 21, Arden St
Community Series: v St Kilda, March 3, RSEA Park
Brayden George (elbow): Finally some good news for the unlucky youngster who dislocated his elbow in a training mishap, with George back in full training and due to step into intraclub match simulation on Friday.
Zac Fisher (hamstring): Cleared of any damage after he was sent for scans last week on a sore hamstring. Fisher will spend some time on a modified program but will return to full training soon.
Eddie Ford (ankle): Picked up a nasty syndesmosis injury before Christmas and has been getting back into running. Looks unlikely for match simulation against Collingwood.
Aidan Corr (ankle): Corr also injured his ankle pre-season but he is further along than Ford, and expected back into full training as early as next week.
Jackson Archer (groin): Still a few weeks off joining main training with a groin problem that first hit last year. He isn’t due to return to full training for at least another two weeks, most likely ruling him out of playing against Collingwood.
Luke McDonald (hamstring): Tracking well to enter full training in three weeks, which means he would likely be on limited minutes if he was available for match simulation against Collingwood.
Griffin Logue (knee): Best hopes for the defender are for a return to the field by round 10.
Tristan Xerri (face): The ruck copped a knock in match play last week and is poised for surgery. His fitness shouldn’t be hit as he can still run but his return to contact will depend on how he improves.
Port Adelaide:
Match simulation: v Adelaide, February 23, Alberton Oval
Community series: v Fremantle, March 1, Alberton Oval
Mitch Georgiades (knee): Continuing his recovery from ACL surgery, spending training sessions running along the sidelines. He is eyeing a round 1 return but when he is reintegrated into matchplay and how he fares will likely be a key factor into his availability.
Todd Marshall (hip): After having off-season surgery on his right hip, which hindered him late last year, the key forward has reintegrated into the main group but still is not doing everything, playing some match simulation on Wednesday before sitting out to run.
Charlie Dixon (groin): The spearhead is dealing with a strain, stemming from a training injury, which the club says is mild.
Josh Sinn (hamstring): Coming off an injury-interrupted first two campaigns, including off-season surgery, Sinn is progressing well and has been involved in match simulation.
Trent McKenzie (ankle): They key defender battled an ankle problem late last season before having surgery after Port’s campaign ended. He has returned to full training.
Richmond
Community Series: v Collingwood, February 27, Ikon Park
Dustin Martin (ankle): Took some steps back into training on Wednesday after being sent off to the rehab group after a minor ankle tweak. Should recover in time to face Collingwood.
Tom Lynch (foot): Unlikely for pre-season matches but the big forward has been running on grass and is still hopeful of playing in opening round.
Josh Gibcus (hamstring): The youngster has lifted to be included in almost all of training after a slow build to nurse through his worrisome hamstring. Should be cherry ripe for some pre-season action.
Jack Ross (toe): Off-season toe surgery has put the brakes on the winger’s pre-season, he is still building up fitness so is touch and go for a pre-season meeting with Collingwood.
Shai Bolton (ankle): No worries for Bolton, he had ankle surgery post-season but is back in full training.
Dylan Grimes (calf): The veteran is taking it easy and among the rehab group at the Tigers but club CEO Brendon Gale reckons he will play in opening round. Whether he faces Collingwood on February 27 is yet to be seen.
St Kilda
Match simulation: v Essendon, February 23, RSEA Park
Community series: v North Melbourne, March 3, RSEA Park
Dan Butler (ankle): Resumed running this week after ankle surgery last month, but he is still a couple of weeks away from joining main training. The small forward faces a delayed start to the season.
James Van Es (ankle): Had stepped up his training after ankle surgery late last season, but has since had a further operation to remove a screw which was causing discomfort.
Max King (shoulder): is still being managed, but is getting involved in more training after an injury-hit 2023.
Jack Hayes (knee): Still working his way back after a post-season knee clean-out, but there are plans to step up his training load next week.
Anthony Caminiti (hamstring): Closing in on a return to main training as he nears the end of a personalised conditioning block after hamstring tenderness caused problems before Christmas.
Sydney
Match simulation: v Greater Western Sydney, February 22, Tramway Oval
Community series: v Brisbane, February 29, Blacktown
Callum Mills (shoulder): Mills is progressing well from his shoulder operation following his costly Mad Monday wrestle with teammate Jacob Konstanty that left him with a ruptured rotator cuff. He has started modified training with the main group and has continued to build his running and cardio work. He is tipped to be back in action midway through the season.
Lachlan McAndrew (wrist): Had post-season surgery on his wrist and has been integrated into skills work. He is expected to start contact work in the next fortnight.
Match simulation: v Western Bulldogs, February 23, Whitten Oval
Community Series: v Western Bulldogs, March 2, UTAS Stadium
Mitch Lewis (ankle): The full-forward has recovered from a foot issue but rolled his ankle earlier this month. He stepped back into training this week so should be available for practice games.
Mabior Chol (knee): The recruit was delayed in his first pre-season with Hawthorn after a PCL injury he suffered in the VFL grand final but is back in full training.
Seamus Mitchell (hamstring): Still at least a week away from full training and in some doubt for pre-season matches.
Will Day (foot): A stress fracture in Day’s foot hit the Hawks hard and the reigning best-and-fairest winner is still in a moon boot. The midfielder will likely be assessed within the next three weeks to map out his return, essentially ruling him out of pre-season games, but he is still a chance for round 1.
Changkuoth Jiath (groin): Back from a training camp in Qatar with a bounce in his step, Jiath is at full fitness.
Jack Ginnivan (corkie): No real concerns for the recruit, who copped a knock at training on Monday.
Denver Grainger-Barras (ankle): Tweaked his ankle at training on Monday but the injury is minor. Should be back into full training within the next fortnight.
Chad Wingard (Achilles): All signs point to a mid-season return for Wingard, who has been running and making good progress.
Melbourne
Community Series: v Carlton, February 28, Ikon Park
Clayton Oliver (personal): The gun midfielder was granted extended leave by the Demons, not returning to pre-season training with teammates earlier this month as he deals personal issues.
Jake Melksham (knee): The forward is slowly building but faces a long road to recovery after rupturing his ACL last August.
Harry Petty (foot): The defender turned forward is expected to return to full training next week.
Christian Salem (hamstring): The rebounding defender has experienced some recent hamstring awareness, but the Demons expect him to be back in full training in coming sessions.
Lachie Hunter (calf): The wingman experienced a minor calf issue during the Christmas break and has been managed as he works his way back.
Ben Brown (knee): The luckless key forward had fresh knee surgery on Thursday after suffering some minor damage and won’t be back to full fitness for six to eight weeks.
Tom Fullarton (hamstring): The recruit has been sent for scans with fears he has seriously injured his hamstring.
North Melbourne
Match Simulation: v Collingwood, February 21, Arden St
Community Series: v St Kilda, March 3, RSEA Park
Brayden George (elbow): Finally some good news for the unlucky youngster who dislocated his elbow in a training mishap, with George back in full training and due to step into intraclub match simulation on Friday.
Zac Fisher (hamstring): Cleared of any damage after he was sent for scans last week on a sore hamstring. Fisher will spend some time on a modified program but will return to full training soon.
Eddie Ford (ankle): Picked up a nasty syndesmosis injury before Christmas and has been getting back into running. Looks unlikely for match simulation against Collingwood.
Aidan Corr (ankle): Corr also injured his ankle pre-season but he is further along than Ford, and expected back into full training as early as next week.
Jackson Archer (groin): Still a few weeks off joining main training with a groin problem that first hit last year. He isn’t due to return to full training for at least another two weeks, most likely ruling him out of playing against Collingwood.
Luke McDonald (hamstring): Tracking well to enter full training in three weeks, which means he would likely be on limited minutes if he was available for match simulation against Collingwood.
Griffin Logue (knee): Best hopes for the defender are for a return to the field by round 10.
Tristan Xerri (face): The ruck copped a knock in match play last week and is poised for surgery. His fitness shouldn’t be hit as he can still run but his return to contact will depend on how he improves.
Port Adelaide:
Match simulation: v Adelaide, February 23, Alberton Oval
Community series: v Fremantle, March 1, Alberton Oval
Mitch Georgiades (knee): Continuing his recovery from ACL surgery, spending training sessions running along the sidelines. He is eyeing a round 1 return but when he is reintegrated into matchplay and how he fares will likely be a key factor into his availability.
Todd Marshall (hip): After having off-season surgery on his right hip, which hindered him late last year, the key forward has reintegrated into the main group but still is not doing everything, playing some match simulation on Wednesday before sitting out to run.
Charlie Dixon (groin): The spearhead is dealing with a strain, stemming from a training injury, which the club says is mild.
Josh Sinn (hamstring): Coming off an injury-interrupted first two campaigns, including off-season surgery, Sinn is progressing well and has been involved in match simulation.
Trent McKenzie (ankle): They key defender battled an ankle problem late last season before having surgery after Port’s campaign ended. He has returned to full training.
Richmond
Community Series: v Collingwood, February 27, Ikon Park
Dustin Martin (ankle): Took some steps back into training on Wednesday after being sent off to the rehab group after a minor ankle tweak. Should recover in time to face Collingwood.
Tom Lynch (foot): Unlikely for pre-season matches but the big forward has been running on grass and is still hopeful of playing in opening round.
Josh Gibcus (hamstring): The youngster has lifted to be included in almost all of training after a slow build to nurse through his worrisome hamstring. Should be cherry ripe for some pre-season action.
Jack Ross (toe): Off-season toe surgery has put the brakes on the winger’s pre-season, he is still building up fitness so is touch and go for a pre-season meeting with Collingwood.
Shai Bolton (ankle): No worries for Bolton, he had ankle surgery post-season but is back in full training.
Dylan Grimes (calf): The veteran is taking it easy and among the rehab group at the Tigers but club CEO Brendon Gale reckons he will play in opening round. Whether he faces Collingwood on February 27 is yet to be seen.
St Kilda
Match simulation: v Essendon, February 23, RSEA Park
Community series: v North Melbourne, March 3, RSEA Park
Dan Butler (ankle): Resumed running this week after ankle surgery last month, but he is still a couple of weeks away from joining main training. The small forward faces a delayed start to the season.
James Van Es (ankle): Had stepped up his training after ankle surgery late last season, but has since had a further operation to remove a screw which was causing discomfort.
Max King (shoulder): is still being managed, but is getting involved in more training after an injury-hit 2023.
Jack Hayes (knee): Still working his way back after a post-season knee clean-out, but there are plans to step up his training load next week.
Anthony Caminiti (hamstring): Closing in on a return to main training as he nears the end of a personalised conditioning block after hamstring tenderness caused problems before Christmas.
Sydney
Match simulation: v Greater Western Sydney, February 22, Tramway Oval
Community series: v Brisbane, February 29, Blacktown
Callum Mills (shoulder): Mills is progressing well from his shoulder operation following his costly Mad Monday wrestle with teammate Jacob Konstanty that left him with a ruptured rotator cuff. He has started modified training with the main group and has continued to build his running and cardio work. He is tipped to be back in action midway through the season.
Lachlan McAndrew (wrist): Had post-season surgery on his wrist and has been integrated into skills work. He is expected to start contact work in the next fortnight.
