Setback for Collingwood gun, season over for Eagle and Essendon pair: AFL injury news

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With five rounds left in the season, clubs firmly in contention are looking to get their list in tip-top shape for a likely September series, while those in the bottom half of the AFL are starting to look to the future, looking to manage those in their casualty ward.

Round 20 is set to see more changes through injury, with Essendon potentially welcoming back a trio of players for their Friday night clash, while the Power have provided the latest on their skipper's chances for the Showdown.

A Giant's season has been cut short, but the club is set to have some big names back for the Sydney Derby.

Meanwhile, the Dogs have been forced to put a line through a youngster's season as they also hope a key defender is cleared to play this week, and the Suns have lost a star recruit for at least a month.

Here's all the latest injury news from across the AFL ahead of Round 20.

Mixed news for Magpie as forward is sidelined

Collingwood brute Beau McCreery will miss the next fortnight at least after suffering a minor hamstring strain against Fremantle on Sunday.

The injury was reported by McCreery, who was dealing with hamstring awareness after the loss and underwent further treatment.

The club has given McCreery a timeline of 2-3 weeks before returning to the field.

In better news for the Mapgies, a quartet of players could return this weekend, including star Jordan De Goey.

De Goey has been on a long rehabilitation as he's dealt with both an Achilles injury and concussion. He will need to get through training this week to be a chance to play, which would likely be in the VFL.

Defender Billy Frampton (calf), backman Dan Houston (abdominal) and young midfielder Finlay Macrae (shoulder) have also been listed as test for Round 20.

Eagles star put on ice

West Coast have put a line through Elliot Yeo's playing chances for 2025, with an ongoing ankle injury seeing the premiership Eagle miss the entire season.

Yeo faced multiple setbacks on an ailment sustained prior to the season's start, with the club taking a cautious measure with their injury-riddled veteran.

The star midfielder had surgery in May and has now run out of time to return before the end of the home and away season.

“At this stage of the season, unfortunately we've run out of time to get Elliot back to playing,” Eagles high-performance boss Mat Inness said.

“Our focus now is on giving him the best possible lead-in to next pre-season and ensuring he's set up for a strong and uninterrupted campaign in 2026.”

Yeo joins Oscar Allen (calf/Achilles/knee) and Jake Waterman (shoulder) in missing the rest of the season, while Callum Jamieson is the only other Eagle on the club's injury list, having recently sustained a minor hamstring strain.

Season over for Dons duo, trio a chance to return

Essendon pair Darcy Parish (calf) and Harrison Jones (ankle) won't play again this year.

The club confirmed the news on Tuesday, with the duo to continue their recoveries over the coming weeks and months.

The Bombers could have Nate Caddy (soreness), Ben Hobbs (groin) and Todd Goldstein (managed) available for Friday's clash with the Western Bulldogs.

All three were unable to play in last week's loss to GWS, with an eight-day turnaround giving them the needed rest to be in the window for Round 20.

Goldstein will likely take Vigo Visentini's spot in the ruck, unless Scott opts for two ruckmen, while the Bombers coach will need to weigh up his tall forward mix after debutant Liam McMahon had a strong showing in Caddy's absence.

The Bombers won't have Elijah Tsatas for the coming weeks following his recent hamstring strain, while Ben McKay's chances of a return this year from his foot injury look unlikely.

Cats expecting star defender to play

Geelong will continue to monitor hurt defender Tom Stewart ahead of Round 20, with the premiership Cat hurting his knee in last week's win over St Kilda.

The Cats are expecting Stewart to play, but he will need to get through training unscathed.

Veteran pair Cam Guthrie (calf) and Mitch Duncan (shoulder) are nearing returns, with the former listed as a test this week to potentially play VFL.

Swans guns a chance to play

Sydney small forward Tom Papley is a test for Friday's Sydney Derby as he looks to end his hamstring recovery.

Papley could be joined by Taylor Adams in playing this week, with Adams also a test following a block of reconditioning.

Key forward Logan McDonald is up to two weeks away from playing for the first time this year, with the tall attacker having completed a two-week block skill and reconditioning sessions.

Blues boost, but star's return still TBC

Carlton have confirmed tall pair Harry McKay (knee) and Lewis Young (ankle) are available to play this week.

McKay looks to be a certain starter for Thursday's clash with Hawthorn, while Young may still be fighting for his spot.

The Blues won't have Francis Evans for Round 20, with the small forward entering concussion protocols.

Meanwhile, star midfielder Sam Walsh is still listed as 'TBC' as he continues to rehab a foot injury.

"Continuing to increase his running loads, however is yet to progress to full training. A further update will be provided when he is able to do so," a club update read.

Lions defender cleared, pair looking to return

Brisbane defender Dayne Zorko has been cleared of any injury after undergoing scans on a foot issue.

Zorko was hampered in Friday's win but was able to play out the match, and is expected to suit up for Saturday's QClash.

Meanwhile, fringe pair James Tustil and Deven Robertson are in line to return to action as they work through concussion protocols.

Young forward Ty Gallop has entered concussion protocols following a head knock in the VFL.

Tigers eyeing football returns

Young Richmond midfielder Kane McAuliffe could be back from his quad injury this week, while Pick 7 selection Josh Smillie is up to a fortnight away from his conditioning block.

The duo are part of a big contingent of Tigers who could make late-season returns, with Mykelti Lefau (calf) and Thomson Dow (patella) also a chance to be back in the next two weeks.

Young forward Liam Fawcett (foot) and Campbell Gray (knee) could be touch-and-go to play again this year as they continue their recoveries.

Small forward Seth Campbell has entered concussion protocols and will miss this week's clash with Collingwood at least.

Roos spearhead in the mix

North Melbourne forward Nick Larkey will be a test this week as he eyes a return from a knee injury.

Larkey has missed the past two games due to the injury sustained in Round 17, with the tall attacker set to face the Cats on Saturday if he can get through training.

"His availability will be determined by his ability to get into training with the main group on Thursday," Roos performance boss Kevin White said.

Young utility Eddie Ford is also in the mix to play this weekend as he looks to overcome a foot issue.

Ruckman Callum Coleman-Jones will miss the next two weeks at least with a calf injury sustained over the weekend.

Saints duo sidelined

St Kilda pairing Hugo Garcia (wrist) and Darcy Wilson (concussion) have been ruled out of the coming week at least with separate setbacks.

Garcia was a late withdrawal from the Saints' squad to face Geelong over the weekend with a wrist issue, with scans since uncovering a hairline fracture.

The injury will place Garcia out of action for at least two weeks.

Wilson has entered concussion protocols after suffering symptoms after Sunday's loss to the Cats.

Meanwhile, the Saints are in line to have Mattaes Phillipou (Plantaris), Dougal Howard (hamstring) and Jack Carroll (knee) back as early as next week, potentially along with Isaac Keeler (hamstring).

Much-improved Adelaide defender returns home

Jordon Butts has returned home after spending six nights in hospital following the win over the Western Bulldogs in Round 18.

Butts suffered a punctured lung, and was sent to the hospital shortly after he was subbed from the game.

"Buttsy was back in the Club yesterday and today, the good news is he can start to do some light activity, some running around, some ball work and strength work," Adelaide High Performance Manager Darren Burgess said.

"He's still a little bit restricted, so we're still not quite sure on his timeline to return, but he's on his feet this week and doing some running, so it's good signs."

Mitch Hinge is hopeful of overcoming a bad cork he sustained last week against the Suns.

Josh Rachele is progressing from knee surgery, but no timeline on his return has been made.

Big, big boost for GWS, but swingman's year is over

The Giants are likely to have Jesse Hogan (foot), Josh Kelly (hip) and Sam Taylor (toe) back to face the Swans on Friday night.

Hogan and Kelly were rested last week but will still need to prove their fitness at training, while Taylor has been missing since Round 13 with his ailment.

The news isn't as great for uncapped swingman Wade Derksen, who will miss the rest of the season with a toe injury of his own.

Derksen has undergone surgery this week following the recent injury, bringing an abrupt end to another strong year at VFL level for the 2022 Mid-Season Draft pick.

Forward Brent Daniels is 4-5 weeks away as he continues to rehab his adductor setback.

Latest on Power captain ahead of Showdown

Port Adelaide captain Connor Rozee will need to get through training this week to be cleared to play in Saturday's Showdown against Adelaide.

After missing last week with a fractured hand, Rozee has been kept away from contact drills until Tuesday, with Wednesday's session looming as the make-or-break block for the midfielder-defender's chances.

Rozee will be given the coming days to assess the pain threshold in his left hand, with the club captain likely having the final decision on whether he plays.

The Power could also welcome back Willie Rioli for the Showdown, with the small forward booting two goals in the SANFL on Sunday after missing his club's Round 19 trip to Tasmania.

Mixed news for Suns

Gold Coast recruit Dan Rioli will be sidelined for at least four weeks after suffering a fractured fibula in Sunday's loss to Adelaide.

The injury could see Rioli miss up to six weeks, meaning he may rely on a finals finish to return to play this year.

“Scans on Monday shows that Daniel has sustained a small fracture to his fibula. After discussing the results with Daniel, a decision was made that he will undergo an operation which will make him unavailable for selection for several weeks,” Suns head physiotherapist Lindsay Bull said.

In better news, key pairing Sam Collins (calf) and Lachie Weller (cork) are expected to play in Saturday's QClash against Queensland rivals Brisbane.

Dog's year over, defender a test

Western Bulldogs utility Harvey Gallagher will miss the remainder of the 2025 season after hurting his foot less than a fortnight ago.

Already sidelined with a calf injury, Gallagher has since picked up a navicular stress injury and will be sidelined for the rest of the year.

Dogs defender James O'Donnell has avoided a serious ankle injury and will need to get through training this week unscathed to be cleared to face Essendon.

He joins Arthur Jones (hamstring) in being listed as a test for Round 20, while James Harmes (illness) has been cleared to return.

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