Melbourne v Richmond (Thursday, 7:30pm AEST)
Melbourne named Steven May, Judd McVee and Bailey Fritsch in their starting 18 on Wednesday night, boosting both ends of their formation.
Cleared to play: Steven May, Judd McVee, Bailey Fritsch
1-2 weeks: Jake Melksham (leg), Daniel Turner (concussion)
3-4 weeks: Marty Hore (calf)
6-7 weeks: Jake Lever (ankle)
2026: Shane McAdam (achilles), Andy Moniz-Wakefield (knee)
Noah Balta’s nighttime curfew as part of his sentencing for criminal assault means he’ll be unavailable for the next three months when Richmond plays interstate and/or at night.
1 week: Noah Balta (curfew)
2-3 weeks: Samson Ryan (foot)
4-6 weeks: Mykelti Lefau (ACL)
5-7 weeks: Tylar Young (ACL)
10-12 weeks: Harry Armstrong (hamstring)
TBD: Josh Gibcus (ACL), Taj Hotton (ACL), Dion Prestia (ACL)
Collingwood v Essendon (Friday, 3:20pm AEST)
Dan Houston is a guaranteed recall for Collingwood after serving his two-game ban.
1 week: Lachie Schultz (hamstring), Darcy Moore (ear ailment)
4-6 weeks: Ash Johnson (leg)
12-16 weeks: Fin Macrae (shoulder)
TBD: Harvey Harrison (knee), Tom Mitchell (foot)
2026: Reef McInnes (knee)
Remember Todd Goldstein? He’s still going! The 36-year-old is set for his 2025 debut after Essendon’s two first choice rucks, Sam Draper and Nick Bryan, went down with long-term injuries. Goldstein racked up 46 hitouts and 24 disposals in his last VFL game, a loss at home to Werribee.
Fitness test: Xavier Duursma (general soreness), Kyle Langford (hamstring)
1-2 weeks: Nik Cox (concussion), Angus Clarke (collarbone), Jye Caldwell (hamstring), Matt Guelfi (hamstring)
Round 9: Jayden Laverde (suspended)
TBD: Darcy Parish (back), Sam Draper (achilles)
2026: Tom Edwards (knee), Nick Bryan (knee)
Fremantle v Adelaide (Friday, 8:10pm AEST)
Key Fremantle defender Heath Chapman missed the loss to Melbourne with illness, and the team missed him even more. He should return this week, as could Corey Wagner.
1 week: Will Brodie (calf), Luke Jackson (hamstring)
Round 9: Patrick Voss (suspended)
3 weeks: Nathan O’Driscoll (ankle)
5-7 weeks: Nat Fyfe (hamstring), Sam Sturt (knee)
3-4 months: Brandon Walker (shoulder)
TBD: Michael Walters (knee), Jaeger O’Meara (foot/hamstring)
2026: Odin Jones (back)
Josh Rachele completed a full contact training session during the week, so his return to the Adelaide side is expected to be rubber stamped.
Fitness test: James Borlase (ankle), Darcy Fogarty (shoulder), Josh Rachele (ribs)
3-4 weeks: Toby Murray (ankle)
2026: Kieran Strachan (foot)
St Kilda v Brisbane Lions (Saturday, 1:20pm AEST)
St Kilda will be aiming to have Dougal Howard ready to go from a pre-season shoulder reconstruction.
Fitness test: Jack Carroll (hamstring), Hunter Clark (abdominal), Dougal Howard (shoulder)
1-2 weeks: Mattaes Phillipou (leg)
2-3 weeks: Dan Butler (achilles), Patrick Said (calf)
3 months: Zaine Cordy (pectoral)
TBD: Paddy Dow (knee), Max King (knee)
Brisbane are hopeful that Kai Lohmann will boost a forward line that was only firing blanks against Collingwood. Lachie Cowan was expected to miss up to four weeks but his prognosis was recently upgraded.
Fitness test: Kai Lohmann (ankle)
1-2 weeks: Keidean Coleman (knee)
TBD: Lincoln McCarthy (knee), Henry Smith (concussion), Brandon Starcevich (concussion)
Port Adelaide v North Melbourne (Saturday, 4:15pm AEST)
Port Adelaide defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher is available for selection, but having missed two months of footy, his return could be managed via the SANFL.
Cleared to play: Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (back)
Fitness test: Ryan Burton (hip)
4-6 weeks: Jack Lukosius (knee)
TBD: Todd Marshall (achilles)
The competition’s worst defence of 2025 is hopeful that this is finally the week that Jackson Archer is back, especially after North Melbourne lost Zac Fisher to a minor hamstring strain.
Fitness test: Jackson Archer (hamstring)
1-2 weeks: Zac Fisher (hamstring), Brayden George (knee), Matt Whitlock (ankle)
3-4 weeks: Josh Goater (hamstring), Callum Coleman-Jones (achilles)
GWS Giants v Western Bulldogs (Saturday, 7:30pm AEST)
After recording their lowest total in more than two years, GWS Giants are set to get key forward Jesse Hogan back from a calf injury. The prospects for Stephen Coniglio didn’t look as good on Wednesday.
Fitness test: Stephen Coniglio (glute), Jesse Hogan (calf)
3-4 weeks: Brent Daniels (abdomen), Ollie Hannaford (wrist), Logan Smith (illness)
The headlines were all about Western Bulldogs star forward Sam Darcy and midfielder Jamarra Ugle-Hagan this week. Laitham Vandermeer trained successfully in a bid to return.
Fitness test: Laitham Vandermeer (knee), James Harmes (foot)
1-2 weeks: Taylor Duryea (managed), Anthony Scott (concussion)
2-4 weeks: Nick Coffield (hamstring), Adam Treloar (calf),
3-6 weeks: Riley Garcia (knee)
TBD: Cody Weightman (knee), Sam Darcy (knee)
Gold Coast v Sydney (Sunday, 1:10pm AEST)
Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick could very well name an unchanged team with no movement reported as far as the casualty ward is concerned.
4-6 weeks: Leo Lombard (shoulder)
6+ weeks: Tom Berry (knee)
2026: Charlie Ballard (knee)
Where to begin with Sydney’s lengthy injury list… it’s a wonder they’ve been able to be competitive let alone win tight contests.
1-2 weeks: Callum Mills (foot)
2-3 weeks: Taylor Adams (hamstring),
3-4 weeks: Joel Amartey (hamstring), Robbie Fox (calf)
5-6 weeks: Riak Andrew (shoulder), Harry Cunningham (foot), Tom Papley (foot), Jesse Datoli (back)
7-9 weeks: Errol Gulden (ankle)
TBD: Logan McDonald (ankle)
Carlton v Geelong (Sunday, 3:20pm AEST)
Harry McKay was undergoing final concussion protocols during the week, so keep an eye out on Carlton’s Thursday night team announcement for his name.
Fitness test: Harry McKay (concussion), Lachie Cowan (hamstring)
2–3 weeks: Orazio Fantasia (calf), Alex Cincotta (hip)
TBD: Nic Newman (knee)
2026: Jagga Smith (knee), Brodie Kemp (achilles)
Gryan Miers has entered concussion protocols meaning he’ll be forced out of Geelong’s Sunday game against Carlton.
1-3 weeks: Jed Bews (finger), Jack Henry (hamstring)
TBD: Tanner Bruhn (finger), Cillian Burke (knee), Toby Conway (back), Mitch Edwards (pelvis), Cam Guthrie (achilles), Lenny Hoffman (back), Jack Martin (calf), Gryan Miers (concussion), Jacob Molier (hamstring), Oisin Mullin (hip)
Hawthorn v West Coast (Sunday, 4:40pm AEST)
Whilst he’s officially listed as ‘test’ at this stage, it was reported from within the Hawthorn camp that Calsher Dear will return to action via the VFL this weekend.
Fitness test: Calsher Dear (back), Jasper Scaife (hand)
7-9 weeks: Mitch Lewis (knee)
3-4 months: Will Day (foot)
After he took a personal leave of absence for the Easter weekend, West Coast captain Oscar Allen will return for their trip to Marvel Stadium.
4-5 weeks: Campbell Chesser (ankle), Elliot Yeo (ankle/knee)
2026: Dom Sheed (knee)