AFL Injury List 2026

2026 AFL Injury List Updates

The 2026 AFL injuries will prove to be a challenge for many teams, with injuries playing a significant role in shaping the competition. As teams prepare for the season ahead, staying informed about player injuries has never been more crucial. To make this easier for you, we’ve compiled all the latest AFL injury updates in one convenient place, ensuring you have access to the most current information at your fingertips.

 

AFL Injuries This Week (Updated)

 

Adelaide Crows Injury News

PLAYER	INJURY	EXPECTED RETURN
Nick Murray	Knee	1-2 Weeks
Toby Murray	Ankle	TBC
Josh Rachael	Ribs	3-5 Weeks
Izak Rankine	Calf	Test
Kieran Strachan	Foot	2026 season
Updated Friday, April 11, 2026

Brisbane Lions Injury News

PLAYER	INJURY	EXPECTED RETURN
Keidan Coleman	Knee	3-5 Weeks
Kai Lohmann	Ankle	1 Week
Lincoln McCarthy	Knee	TBC
Henry Smith	Concussion	TBC
Brandon Starcevich	Concussion	TBC
Updated Friday, April 11, 2026

Carlton Blues Injury News

PLAYER	INJURY	EXPECTED RETURN
Alex Cinotta	Hip	2-4 Weeks
Matt Cottrell	Ankle	Test
Lachie Cowan	Hamstring	4-6 Weeks
Ozario Fantasia	Calf	2-3 Weeks
Nic Newman	Knee	Indefinite
Marc Pittonet	Calf	Test
Jagga Smith	Knee	2026 season
Updated Friday, April 11, 2026

Collingwood Magpies Injury News

PLAYER	INJURY	EXPECTED RETURN
Jordan De Goey	Ankle	1 Week
Harvey Harrison	Knee	TBC
Dan Houston	Suspension	Round 7
Ash Johnson	Leg	6-8 Weeks
Reef McInnes	Knee	2026 Season
Tom Mitchell	Foot	TBC
Lachie Schultz	Hamstring	2-3 Weeks
Updated Friday, April 11, 2026

Essendon Bombers Injury News

PLAYER	INJURY	EXPECTED RETURN
Jai Caldwell	Hamstring	4 Weeks
Angus Clarke	Collarbone	4-5 Weeks
Nik Cox	Concussion	1 Week
Tom Edwards	Knee	2026 Season
Matt Guelfi	Hamstring	5 Weeks
Kyle Langford	Hamstring	2 Weeks
Darcy Parish	Back	Test
Archie Perkins	Quad	Test
Elijah Tsatas	Hand	Test
Peter Wright	Ankle	Test
Updated Friday, April 11, 2026

Fremantle Dockers Injury News

PLAYER	INJURY	EXPECTED RETURN
Nat Fyfe	Knee	Test
Luke Jackson	Hamstring	2-3 Weeks
Odin Jones	Back	2026 season
Charlie Nicholls	Back	1 Week
Nathan O'Driscoll	Ankle	4-6 Weeks
Sam Sturt	Knee	6-8 Weeks
Sam Switkowski	Groin	Test
Corey Wagner	Calf	1 Week
Brandon Walker	Shoulder	3-4 Months
Michael Walters	Knee	2 Weeks
Updated Friday, April 11, 2026

Geelong Cats Injury News

PLAYER	INJURY	EXPECTED RETURN
Jed Bews	Finger	4-8 Weeks
Tanner Bruhn	Finger	TBC
Cillian Burke	Knee	Indefinite
Toby Conway	Back	TBC
Mitch Edwards	Pelvis	1-2 Weeks
Cam Guthrie	Achilles	TBC
Jack Henry	Hamstring	3-4 Weeks
Lenny Hoffman	Back	Indefinite
Xavier Ivisic	Ankle	2 Weeks
Jake Kolajashnij	Groin	1-2 Weeks
Jack Martin	Calf	TBC
Keighton Matofai-Forbes	Managed	2 Weeks
Jacob Molier	Hamstring	TBC
Updated Friday, April 11, 2026

Gold Coast Suns Injury News

PLAYER	INJURY	EXPECTED RETURN
Charlie Ballard	Knee	2026 Season
Connor Budarick	Ribs	1-3 Weeks
Leo Lombard	Shoulder	6+ Weeks
David Swallow	PCL	4-6 Weeks
Updated Friday, April 11, 2026

GWS Giants Injury News

PLAYER	INJURY	EXPECTED RETURN
Ryan Angwin	Ankle	2 Weeks
Stephen Coniglio	Glute	Test
Brent Daniels	Abdomen	Test
Josh Fahey	Foot	1 Week
Phoenix Gothard	Finger	Test
Ollie Hannaford	Wrist	6 Weeks
Logan Smith	Illness	TBC
Updated Friday, April 11, 2026

Hawthorn Hawks Injury News

PLAYER	INJURY	EXPECTED RETURN
James Blanck	Knee	Test
Sam Butler	Leg	Test
Will Day	Foot	3-4 Months
Calsher Dear	Back	2 Weeks
Mitch Lewis	Knee	8-10 Weeks
Connor MacDonald	Ankle	Test
Jack Scrimshaw	Suspension	Round 6
James Worpel	Ankle	Test
Updated Friday, April 11, 2026

Melbourne Demons Injury News

PLAYER	INJURY	EXPECTED RETURN
Tom Campbell	Hamstring	2-3 Weeks
Marty Hore	Calf	5-7 Weeks
Matthew Jefferson	Hand	Test
Jake Lever	Ankle	8 Weeks
Xavier Lindsay	Knee	Test
Shane McAdam	Achilles	2026 season
Judd McVee	Hamstring	1 Week
Andy Moniz-Wakefield	Knee (ACL)	2026 season
Updated Friday, April 11, 2026

North Melbourne Kangaroos Injury News

PLAYER	INJURY	EXPECTED RETURN
Jackson Archer	Hamstring	1-2 Weeks
Callum Coleman-Jones	Achilles	5-9 Weeks
Zac Fisher	Concussion	Test
Eddie Ford	Hamstring	Test
Brayden George	Knee	TBC
Josh Goater	Hamstring	3 Weeks
Updated Friday, April 11, 2026

Port Adelaide Power Injury News

PLAYER	INJURY	EXPECTED RETURN
Tom Anastasopoulos	Ankle	1 Week
Ryan Burton	Hip	1-2 Weeks
Darcy Bryce-Jones	Suspension	Round 6
Jack Lukosius	Knee	6-8 Weeks
Todd Marshall	Achilles	TBC
Jed McEntee	Hamstring	Test
Brandon Zerk-Thatcher	Back	3-5 Weeks
Updated Friday, April 11, 2026

Richmond Tigers Injury News

PLAYER	INJURY	EXPECTED RETURN
Judson Clarke	ACL	2-4 Weeks
Liam Fawcett	Concussion/Nose	Test
Josh Gibcus	ACL	TBC
Taj Hotton	ACL	TBC
Mykelti Lefau	ACL	TBC
Rhyan Mansell	Suspension/Shoulder	Round 7
Kane McAuliffe	Foot	1-2 Weeks
Dion Prestia	Achilles	3-4 Weeks
Tylar Young	ACL	TBC
Updated Friday, April 11, 2026

St Kilda Saints Injury News

PLAYER	INJURY	EXPECTED RETURN
Dan Butler	Achilles	2-3 Weeks
Jack Carroll	Hamstring	3 Weeks
Hunter Clark	Abdominal	1-2 Weeks
Alex Dodson	Concussion	1-2 Weeks
Paddy Dow	Knee	TBC
Dougal Howard	Shoulder	4 Weeks
Max King	Knee	TBC
Mattaes Phillipou	Leg	4-5 Weeks
Liam O'Connell	Concussion	1-2 Weeks
Jack Steele	Knee	Test
Updated Friday, April 11, 2026

Sydney Swans Injury News

PLAYER	INJURY	EXPECTED RETURN
Taylor Adams	Hamstring	3-5 Weeks
Riak Andrew	Shoulder	8-10 Weeks
Harry Cunningham	Foot	Test
Jesse Datoli	Back	6-8 Weeks
Robbie Fox	Calf	TBC
Errol Gulden	Ankle	Approx Round 15
Justin McInerney	Suspension	Round 6
Lewis Melican	Adductor	Test
Callum Mills	Foot	2-3 Weeks
Tom Papley	Foot	6-8 Weeks
Updated Friday, April 11, 2026

West Coast Eagles Injury News

PLAYER	INJURY	EXPECTED RETURN
Campbell Chesser	Ankle	5-7 Weeks
Elijah Hewett	Calf	1 Week
Jack Hutchinson	Hamstring	Test
Callum Jamieson	Ankle/Knee	2-3 Weeks
Jeremy McGovern	Adductor	1-2 Weeks
Dom Sheed	Knee	2026 season
Jake Waterman	Back/Calf	Test
Elliot Yeo	Knee/Ankle	4-5 Weeks
Updated Friday, April 11, 2026

Western Bulldogs Injury News

PLAYER	INJURY	EXPECTED RETURN
Marcus Bontempelli	Calf	1-2 Weeks
Nick Coffield	Hamstring	4-6 Weeks
Taylor Duryea	Managed	Test
Riley Garcia	Knee	4-6 Weeks
Jason Johannisen	Hamstring	Test
Anthony Scott	Knee	1-2 Weeks
Adam Treloar	Calf	3-5 Weeks
Cody Weightman	Knee	Indefinite
Laitham Vandermeer	Knee	Test
Updated Friday, April 11, 2026

AFL Injury FAQs

What is the most common injury in AFL football?

The most common injury in AFL football is muscle strains and tears. While ACL injuries are among the most severe, muscle-related injuries occur more frequently due to the high-speed running, sudden acceleration, and directional changes involved in AFL.

Most Affected Muscles:

• Hamstring – Most common due to sprinting demands.
• Quadriceps – Often strained from kicking and explosive movements.
• Calf – Prone to tears, especially in older players.
• Groin (Adductors) – Overuse injuries common due to lateral movements.
• Pectoral – Occurs in tackles and collisions.

• Concussion rates have increased, leading to stricter protocols.
• Shoulder dislocations are common from heavy tackles.
• Ankle sprains frequently occur due to high-impact landings.

What is the most painful football injury?

The most painful football injury is anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears due to the immediate, intense pain, long recovery time, and career-threatening nature of the injury. However, other injuries like dislocations, fractures, and contusions can also be excruciating depending on severity.

1. ACL/MCL Tears – Sudden, sharp pain; often described as a “popping” sensation; requires surgery and a 9-12 month recovery.
2. Torn Meniscus – Can cause extreme knee instability and pain when twisting or pivoting.
3. Shoulder Dislocations/Separations – Instant, searing pain when the joint slips out; can cause long-term instability.
4. Ankle Sprains & Strains – Particularly high ankle sprains, which are difficult to heal and cause lingering pain.
5. Muscle Contusions (Deep Bruises) – Severe impact injuries, especially in the thigh (charley horse), can cause debilitating swelling.
6. Torn Hamstrings – Sudden, shooting pain with difficulty walking or running; often takes months to fully recover.
7. Back Muscle Spasms – Can be crippling, making movement nearly impossible.
8. Whiplash & Neck Strains – Stiffness, headaches, and nerve pain can persist for weeks.
9. Shoulder Tendonitis (Overuse Injury) – Chronic pain and reduced mobility, particularly in quarterbacks and linemen.
10. Fractures (e.g., tibia, fibula, collarbone) could be even more painful but are less frequent than soft tissue injuries.
11. Nerve damage (stingers or burners) can cause intense, sharp pain radiating down the arm or leg.