All 18 clubs are preparing for a weekend in South Australia as the competition descends onto Gather Round.
Collingwood will be without an important duo, while soft-tissue issues have whacked Carlton and Geelong.
Here's the latest on the injury front across the AFL landscape...
Freo update on Jackson, O'Driscoll
Fremantle will be without ruckman Luke Jackson, midfielder Nathan O'Driscoll and defender Corey Wagner for Round 5.
Jackson will miss the next two to three weeks after suffering a low-grade hamstring injury during the third quarter of the Bulldogs fixture.
Scans have confirmed that O'Driscoll will avoid surgery on his ankle, but will miss four to six weeks.
Dashing half-back Wagner will miss Gather Round after being subbed out with calf awareness during the third quarter.
Hayden Young and Sean Darcy returned through the WAFL last week and are available for selection.
Veteran Nat Fyfe is a test to play in the reserves after experiencing knee soreness over the weekend.
Sam Switkowski could also make his return, provided he progresses through main training later in the week after spending three weeks on the sidelines with a groin injury.
Rankine in doubt for Gather Round
Adelaide livewire Izak Rankine is in doubt for Thursday's clash against Geelong after he suffered a knock to his calf in Round 4.
Crows coach Matthew Nicks says he will give Rankine every chance to prove his fitness, but admits the quick turnaround is working against him.
"I don't know as yet (if Izak will play), we don't really get a chance to train this week unfortunately, but we'll have a Captains' Run tomorrow which we would like to see him get involved in, but we'll just see how he pulls up" Nicks said on Tuesday.
"He got a knock to the calf, there's some bleeding there, but there's no muscle damage, so it's one we just need to be mindful of.
"At the moment, there is some doubt, but he's pretty confident (that he'll play)."
Young defender Toby Murray will also be sidelined for an extended period after suffering a serious ankle injury in the SANFL.
Midfielder Matt Crouch is expected to return to the mix after being managed last week against Gold Coast.
Suns defender sidelined with injury
Connor Budarick sustained a rib injury during an attempted tackle late in the fourth quarter in the victory over the Adelaide Crows on Saturday afternoon.
Budarick is expected to be sidelined in the short term as he recovers and will be unavailable for Round 5 against North Melbourne.
Starcevich making progress
Brandon Starcevich has taken a positive step forward in his recovery from concussion after running at training on Tuesday.
Starcevich entered concussion protocols in Round 1 for the second time this year, and has been given more time to recover.
Kai Lohmann is at least a week away as he overcomes soreness form an ankle sprain in Round 1.
Lohmann did return against Geelong but has been absent since.
Henry Smith has entered concussion protocols following Saturday's VFL match.
Lukosius timeline revealed
Port Adelaide utility Jack Lukosius could make his return to football sooner than initially anticipated, but is still six to eight weeks away.
Lukosius fractured his kneecap in Round 2 and underwent surgery.
Defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher is approaching a return to training, Ryan Burton is continuing to rehab a hip flexor issue, and Jed McEntee will be assessed this week.
Swans veterans in line to play
Harry Cunningham and Lewis Melican are a chance to take on Collingwood as they overcome their respective injuries.
Draftee Riak Andrew is 8-10 weeks away after injuring his AC joint, which required surgery.
Tom Papley is also six-to-eight weeks away while captain Callum Mills and Taylor Adams will miss at least the night fortnight.
Errol Gulden is eyeing a return following the mid-season bye.
Cats utility to return
Geelong's Mark Blicavs is expected to return after he was a late withdrawal on Friday night with illness, while Mitch Knevitt has been cleared to play after missing with foot management.
Blicavs' return comes at the perfect time, as Jack Henry has suffered a hamstring strain and will miss up to a month.
Saints skipper on track
Jack Steele is every chance of playing in Gather Round after missing with a knee complaint last week.
Zaine Cordy is set to spend some time on the sidelines with an injured pectoral muscle, with his return to play timeline to be confirmed in the coming days.
Dan Butler (achilles) and Max King (knee) will both be unavailable this week, with slight setbacks in their respective recoveries. Butler is facing two to three weeks addressing his ongoing issue, while King will seek additional assessment this week.
Carlton duo in the mix
Carlton could welcome back Matthew Cottrell and Marc Pittonet to the senior side.
Cottrell will need to get through full training to prove his fitness after an ankle injury.
Pittonet is in the same boat as he looks to overcome a calf issue.
Giants vice-captain a chance
GWS midfielder Stephen Coniglio has a chance to return to the senior side after he was a late out in Round 4 due to glute irritation.
Coniglio will be assessed throughout the week before a decision is made on Friday before Sunday's clash against St Kilda.
Brent Daniels will also need to prove his fitness as he manages an abdominal strain.
Phoenix Gothard has returned to full training following his finger injury and is expected to return through the VFL next weekend
Bulldogs forward to be monitored
Laith Vandermeer will be monitored across the week after being subbed out of Sunday's match against Fremantle.
He was removed from last week's match with knee soreness with scans confirming a low-grade cartilage damage.
"In the first quarter, Laith had the onset of some pain behind his knee," Head of Sports Medicine Chris Bell said.
โThis did inhibit his ability to hit top-end speed, which is obviously one of his weapons, so he was subbed out of the game.
"At this stage we have a conservative management plan around Laith, with a level of optimism that his symptoms will settle quickly."
Anthony Scott has entered concussion protocols after a collision in the VFL.
Veteran Jason Johannisen has completed match simulations and should be made available this weekend.
Marcus Bontempelli is also a fortnight away.
Archer suffers minor setback
North Melbourne youngster Jackson Archer has suffered a hamstring setback and will miss at least another week of football.
Archer would have been available following his three-game suspension but the injury has kept him from the senior side.
"Jackson had a disappointing setback last week in training when he experienced hamstring tightness in a kicking drill, with a scan revealing a really minor strain," North Melbourne head of performance Kevin White said.
"He won't play this week but will aim to press his case for next week's game."
Midfielders Finn O'Sullivan and George Wardlaw will be available for selection.
Wardlaw returned through the VFL after a severe hamstring strain hindered his football to date.
Illness kept O'Sullivan from facing Sydney but is expected to put his hand up in Gather Round.
Eddie Ford (hamstring) and Zac Fisher (concussion) will need to prove their fitness on Thursday.
Dons cavalry set to return
Essendon could be buoyed by the return of exciting youngsters Elijah Tsatas and Archie Perkins for their match-up with Melbourne.
The young midfielders missed the round three win over Port Adelaide with respective quad and hand injuries, however, both have now returned to full training following the early season bye.
Key forward Peter EWright will also return to play this weekend, having overcome an ankle ligament strain.
Darcy Parish is expected to feature in the VFL on limited minutes, while Jye Caldwell's timeline of four weeks following a hamstring injury has been revealed.
Kyle Langford is eyeing Anzac Day as his return date.
Hawthorn shock as Day downed
Hawks midfielder Will Day is set to miss up to four months of football after it was revealed that he suffered a severe stress fracture in his foot.
Day missed the first six rounds of 2024 after suffering the same injury in the same foot last January.
And now looks poised to miss a large chunk once again after scans revealed the same issue.
Day also missed the club's finals run with a complex shoulder injury but returned in 2025 in scintilating form.
Hawthorn Head Doctor Liam West said the club would move swiftly.
"In this instance, surgery is required to fix the fracture," West said.
"Additionally, surgery will also reduce the risk of future issues for Will during his career."
James Worpel should replace Day in the senior side, while Connor Macdonald is also a chance after he overcame an ankle injury.
James Blanck and Sam Butler are also in the mix.
Key forward Calsher Dear is nearing a return from his stress fracture in his back.
Pie pain as pair to miss Gather Round
Collingwood will be without Jordan De Goey (achilles) and Lachlan Schultz (hamstring) when they take on Sydney in Adelaide on Friday.
De Goey is reported to have an inflamed achilles, and after being subbed out of Thursday's win against Carlton.
It is understood that he may miss only one match but will be assessed ahead of the Round 6 clash against Brisbane.
As for Schultz, who dominated the Blues last week, he injured his hamstring at training on Sunday.
The ex-Docker is expected to miss up to three weeks in a crucial blow to the Pies.
He'll miss clashes against the Swans and Brisbane at the very least, while Anzac Day against Essendon looms as a potential return.
It comes as the club accepted Dan Houston's two-match ban for his bump on Lachie Fogarty.
Dees-aster as leader forced into surgery
Melbourne premiership defender Jake Lever could miss the next eight weeks of football following a troublesome ankle.
Lever's issues have been persistent throughout the last 12 months, but after meeting his surgeon on Monday, he has opted to undergo surgery to help rectify the problem.
"We've been looking to manage Jake conservatively, and he's done a power of work to try to get up for each game, but due to a lack of function and continued pain, he hasn't been able to do that," Demons High Performance Manager Selwyn Griffith said.
"As part of our management process, we sought some expert opinions. He saw a surgeon today and, unfortunately for Jake, he will now undergo surgical intervention and he'll likely be out for approximately eight weeks."
Ruckman Tom Campbell has been sidelined with a minor hamstring injury, while young forward Matt Jefferson remains a test as he looks to return from a hand fracture.
Similar to Xavier Lindsay, who will be pushing his case after being sidelined with a low-grade injury to his medial ligament following Round 3.
Geelong blow as premiership defender downed
Cats defender Jack Henry will miss three to four weeks of football following a hamstring injury in the victory over Melbourne.
Henry was subbed out during the second quarter of Friday's win.
"Following scans on Monday, Jack is expected to miss the next three to four weeks with a hamstring strain," Geelong EGM Andrew Mackie said.
"Whilst disappointing for Jack, he has started the year off extremely well,l and we are looking forward to seeing him back playing."
Henry will miss games against Adelaide and Hawthorn, but could be in the frame to return against Carlton in Round 7.
Cowan cursed by hamstring injury
Lachlan Cowan could miss up to six weeks after Carlton confirmed the hamstring blow in the disappointing loss to Collingwood in Round 4.
Cowan was subbed out of the contest in the early stages of the game due to the hamstring injury, with scans since showing a strain that will sideline the Tasmanian for at least a month.
"Carlton defender Lachie Cowan is expected to miss the next four to six weeks with a hamstring injury," a club update read.
"Cowan was subbed out in the first quarter of Thursday night's game, with scans confirming a strain to his left hamstring.
"He will commence his rehabilitation with the Club to assess his progress in a month."
Cowan misses contests against West Coast, North Melbourne, Geelong, Adelaide, and potentially St Kilda and Sydney in Round 10.
