Richmond make Lynch call, Bulldogs tall ruled out, another key Carlton player joins casualty ward: AFL injury news

Carlton is counting the cost of their injury-riddled Sunday while the Giants are set to welcome back two huge inclusions on the eve of the finals.

Essendon's Darcy Parish has undergone scans, while Richmond have put a line through their star forward from returning in 2024.

Here's the latest on the injury front across the AFL landscape...

All six injured Carlton players sidelined

Blues players Harry McKay (quad), Charlie Curnow (ankle), Jack Martin (hamstring) and Adam Saad (hamstring) are set to miss one week through injury due to setbacks sustained in Sunday's loss to Hawthorn.

All four players are facing 1-2 weeks on the sidelines.

Two further forced outs will join the four changes, with Lachie Fogarty (collarbone) and Jordan Boyd (adductor) also sidelined and will miss the remainder of the 2024 season.

Richmond star put on ice ahead of final two games

The Tigers have decided against potentially calling on Tom Lynch to return from a hamstring injury in the final two weeks of the season.

Lynch has not played since Round 14 against Hawthorn, a game he returned from injury for after playing just three games this season.

A further hamstring setback forced Lynch back onto the sidelines, with a delay in his recovery placing the rest of his 2024 campaign in doubt.

Richmond had waited up until this week to assess whether it would be worth having Lynch, who was scheduled to train fully this week, return for their final fortnight. The club has since decided to put Lynch on ice in the hope of an uninterrupted pre-season ahead of the 2025 season.

“Tom needs a pre-season and the volume of training and conditioning that it provides,” Richmond General Manager – Football Performance, Tim Livingstone said in a club update.

“Across the last few weeks, we have been putting Tom through a mini pre-season, and while he has been pulling up reasonably well, we want him to be able to feel confident that his body can withstand the intensity of AFL football.

“The best way for Tom to be able to do that is for him to set his sights on completing a full pre-season going into 2025.

"So, his and our focus will turn to that, and we are looking forward to seeing the best of him next year.”

Lynch has played just eight games since the end of the 2022 season due to foot and hamstring injuries, with the former delaying his start to the current season.

The Tigers will remain without Liam Baker (concussion), while Kane McAuliffe (illness) and Marlion Pickett (hamstring) are a chance to play in the VFL this week.

Bulldogs big man ruled out of Roos clash

Western Bulldogs ruckman Tim English is set to miss Round 23 due to an ankle injury sustained during Sunday's loss to Adelaide.

After carrying a concern in the wake of the loss, English will not be available to face North Melbourne this weekend.

“Scans have confirmed that he has a moderate grade ligament injury,” Head of Sports Medicine, Chris Bell said.

“Tim won't play this week, and we will work through a process across the next seven days to determine his return to play plan.”

The setback will mean English won't go head-to-head with in-form tall Tristan Xerri on Sunday, likely forcing Rory Lobb back into the ruck.

Fringe utility Anthony Scott has exited concussion protocols and should be available for selection this week.

Dogs coach Luke Beveridge has also played down any issue with forward Aaron Naughton, who was subbed out of the game against the Crows.

Sydney could regain defender, fiery forward nearing return

The Swans are hoping to have defender Lewis Melican back from a hamstring issue this week, with the backman needing to prove his fitness in the coming days before Sydney's meeting with Essendon.

Small forward Tom Papley is 1-2 weeks away from a return from a sprained ankle, while Justin McInerney is 2-3 weeks away due to a knee injury that has kept him sidelined.

Sydney have revealed youngster Will Edwards suffered a broken leg in the VFL last Friday and will require surgery, seeing an end to his 2024 season.

Hawks provide latest on defender

Hawthorn are hoping defender Changkuoth Jiath will be available for this week's bout with Richmond after he was pulled from the club's Round 22 side due to calf soreness.

Jiath will need to prove his fitness at training over the coming days before potentially being deemed fit to return.

"Last week, he just reported some soreness out of the weekend. He had trained earlier in the week, we got to our main session and he was still reporting some general soreness, but he did most of our drills," Hawks high-performance boss Peter Burge said.

"He got some treatment during our main training session and then went out and completed the session but we just made the decision to take the conservative approach and not play him on the weekend.

"I would anticipate though that he would resume training this week and then we'll make an assessment later in the week. Our main session is Friday and we'll have a look at CJ on Friday and then we'll make a judgement from there as to his availability."

Lion defender nearing return, star forward a test

Brisbane forward Eric Hipwood remains a test for this Saturday's trip to the MCG to face Collingwood, with the Lions tall needing to overcome an ongoing groin concern.

Hipwood trained on Tuesday as he looks to return to Chris Fagan's side after missing the Lions' past two matches against St Kilda and GWS.

Sidelined defender Jack Payne could return before the end of the home and away season as he continues to ramp up his recovery from a foot injury that has derailed his past month.

Payne joined teammates on the training track this week and will press for a return within the next fortnight.

Fringe forward Brandon Ryan is a test for this week after hiring his ankle in the VFL, while defender Carter Michael's season is over after a year riddled with injury.

Youngster James Tunstill could return from concussion protocols this week while recruit Bruce Reville is up to a fortnight away with a fibula issue.

Crows veteran to miss Showdown eye concern

Adelaide sharpshooter Taylor Walker will miss this weekend's Showdown against Port Adelaide after meeting with a specialist on Monday due to an eye injury sustained over the weekend.

Walker was subbed out of the affair at three-quarter time of the Crows' win over the Western Bulldogs due to the damage to his pupil, with the forward since undergoing surgery.

“A thorough investigation found very minor damage to the retina and the specialist is confident that it has occurred previously,” Adelaide high-performance boss Darren Burgess said.

“Taylor underwent laser surgery today to correct a small tear and on medical advice, he will miss at least this weekend's game.

“It is worth noting that his eye injury is very different to that experienced by Rory Sloane, who suffered a retinal detachment before announcing his retirement earlier in the year.”

With Walker ruled out of Round 23's proceedings, fringe forward Lachie Gollant looms as a likely replacement after booting eight goals in the SANFL against West Adelaide.

Roos star "in some doubt" for Dogs clash

North Melbourne young gun Harry Sheezel's ankle issue is said to have the Roos' reigning best and fairest winner in doubt for Sunday's matchup with the Western Bulldogs.

Sheezel hurt his ankle over the weekend during the loss to West Coast and had scans on Sunday as the Roos sweat on their star.

"Harry Sheezel in some doubt for North's clash with the Western Bulldogs this weekend. The Roo's star was pretty sore post game with his ankle injury, but thankfully didn't require crutches to hobble around. Had scans yesterday, club to have an update later today," Fox Sports' Drew Jones wrote on X on Monday.

Sheezel has not missed a game at AFL level since making his debut in his side's season opener last year - a streak that has lasted 44 games.

Collingwood talls sidelined

Magpies forward Ash Johnson has entered concussion protocols following a tackle in the VFL last Friday, with the fringe Collingwood tall set to miss the end of his side's state league campaign.

The setback also places Johnson in doubt of returning to the field this year, with the Magpies having two AFL games remaining before an unlikely finals campaign.

Collingwood confirmed Johnson avoided any significant damage to his cheek as a result of the incident.

Defender Josh Eyre suffered a corked hip in the same game and will be assessed over the coming days as to whether he will be fit to play this weekend, while the club has already confirmed forward Harvey Harrison will be sidelined for an extended period after rupturing his ACL in the VFL.

Sidelined ruckman Aiden Begg has faced a setback in his recovery, recording swelling in his knee. It has forced the Magpies to pull their young ruckman off running duties for the time being.

Giant boost on eve of finals

GWS are expecting both Kieren Briggs and Stephen Coniglio to feature in Round 23 when the club takes on Fremantle.

Briggs was pulled from the Brisbane clash with a shoulder injury but coach Adam Kingsley is hopeful he will be fine, per SEN.

As for Coniglio, who was given another week to recover from his persistent shoulder issues, Kingsley said he expects him to play.

It would be a huge boost for the Giants who will be looking to lock up a top-four spot.

Parish sent for scans

Essendon midfielder Darcy Parish reportedly picked up a knee injury in the loss to Gold Coast on Saturday.

The midfielder was sent for scans and could be in doubt to play the remaining two home and away games.

It comes in an injury-riddled season for Parish, who has only been sighted 10 times this year.

The Blues' fitness was already under siege, and this won't help. Chief football reporter @cleary_mitch has the details. https://t.co/5zYfOfGqUb @7AFL #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/WnXZLyTutR

— 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) August 11, 2024