North Melbourne's key tall, Callum Coleman-Jones, has encountered another frustrating injury setback as he prepares for the 2025 AFL season.
The 25-year-old, who missed the bulk of the 2024 season due to a ruptured Achilles, is facing a delayed start to preseason training after experiencing further complications during his recovery.
Coleman-Jones was sidelined early in the 2024 campaign, managing just three games before suffering the initial achilles injury during North Melbourne's Good Friday clash against Carlton. The forward-ruck was stretchered off the ground in significant pain, and subsequent scans confirmed the worst – a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Although Coleman-Jones underwent surgery and was expected to gradually recover, the injury flared up again towards the end of the season, requiring another procedure in August. As a result, the North Melbourne tall spent several weeks in a moonboot before transitioning into an intensive rehab program at Arden St.
Despite his ongoing rehabilitation, it remains unclear when Coleman-Jones will be able to return to full training. North Melbourne's football department is yet to put a timeline on his return, though the club is hopeful that he will be available at some stage in the early part of the 2025 season.
The injury has been a significant blow to the development of Coleman-Jones and the Kangaroos, who recruited him from Richmond in 2021 with high hopes of him partnering alongside fellow key forward Nick Larkey.
The club moved swiftly in the 2024 AFL Trade Period, acquiring West Coast's Jack Darling to cover the gap left by Coleman-Jones' absence and provide much-needed support for Larkey.
The Roos are optimistic about Darling's impact, but the delay in Coleman-Jones' return is a frustrating reminder of his injury struggles since making the switch from Richmond, where he was a highly-rated VFL premiership player.
North Melbourne is set to welcome back other key talls after Christmas, including Charlie Comben and exciting young forward Zane Duursma, who are both recovering from shoulder surgeries.
Full-back Griffin Logue (wrist) is also on track for a January return, while players like Brayden George (knee and shoulder) and Josh Goater (Achilles) will be aiming to get a clean run at 2025.