A month of football remains as the AFL turns toward the final stretch of the 2024 campaign.
The Pies are hopeful of celebrating Scott Pendlebury's 400th game in style as it looks to challenge an arch-rival with a star in doubt.
Meanwhile, West Coast has ruled out a promising big man for the rest of the year following multiple leg issues.
Here's the latest on the injury front across theย AFLย landscape...
Season over for Blue, trio a chance to return
Carlton forward David Cuningham's 2024 campaign has been brought to an end after the club confirmed he will require surgery for a dislocated shoulder.
Cunningham suffered the setback early into last Friday's Friday's loss to Port Adelaide, with the Blues revealing this week that the luckless forward will go under the knife and miss the remainder of the season.
It's another blow for Cuningham, who has faced a long history of injury setbacks to be limited on the field over the past several seasons.
Meanwhile, trio Harry McKay (illness), Blake Acres (foot) and Caleb Marchbank (illness) are all tests to be available for Round 21 when the Blues face Collingwood at the MCG.
Small forward Orazio Fantasia (calf) and Zac Williams (hamstring) are at least another week away from returns.
Young Sun to return, cavalry to wait one more week
Gold Coast forward Jake Rogers is expected to be available after overcoming a knee injury, pending he gets through Wednesday's training.
However, the Suns are hopeful that experienced trio Touk Miller, Sam Day and Levi Casboult will be in line to return the following week, with Ethan Read also not far away.
James Tsitas was ruled out of the remainder of 2024 with a quad injury while Caleb Graham (knee) is also facing a similar fate.
Battered Roos limping to the line
North Melbourne has revealed that up to five players remain a test for Saturday's clash against Richmond, a game that will likely decide who ends up with the No.1 Pick in this year's National Draft.
Charlie Comben (groin), Aidan Corr (ankle), Zac Fisher (foot), Eddie Ford (ankle) and Colby McKercher (soreness) all appear under respective injury clouds heading into Round 21.
The quintet will need to prove their fitness throughout the week to be made available.
Hawkins return date clearer, update on forward
Geelong is hopeful Tom Hawkins will return to the playing in three weeks time, helping the club push for a finals berth and a potential top-four spot.
โTom has progressed well and hasn't missed a beat with his rehab after he was a late withdrawal against the Bulldogs,โ Manager of Football Brett Johnson said. ย
โIt is a long season, and we took the conservative approach with Tom to make sure he is ready to attack the back end of the year."
However, news for Gary Rohan isn't as positive after being subbed out with a concussion in the win against North Melbourne.
โWe'll assess each day how Gary is tracking, and we'll know more as he progresses around availability to play in the coming weeks. We'll ensure Gary is well looked after,โ Johnson said.ย
Tom Atkins is expected to be available for selection after overcoming a back issue.
Ridley ruled out
Essendon intercept defender Jordan Ridley is hopeful of returning before the end of the home and away season, following a hip injury.
Ridley was subbed out at half-time with what was initially thought to be a corked hip from a marking contest in the second term, however follow-up scans on Monday revealed the full extent of the injury.
The club believes he will miss three weeks.
Melbourne speedster downed
Demon winger Caleb Windsor will be in a race to return before the end of the home and away season.
Windsor is reportedly touch and go after suffering a syndesmosis injury but has fortunately avoided surgery, for now.
Melbourne's first pick in the 2023 National Draft has been a revelation since joining the club, featuring in every game so far this year and was well in the hunt for the NAB AFL Rising Star.
Fellow draftee Koltyn Tholstrup is likely to exit concussion protocols pending a training session later in the week while premiership defender Christian Salem is eyeing a Round 22 return.
Lions set to regain captain
Brisbane will likely welcome back Harris Andrews from concussion for their Sunday clash at Marvel Stadium against the Saints.
Andrews missed the win against Gold Coast but trained on Tuesday in his bid to exit concussion protocols and put his hand up for selection.
Fellow defender Carter Michael is living the same fate and will need to pass concussion protocols to be made available.
Forgotten Hawk pressing his case
Hawthorn forward Chad Wingard could be seen in the VFL this weekend as he presses his case to return from a calf injury.
Wingard hasn't been sighted in 2024 due to a persistent calf issue, hindering his ability to regain his spot under Sam Mitchell.
However, it is likely that he'll play on limited minutes in the reserves and will return to the main group at training.
Ruckman Ned Reeves is also on the mend, but will likely be given a fortnight to overcome a back issue.
Young Saint pushing to play
Mattaes Phillipou is in the frame to return to play, but will need to pass a fitness test to be available.
Phillipou hurt his hip during the Adelaide game in Round 18 and was expected to miss up to four weeks.
โIt's a real credit to our rehab staff and to Mattaes' professionalism that he's even close to being in a position to return to play,โ Saints EGM of Football Davidย Missonย said.
โThere are still a few boxes to tick at training this week, but we're hopeful that barring any surprises he'll play this weekend.โ
Marcus Windhager (hamstring) and Zaine Cordy (adductor) are pushing for a return in the next fortnight.
Tall Power to be assessed
Todd Marshall has a chance to feature on Saturday when the club takes on Sydney as he recovers from a hip injury.
Marshall sustained a strain during the Gold Coast game and is expected to join in on full training on Wednesday.
Pair of Eagles to fly
Jeremy McGovern and Liam Duggan are set to return for the Eagles on Friday night when they host Gold Coast at Optus Stadium.
McGovern hurt his ribs and missed the past three weeks while Duggan has overcome his concussion following the contentious Charlie Cameron tackle.
However, not all the news is positive with key defender Tom Barrass ruled out with concussion after showing delayed symptoms.
Zane Trew is listed as a test after suffering a neck injury but has pulled up relatively well.
โThe docs took a conservative approach as you do with neck injuries and ruled him out of the game.
โHe's had the scans, there's no structural damage, so we're hopeful he'll be out there on the track on Wednesday but he's a test for this week.โ
Flag Tigers in the mix
Dustin Martin, Jack Graham and Toby Nankervis are in line to return to the senior side as the club prepares for its clash with North Melbourne.
Nankervis missed the Collingwood game due to concussion, while Martin's persistent back issue and Graham's hip have proved to be an ongoing problem.
However, the club believes that the trio are in the frame to be available but will need to train strongly throughout the week before a decision can be made.
Midfielder Tim Taranto is in doubt after hurting his back in the loss to the Pies, which saw him subbed from the game.
Spearhead forward Tom Lynch has returned to full training and is eyeing a return before the end of the home and away season.
Dogs defender almost ready, but will he be recalled?
Western Bulldogs defender James O'Donnell appears ready to return after overcoming a hamstring injury.
โFrom our rehab group, James is eyeing a return this week โ he has missed the last few weeks following a concussion he suffered in the Round 17 game, which was then followed by some hamstring tightness,โ Head of Sports Medicine, Chris Bell said.
โJames completed a game-like training session on Saturday, so if he gets through full training like I expect, he will return to availability.โ
However, given the form of the senior backline, it is likely he will play VFL.
James Harmes (hamstring) is also not far away, with the club believing another week should have him right to go.
Pies trio expected to return, star in doubt
Collingwood is confident Beau McCreery (calf), Oleg Markov (personal) and Nathan Kreuger (concussion) will be available for selection for Saturday night's blockbuster against Carlton.
The trio missed the win over Richmond on Sunday and trained over the weekend in preparation for Round 21.
Pies coach Craig McRae believes all should be good to go.
The same can't be said for star Jordan De Goey, who sits in a "grey category".
"I'm unsure, I really am," McRae revealed on Tuesday.
"I think our medical team is unsure, which probably puts him in the grey category.
"We're a bit more certain about (the other) three.
"They trained over the weekend and trained well. Here we are on Tuesday, so there's a bit of time.
"All going to plan those three would be available for selection."
Young Eagle ruled out, midfielder to missย
West Coast big man Callum Jamieson has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2024 season as he will be sent for multiple surgeries.
Jamieson has been dealing with ongoing knee and ankle issues since early in the year, featuring in only four games.
News out of @WestCoastEagles
Luke Edwards to miss Suns clash after entering concussion protocols.
Season over for Callum Jamieson, heading for knee and ankle surgery.@9NewsPerth @FootyonNine
— Paddy Sweeney (@SweeneyPaddy9) July 29, 2024
The club will also lose Luke Edwards to concussion, his second for 2024.
Gun Swan to return as duo face tests
Sydney will regain midfielder James Rowbottom this week after the hard-nosed Swan missed the past two weeks with a facial injury.
Rowbottom was a surprise omission from John Longmire's Round 19 side, but after rehabilitation over the past week, the defensive-minded onballer will make his return against the Power on Saturday night.
"Yeah, he'll be back this week," Longmire confirmed on Tuesday.
"It's good to have him back. He's a crash-and-bash player. He'll train this week and come back into the team. He's a very important player for us."
The news is also positive for defender Lewis Melican, who was subbed out of Sunday's loss to the Western Bulldogs with a hamstring injury.
Scans have since shown Melican has avoided a significant setback and will instead be tested over the coming days, while forward Will Hayward will also be monitored after limping from the SCG over the weekend.
โYes, not as bad as what we thought," Longmire said of Melican.
"So, we're still hopeful. We'll see how he goes this week. But we're relieved that he's actually not too bad. He's pulled up okay.
"[Hayward's] a little bit sore but once again we're hopeful that he'll be ok. We're mindful of the short turnaround."
