Injury Hub: Calf issue for gun Lion

The 2026 AFL season has kicked off and there is a heap of injury news to keep on top of.

Back-to-back premiers Brisbane were hit by a calf injury to All-Australian Hugh McCluggage in their loss to the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night.

The Lions co-captain has a low-grade strain of his left calf which will force him out of this Saturday night's clash with Sydney.

There is a bye for the Lions in Round 2 so McCluggage could be back for the Round 3 meeting with St Kilda.

The Lions could also be without joint skipper Harris Andrews (three matches), Zac Bailey (one match) and Darcy Gardiner (one match) who have all been suspended for various incidents against the Dogs.

The club is yet to decide if they will challenge the sanctions.

See the club-by-club injury list below:

Izak Rankine won't play in Round 1 against Collingwood due to suspension but will return in Round 2 against the Western Bulldogs. Off-season recruit Callum Ah Chee will push his case for the weekend after experiencing hamstring awareness in the Origin match. Jake Soligo's irregular heartbeat seems to be under control, while Mitch Hinge remains a chance despite a back complaint.

Injury list
Dan Curtin (knee)
Mitch Hinge (back)
Mark Keane (leg)
James Peatling (hamstring)
Izak Rankine (suspension)

Last updated: 09/03

The main injury for the Lions now is gun midfielder Hugh McCluggage but he may only miss one match with his calf strain. Harris Andrews, Zac Bailey and Darcy Gardiner have all been suspended - we wait to see if the Lions will challenge. Prized recruit Sam Draper remains sidelined with a foot stress injury while Tom Doedee has at least a week to go before he is considered after a wrist injury.

Injury list
Harris Andrews (suspension)
Zac Bailey (suspension)
Cody Curtin (chest)
Tom Doedee (wrist)
Sam Draper (foot)
Koby Evans (ankle)
Darcy Gardiner (suspension)
Eric Hipwood (knee - mid-season)
Luke Lloyd (ankle)
Hugh McCluggage (calf)
Ben Murphy (chest)
Jack Payne (knee)
Henry Smith (foot)

Last updated: 09/03

Adam Saad will miss Round 1 against Richmond with a low-end hamstring strain suffered in the Opening Round loss to Sydney. Defender Nick Haynes needs a few more weeks to get over an ankle issue and midfielder Adam Cerra won't be ready for at least three weeks with a hammy sustained in a pre-season practice match. Nic Newman remains suspended and can't play until Round 2.

Injury list
Adam Cerra (hamstring)
Matt Cottrell (knee)
Francis Evans (knee)
Nick Haynes (ankle)
Jesse Motlop (knee - season)
Nic Newman (suspension)
Harry O'Farrell (knee)
Billy Wilson (foot)
Adam Saad (hamstring)

Last updated: 09/03

It's looking pretty good for the Magpies who opened the season with a win over St Kilda despite being without captain Darcy Moore and fellow injured defender Jeremy Howe. No fresh concerns out of the Saints game. Moore could be a chance for Round 1 against Adelaide. Bobby Hill remains unavailable for personal reasons.

Injury list
Bobby Hill (personal)
Jeremy Howe (calf)
Reef McInnes (knee)
Darcy Moore (calf)

Last updated: 09/03

Isaac Kako is some chance to play against Hawthorn on Friday night. He has been building his training loads after a minor hamstring strain. Gun defender Jordan Ridley remains sidelined for at least another four weeks with a calf issue.

Injury list
Cillian Bourke (hamstring)
Nick Bryan (knee)
Tom Edwards (knee)
Lewis Hayes (knee)
Isaac Kako (hamstring)
Nic Martin (knee - season)
Jordan Ridley (calf)
Sullivan Robey (back)
Will Setterfield (foot)
Rhys Unwin (calf)

Last updated: 09/03

Captain Alex Pearce and fellow defender Brennan Cox are in the mix to take on Geelong this Saturday. Sam Switkowski will likely play after recovering from concussion.

Injury list
Brennan Cox (calf)
Alex Pearce (calf)
Sam Switkowski (concussion)
Sam Sturt (knee)
Karl Worner (knee soreness)

Last updated: 09/03

Jeremy Cameron and Patrick Dangerfield both missed the season-opening loss to Gold Coast. They are both in the mix to play Fremantle on Saturday, but a call won't be made until later in the week.

Injury list
Harley Barker (knee)
Jeremy Cameron (quad)
Toby Conway (foot/knee)
Patrick Dangerfield (calf)
Keighton Matofai-Forbes (foot)
Gryan Miers (thumb)
Jacob Molier (foot)

Last updated: 09/03

Brownlow Medallist Matt Rowell will miss at least the next two matches with the finger he injured playing Origin. His return date is not yet known. The Suns got through the win over the Cats unscathed.

Injury list
Beau Addinsall (hamstring)
Charlie Ballard (knee)
Elliott Himmelberg (knee)
Max Knobel (ankle)
Jai Murray (leg)
Jake Rogers (hamstring)
Matt Rowell (finger)
Jed Walter (suspension)

Last updated: 09/03

Aaron Cadman will miss the first few matches with a pelvic injury as the latest Giant to be ruled out. Despite a growing injury list the Giants did enough to open their season with a victory over Hawthorn. No fresh concerns out of that game.

Injury list
Leek Aleer (groin)
Cody Angove (hamstring)
Toby Bedford (hamstring)
Aaron Cadman (pelvis)
Brent Daniels (hamstring)
Tom Green (knee - season)
Darcy Jones (knee)
Josh Kelly (hip)
Toby McMullin (hamstring)
Sam Taylor (hamstring)

Last updated: 09/03

Superstar Will Day will return late in the season following his dislocated shoulder during pre-season, with the club targeting Round 14 for his return. It seems like the Hawks avoided any new issues in the wake of their Opening Round loss to GWS.

Injury list
James Blanck (groin)
Will Day (shoulder)
Cam Mackenzie (concussion)
Cam Nairn (back)

Last updated: 09/03

Bayley Fritsch is in doubt for the start of the season after a mishap with his dogs which caused a hand injury. The Demons are holding hope he'll be right for Sunday's clash with St Kilda. Brody Mihocek should be fine to debut for the Dees after he was concussed recently.

Injury list
Jake Bowey (foot)
Tom Campbell (neck)
Jai Culley (arm)
Bayley Fritsch (hand)
Jack Henderson (sacrum)
Matt Jefferson (foot)
Luker Kentfield (knee)
Shane McAdam (achilles)
Brody Mihocek (concussion)
Andy Moniz-Wakefield (knee)
Jack Viney (achilles)
Kalani White (Glandular fever)

Last updated: 09/03

Young gun Colby McKercher and veteran Luke McDonald are well and truly in the mix to open the season against Port Adelaide on Sunday. Aidan Corr and Riley Hardeman are still a week or two away.

Injury list
Jackson Archer (knee - season)
Aidan Corr (calf)
Taylor Goad (ankle)
Riley Hardeman (ankle)
Luke McDonald (wrist)
Colby McKercher (finger)
Blake Thredgold (foot)
George Wardlaw (hamstring)

Last updated: 09/03

The Power are in decent nick injury-wise ahead of Round 1 against North Melbourne on Sunday. Jack Lukosius remains hopeful of playing in that game.

Injury list
Tom Cochrane (hamstring)
Jack Lukosius (groin)
Sam Powell-Pepper (knee)
Ivan Soldo (knee - season)
Ollie Wines (suspension)

Last updated: 09/03

Yet-to-debut top draft pick Josh Smillie faces more time on the sidelines after hurting his quad at a rehab session. Fellow Pick 7 Sam Cumming aggravated a shoulder injury and will be out for three more weeks. Veteran defender Nick Vlastuin is expected to play against Carlton on Thursday night after recovering from a late-season ankle injury and a pre-season back flare-up.

Injury list
Judson Clarke (knee)
Sam Cumming (shoulder)
Ollie Hayes-Brown (patella tendon)
Taj Hotton (hip)
Mykelti Lefau (suspension)
Dion Prestia (hamstring)
Samson Ryan (foot)
Tom Sims (elbow/foot)
Josh Smillie (quad)
Nick Vlastuin (management)

Last updated: 09/03

Max King's return keeps getting pushed back. He continues to deal with his knee setback, as well as a new calf strain. Rowan Marshall copped some friendly fire (Cooper Sharman's knee) and was subbed out of the loss to Collingwood with concussion.

Injury list
Ryan Byrnes (foot)
Liam Henry (hamstring)
Max King (calf/knee)
Rowan Marshall (concussion)
Liam O'Connell (concussion)

Last updated: 09/03

A few on the injury list but no genuine first-teamers apart from Braeden Campbell. Nothing new out of the Carlton win. Isaac Heeney was cleared of concussion after copping an accidental knee from former teammate Ollie Florent.

Injury list
Riak Andrew (quad)
Ned Bowman (hamstring)
Braeden Campbell (shin)
Billy Cootee (thigh)
Harry Cunningham (quad)
Jesse Dattoli (foot)
Tom Hanily (shin)
Max King (back)
Jevan Phillipou (quad)

Last updated: 09/03

A lengthy Eagles list but the likes of Reuben Ginbey, co-captain Liam Duggan and recruit Brandon Starcevich are pushing for Round 1 against Gold Coast on Sunday. New joint skipper Liam Baker is suspended for the season opener.

Injury list
Liam Baker (suspension)
Tyler Brockman (ITB)
Liam Duggan (concussion)
Harry Edwards (concussion)
Reuben Ginbey (foot)
Jack Graham (hamstring)
Tom Gross (hamstring)
Jack Hutchinson (ankle)
Tim Kelly (hamstring)
Noah Long (knee - season)
Fred Rodriguez (foot)
Harry Schoenberg (suspension)
Brandon Starcevich (calf)
Bailey Williams (groin)

Last updated: 09/03

Small forward Arty Jones will miss Saturday against the Giants with concussion after copping a stray arm from Harris Andrews in the win over Brisbane. The injury list is shortening after Sam Darcy and Bailey Dale played against the Lions.

Injury list
Riley Garcia (hamstring)
Ryan Gardner (groin)
Arty Jones (concussion)
Adam Treloar (calf)
Ryley Sanders (concussion)
Zac Walker (ankle)
Cody Weightman (knee)

Last updated: 09/03