AFL Injury List 2026: Max King suffers latest setback
It was a great weekend of football, with the one downer being the amount of injuries that piled up.
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However, the biggest injury may have come in the VFL, with returning Saints forward Max King copping yet another setback, after a hamstring in the reserves.
King has not played since 2024, and is now set to wait at least another six weeks for an AFL return.
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He wasn’t the only forward to suffer a hamstring injury though, with Taylor Walker and Brody Mihocek also set to be sidelined.
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The Sporting News has all the latest AFL Injury News.
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Adelaide injury news
| Player | Injury | Estimated return |
| Jordan Butts | Adductor | 2-3 weeks |
| Mitch Hinge | Hamstring | 1-2 weeks |
| Mark Keane | Broken leg | 2-4 weeks |
| Taylor Walker | Hamstring | 2-3 weeks |
- Walker and Butts both banged up after an intense Showdown
- Callum Ah Chee and Darcy Fogarty are off the injury list, and expected to return against Richmond this week
Updated: May 5
Brisbane injury news
| Player | Injury | Estimated return |
| Oscar Allen | Foot | 10-14 weeks |
| Dan Annable | Shoulder | 3 months |
| Noah Answerth | Concussion | TBC/protocls |
| Jarrod Berry | Calf | 1 week |
| Ty Gallop | Concussion | 1-2 weeks/protocols |
| Darcy Gardiner | Shoulder | 1 week |
| Eric Hipwood | Knee | 5-6 weeks |
| Luke Lloyd | Ankle | 1 week |
| Ben Murphy | Hamstring | 1 week |
| Jack Payne | Knee | TBC |
| Henry Smith | Foot | 8 weeks |
- Injury-prone Allen has been struck down for a huge chunk of the season
- Gallop concussed against Essendon
Updated: May 5
Carlton injury news
| Player | Injury | Estimated return |
| Lucas Camporeale | Kidney | TBC |
| Elijah Hollands | Personal | TBC |
| Rob Monahan | Shoulder | 2027 |
| Jesse Motlop | Knee (ACL) | 2027 |
| Harry O’Farrell | Knee | TBC |
- McKay and Pittonet need to pass a fitness test
- Monahan’s year is officially done
Updated: May 5
Collingwood injury news
| Player | Injury | Estimated return |
| Darcy Cameron | Ankle | Test |
| Joel Cochrane | AC joint | 4-6 weeks |
| Reef McInnes | Knee | Season |
| Tim Membrey | Hamstring | 2-3 weeks |
| Harry Perryman | Hamstring | 4-5 weeks |
| Lachie Sullivan | Concussion | 1-2 weeks/protocols |
Updated: May 5
Essendon injury news
| Player | Injury | Estimated return |
| Jye Caldwell | Ankle | Test |
| Angus Clarke | Ankle | 4 weeks |
| Saad El-Hawli | Collarbone | 4 weeks |
| Brayden Fiorini | Back | TBC |
| Lewis Hayes | Knee | 3 weeks |
| Isaac Kako | Back | TBC |
| Nic Martin | Knee | 2027 |
| Jordan Ridley | Calf | 3 weeks |
| Rhys Unwin | Hamstring | 6-8 weeks |
- Caldwell missed most of the second half against Brisbane with an ankle concern
Updated: May 5
Fremantle injury news
| Player | Injury | Estimated return |
| Sean Darcy | Calf | 2-4 weeks |
| Jaeger O’Meara | Face | 2-3 weeks |
| Sam Sturt | Knee/Quad | 8 weeks |
| Brandon Walker | Concussion | Test |
- While recovering from his ACL injury, Sturt suffered a setback with a quad injury, delaying his recovery
Updated: May 5
Geelong injury news
| Player | Injury | Estimated return |
| Harley Barker | Knee | Indefinite |
| Mark Blicavs | Knee | 1-3 weeks |
| Toby Conway | Foot/Knee | TBC |
| Jack Henry | Foot | Test |
| Keighton Matofai-Forbes | Foot | 4 weeks |
| Gryan Miers | Knee | Test |
| Jacob Molier | Hamstring | 1 week |
| Jay Polkinghorne | Foot | 3-5 weeks |
| Tyson Stengle | Conditioning | TBC |
- Blicavs hyperextended his knee against Port Adelaide
- Henry was a late out against North Melbourne with foot soreness
Updated: May 5
Gold Coast injury news
| Player | Injury | Estimated return |
| Jy Farrar | Ankle | 6+ weeks |
| Elliott Himmelberg | Knee | 4-6 weeks |
| Matt Rowell | Ankle | Test |
Updated: May 5
Greater Western Sydney injury news
| Player | Injury | Estimated return |
| Leek Aleer | Ankle | 1-2 weeks |
| Cody Angove | Hamstring | 3 weeks |
| Ryan Angwin | Concussion | TBC |
| Tom Green | Knee (ACL) | 2027 |
| Jesse Hogan | Hip | Test |
| Darcy Jones | Knee (ACL) | Late season |
| Josh Kelly | Hip | Late season |
| Nick Madden | Knee | TBC |
| Logan Smith | Knee | TBC |
| Sam Taylor | Hamstring | 3 weeks |
| Nathan Wardius | Knee | TBC |
- Angwin was concussed in a tackle in the Giants’ loss to the Suns. Will miss this week against Essendon
Updated: May 5
Hawthorn injury news
| Player | Injury | Estimated return |
| James Blanck | Concussion | 1 week |
| Mabior Chol | Hamstring | 1-2 weeks |
| Will Day | Shoulder | 2-3 weeks |
| Calsher Dear | Adductor | 1-2 weeks |
- Day is set to miss the first half of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery
Updated: May 5
Melbourne injury news
| Player | Injury | Estimated return |
| Tom Campbell | Neck | TBC |
| Jai Culley | Knee (ACL) | 2027 |
| Aidan Johnson | Hip/groin | Test |
| Xavier Lindsay | Hip/groin | 2-4 weeks |
| Shane McAdam | Achilles | TBC |
| Jake Melksham | Ankle | 1-2 weeks |
| Ricky Mentha Jr | Ankle | TBC |
| Brody Mihocek | Hamstring | 3-5 weeks |
| Trent Rivers | Knee | Test |
| Christian Salem | Ankle | 2-3 weeks |
| Jack Viney | Achilles | TBC |
- Culley was arguably Melbourne’s best player before injuring his knee in the second quarter against Richmond. This ACL tear marks his second in three years
- Reports suggest Campbell could retire soon which would free up a list spot for the Dees in this year’s mid-season draft
- Mihocek missed most of the loss against Sydney with a hamstring injury. The veteran forward has a history of hamstring injuries
Updated: May 5
North Melbourne injury news
| Player | Injury | Estimated return |
| Jackson Archer | Knee (ACL) | 2027 |
| Luke Davies-Uniacke | Hamstring | Test |
| Zac Fisher | Hamstring | 2-3 weeks |
| Robert Hansen Jr. | Groin | TBC |
| River Stevens | Knee | 6 weeks |
| Blake Thredgold | Foot | TBC |
Updated: May 5
Port Adelaide injury news
| Player | Injury | Estimated return |
| Tom Anastasopoulos | Concussion | Test |
| Mani Liddy | Groin | 2-3 weeks |
| Ollie Lord | Knee (ACL) | 2027 |
| Jack Lukosius | Groin | 3-5 weeks |
| Sam Powell-Pepper | Knee (ACL) | 4-6 weeks |
| Connor Rozee | Hamstring | 9-11 weeks |
| Josh Sinn | Shoulder | 12-14 weeks |
Updated: May 5
Richmond injury news
| Player | Injury | Estimated return |
| Jasper Alger | Knee | 3 weeks |
| Harry Armstrong | Foot | 4 weeks |
| Sam Banks | Collarbone | 4 weeks |
| Judson Clarke | Knee (ACL) | 7-10 weeks |
| Josh Gibcus | ACL strain | 2027 |
| Taj Hotton | Hip | 6-8 weeks |
| Sam Lalor | Achilles | 8-12 weeks |
| Rhyan Mansell | Foot | TBC |
| Toby Nankervis | Hamstring | 3 weeks |
| Zane Peucker | Ankle | 6 weeks |
| Dion Prestia | Calf | 3-4 weeks |
| Hugo Ralphsmith | MCL | 4-6 weeks |
| Maurice Rioli | Hamstring | 4 weeks |
| Tom Sims | Elbow/Foot | 3-4 weeks |
| Josh Smillie | Quad | TBC |
| Kaleb Smith | Groin | 1 week |
| Tim Taranto | Concussion | Test |
- A mammoth injury list for Richmond
- Prestia the latest to succumb to injury, limping off against the Eagles with a calf injury
Updated: May 5
St Kilda injury news
| Player | Injury | Estimated return |
| Eamonn Armstrong | Concussion | Test |
| Dan Butler | Hamstring | 2-4 weeks |
| Hunter Clark | Knee | TBC |
| Paddy Dow | Concussion | 1-2 weeks |
| Angus Hastie | Concussion | Test |
| Jack Higgins | Concussion | 1-2 weeks |
| Max King | Hamstring | 6 weeks |
| Isaac Keeler | Hamstring | Test |
| Liam Ryan | Hip cork | TBC |
- King suffered a hamstring injury in the Saints’ VFL match against Carlton
- A tough weekend overall for the Saints, with Higgins, Dow and Butler all set to miss time
Updated: May 5
Sydney injury news
| Player | Injury | Estimated return |
| Taylor Adams | Hamstring | 6-8 weeks |
| Riak Andrew | Quad | TBC |
| Braeden Campbell | Shin | 3 months |
| Will Green | Foot | 8 weeks |
| Errol Gulden | Shoulder | 3 months |
| Max King | Back | 3 months |
| Liam Hetherton | Back | 6 months |
| Tom McCartin | Knee | 1-2 weeks |
Updated: May 5
West Coast injury news
| Player | Injury | Estimated return |
| Sam Allen | Knee | 3-4 weeks |
| Tyler Brockman | Knee | TBC |
| Jack Graham | Shoulder | 8-9 weeks |
| Noah Long | Knee | 2027 |
| Jacob Newton | Foot | 2027 |
| Archer Reid | Knee | 2-4 weeks |
| Deven Robertson | Knee (ACL) | 2027 |
| Brandon Starcevich | Calf | 2-3 weeks |
Updated: May 5
Western Bulldogs injury news
| Player | Injury | Estimated return |
| Connor Budarick | Hamstring | Test |
| Sam Darcy | Knee (ACL) | 2027 |
| Riley Garcia | Hamstring | 2-4 weeks |
| Luke Kennedy | Eye | 1-2 weeks |
| Tom Liberatore | Concussion | Protocols |
| Rory Lobb | Hamstring | 2-3 weeks |
| James O’Donnell | Hamstring | 3-5 weeks |
| Laitham Vandermeer | Hamstring | 6-7 weeks |
| Cody Weightman | Knee | 3-5 weeks |
- Carnage at the Dogs, with Darcy’s season over
- Naughton injured his neck in a scary incident against the Swans, although he thankfully avoided anything serious
- Vandermeer left the game against the Dockers early
Updated: May 5
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