Half-back flanker Brodie Smith will miss most of next season recovering from a torn ACL suffered in the qualifying final against Greater Western Sydney. Smith is three months into the nine-month recovery period for a knee reconstruction. He's the only one guaranteed to be unavailable for the start of the season. Midfielder Hugh Greenwood had minor foot surgery in November, and he's expected to resume full training in the New Year. Skipper Taylor Walker had minor finger and ankle surgeries in the off-season and will resume full training after Christmas. Forward Mitch McGovern is slowly building up his workloads after missing the Grand Final with a hamstring injury. Midfielder Cam Ellis-Yolmen, who missed all of this season recovering from a torn ACL, is back to full training and is expected to be available for the start of the season. Forward Tom Lynch has resumed full training after having glandular fever during the off-season break. "We know how important it is for players to form a strong fitness base during the pre-season, so to have a relatively healthy squad at the moment is a real positive," Crows general manager of high performance Matt Hass said. - Lee Gaskin

Rule them out for round one: Brodie Smith (ACL)

Skipper Dayne Beams underwent off-season shoulder surgery and is progressing well. Beams is already doing a full load of running and will resume contact work either side of Christmas. Jarrod Berry may be the biggest concern, with a recurrence of a foot issue putting him in a moonboot for the first month of pre-season. The second-year midfielder will begin running in the next week or two, and although he has a lot to catch up on, has plenty of time. Tom Bell is back in full training after his dislocated ankle and broken leg in June, while the foot problem that cost Mitch Robinson the final four months of 2017 has also healed. Sam Skinner is progressing well from his third ACL and has begun running, although he is not expected to play until at least halfway through the season. - Michael Whiting

Rule them out for round one: Sam Skinner (ACL)

All Australian defender Sam Docherty is making solid progress after having a reconstruction on his left knee, which he injured early in the pre-season last month. Docherty will miss the entire 2018 season. Another ACL victim, Sam Rowe, has been a late starter to pre-season training and is looking to step it up before the Christmas break. Patrick Cripps, whose 2017 season came to a premature end after a broken left leg against Melbourne in round 16, is enjoying his first full pre-season since joining the Blues. His leg has healed properly and he will be right for the JLT Community Series in February. Ed Curnow, who was sadly missed late in the season because of a bruised larynx, is also back on track for 2018. He suffered a minor setback before returning to training, with a splinter in his right hand sustained during house renovations becoming infected and requiring surgery. - Howard Kotton  

Rule them out for round one: Sam Docherty (knee – torn ACL), Sam Rowe (knee – torn ACL).

Small forwards Jamie Elliott (ankle) and Alex Fasolo (shoulder) are the main concerns for the Pies. Elliott's ankle failed to respond to post-season rest and consequently required recent surgery that will keep him out of full-time training until at least late January. Fasolo, meanwhile, has been booked in for shoulder surgery after suffering a knock at training. He'll know more about his prognosis next week. Ben Reid, Adam Treloar and Josh Thomas are on modified programs, the trio only running laps during training on Wednesday. Jordan De Goey (hip) and Travis Varcoe (elbow) are training freely after both underwent season-ending surgery, while captain Scott Pendlebury is back on the track after a fourth operation on his previously fractured right middle finger, which sidelined him for the last six games. Fellow midfield star Daniel Wells, whose debut season with the Pies was ruined by soft-tissue injuries, has started the pre-season in considerably better condition than last year. Levi Greenwood (knee) and Ben Crocker (ankle) have also overcome late-season injuries. - Ben Collins

Rule them out for round one: Nil 

The Bombers didn't have too many off-season surgeries locked in following their 2017 campaign, but Michael Hurley was one who did go under the knife for wrist and hip complaints. It has meant he has started back at the club on a restricted program, while the same applies for Matthew Leuenberger who had shoulder surgery. Josh Green's season ended early after fracturing his foot but he is back doing most things at training now, while Cale Hooker is on a modified program as he gets over the leg injury that ruled him out of the Bombers' elimination final. Like Hooker, Conor McKenna is also expected to resume full training after Christmas following the ankle injury that saw him miss playing in the International Rules Series. Former Giant Devon Smith is managing the knee issue that has caused him stress and is on limited duties before January, while fellow recruit Jake Stringer is training on an individual program. - Callum Twomey

Rule them out for round one: Nil

Draftee Adam Cerra will have a slightly delayed start to his pre-season after shoulder surgery cut his 2017 junior campaign short. The skillful midfielder has hit the track for modified drills with strapping on his shoulder and started weights training late last month. Alex Pearce made his first appearance with the main training group this week since breaking his leg in round nine, 2016. Tall forward Matt Taberner is recovering from minor surgery to clear up a meniscus tear. Ethan Hughes (wrist) also had surgery in the off-season but is on close to a full program. Michael Walters has started pre-season on a modified program as he returns from a knee injury suffered in round 18.Young forward Michael Apeness spent long periods of a session this week running laps, while Lee Spurr, Lachie Nealeand Joel Hamling have also been spotted putting in running sessions away from the main group. After a long battle with calf injuries, Harley Bennell has looked impressive in full training. - Nathan Schmook  

Rule them out for round one: Nil

Captain Joel Selwood has started his pre-season campaign on light duties, but will ramp things up after Christmas following the ankle injury he sustained at the end of last season. Selwood is confident the injury will not affect his 2018 campaign. Superstar midfielder Patrick Dangerfield also returned on light duties following his involvement in the International Rules Series. However, expect him to pick things up quickly. Rookie recruit Stewart Crameri is also on a reduced program after he missed the bulk of the 2017 season with a hip injury. Star defender Lachie Henderson is another to have a limited preparation after undergoing an arthroscope on his knee in the off-season. Henderson is hoping to join in main training sometime in January. Second-year midfielder Quinton Narkle continues his rehab from the torn ACL he suffered in June. He has started some change of direction work, but the Cats will be careful with his preparation. Nakia Cockatoo, who injured his hamstring three times in 2017, is in full training and in good nick, while Cory Gregson (foot) is also back out on the track. Lincoln McCarthy (groin) is close to joining in with the group, while Mark Blicavs (knee tendinitis) has had no issues so far this summer. - Ben Guthrie

Rule them out for round one: Quinton Narkle (ACL)

Irishman Pearce Hanley is the only Sun sitting out of drills at the moment after breaking his hand in the Virgin Australia International Rules Series. Hanley is fit, running strongly and could rejoin the main group before Christmas, although a safe bet would be after. Tom Lynch missed the final three rounds with a PCL problem, but has done almost everything during the pre-season, while Michael Barlow has recovered strongly from the broken leg that ended his 2017 prematurely. Barlow is already back leading the way in the club's time trials. Sam Daysuffered a horrific dislocated hip in the first JLT match last pre-season, but the key position player is running strongly, showing agility, jumping, marking and taking part in some team drills, although not with contact to the hip just yet. He should be doing everything post-Christmas and be fine come the pre-season matches. - Michael Whiting

Rule them out for round one: Nil

Matt Buntine and Adam Kennedy continue to work their way back from knee reconstructions, with Buntine around a month ahead of Kennedy in his recovery. Dylan Shiel (shoulder surgery) and was a surprising participant in this week's 3km time trial, while Daniel Lloyd (wrist) and new recruit Dylan Buckley (knee) are also up and running after off-season operations. Star forward Toby Greene is still in a moonboot after breaking his toe on holiday in New York, but he should be running before Christmas. Veterans Brett Deledio (calf) and Ryan Griffen (ankle) are on light duties but will be in full training in the New Year. Top draftee Aiden Bonar suffered a hamstring strain during the week and will miss 3-4 weeks of training. - Adam Curley

Rule them out for round one: Matt Buntine (knee), Adam Kennedy (knee)

Hawthorn's pre-season was going along swimmingly until hitting some snags this week. First was the minor knee injury that kept skipper Jarryd Roughead from making the trip to Queenstown, New Zealand for the club's training camp. Then came midfielder Will Langford, who flew home in the middle of the week after rupturing a tendon in his finger, which required surgery. Both are expected to be back training when the Hawks resume after the Christmas break. Ben Stratton (PCL), Grant Birchall (PCL), Jon Ceglar (ACL) and James Frawley (toe) have fully recovered from the injuries that kept them out of the second half of last season and are all taking part in full training. Cyril Rioli (PCL) has also recovered, but is on personal leave from the club and not in New Zealand. Young midfielder James Cousins (shoulder) is on a modified program but is in Queenstown and expects to resume contact work at the start of next year. Star midfielder Jaeger O’Meara is fit and firing and training without any bandages on his troublesome knee. - Ashley Browne

Rule them out for round one: Nil

Co-skipper Jack Viney will resume training with the main group in January after he was given the all clear by his foot specialist earlier this week. Viney (foot) has been on a modified training program since pre-season begun in November. Tom McDonald will also join full training in January after having off-season surgery on both his ankles. McDonald is running well and led the field in a time trial run earlier this week. Young forward Sam Weideman has also been eased into training after off-season ankle surgery. His return date remains up in the air. Co-captain Nathan Jones has shrugged off a calf issue and is back in main training. Dean Kent (shoulder) and Joel Smith(knee) are close to resuming full duties, while the stress fracture in Aaron vandenBerg's heel has been a little slow to respond. The Demons will be cautious with his rehab. Tim Smith (foot) has started running outdoors and will slowly build up his program. Draftees Charlie Spargo (shoulder) and Harrison Petty (elbow) will be in the rehab program for a few weeks. Jeff Garlett, Michael Hibberd and Jake Melksham have been among the players to be on light duties at training. - Ben Guthrie

Rule them out for round one: Nil

The Kangaroos are easing a number of players into the pre-season, but only teenage defender Declan Watson's knee injury is long term. Ed Vickers-Willis (ankle) and Jy Simpkin (groin) had what looked minor setbacks in Friday's training session, while draftee Kyron Hayden(shoulder) is experiencing some discomfort with an old injury. Braydon Preuss, time trial winner Mitch Hibberd and Ryan Clarke (all shoulder) remain on the limited-contact list. Sam Wright (ankle) and Ben Jacobs (foot) are working with Australian Ballet principle physiotherapist Sue Mayes to get on top of their ongoing issues. Captain Jack Ziebell (toe) and Marley Williams (shoulder/back) remain on modified programs after surgery, and Nathan Hrovat is also still dealing with a sore ankle. Paul Ahern (knee), Jamie Macmillan (finger), Mason Wood (calf) and Ben Brown (elbow) appear to be over their injuries. Assistant coach Leigh Tudor expects to have close to a full list after Christmas. - Marc McGowan

Rule them out for round one: Declan Watson (knee) 

At this stage, the Power should have a full list to choose from for round one. Marquee recruit Tom Rockliff is on a modified training program after having post-season shoulder surgery, but should be right for the JLT Community Series. Rockliff started pre-season training running laps with star forward Robbie Gray, who has finished chemotherapy after having surgery for testicular cancer in September. Gray is also expected to increase his training loads after the Christmas break. Key defender Jack Hombsch is back on the track after right hip surgery in August, while ruck/forward Billy Frampton is also being eased back into it after a shoulder reconstruction in August. - Lee Gaskin

Rule them out for round one: None 

Premiership midfielder Dion Prestia is due to resume full training after Christmas as he recovers from planned ankle surgery after carrying an injury through the 2017 season. He is running and taking part in some non-contact drills. Young star Daniel Rioli, who suffered a broken foot in the final quarter of the Grand Final, is out of a moonboot and completing a rehab program, which includes cross training and weights. He is on track to start running early in the new year, but in some doubt for round one. While Kane Lambert underwent post-season knee surgery, he was able to join a young group of Tigers for a hiking trip in Tasmania and resumed running four weeks ago. Defenders Jayden Short, Oleg Markov and David Astbury all underwent post-season shoulder surgery and are on modified training, running laps early in the pre-season and avoiding all contact drills. - Nathan Schmook

Rule them out for round one: Nil 

In one of the stranger injuries suffered by an AFL player, Dylan Roberton had surgery on a ruptured testicle last Monday, an injury suffered while playing cricket in the club's gym. He spent a few nights in hospital and will be on restricted duties for about another week. Forward Paddy McCartin is dealing with a right foot sprain but will be back to doing everything in January. David Armitage and Jade Gresham have had groin operations but are back in full training. Nathan Freeman had his year ended in July by a right ankle syndesmosis injury but he is training unimpeded. Turf toe struck Hugh Goddard down in June but he was with the main group from day one of pre-season. Ruckman Tom Hickey will resume contact work in the new year after shoulder surgery. Darren Minchington and Nathan Wright had ankle concerns this year but both are fine. Tough midfielder Koby Stevens had a groin operation after the season ended but has been virtually uninhibited since he returned to the club. - Dinny Navaratnam

Rule them out for round one: Nil

Ruckman Kurt Tippett is the Swans' only major concern at this stage after having the troublesome ankle that ruined his year reconstructed post-season. The good news is that Tippett is on track to be available for round one should his rehab go to plan. Aliir Aliir is being carefully managed to make sure he has no issues with the toe that wrecked his pre-season last year, while veterans Josh Kennedy, Lance Franklin, Heath Grundy and Jarrad McVeigh are on light duties to have them fresh for the New Year. Alex Johnson is running well in what will be his first full summer campaign since 2013, after grabbing a spot on the rookie list. - Adam Curley 

Rule them out for round one: Nil

Midfielder Andrew Gaff was prescribed a long period of rest over the off-season, rather than surgery, after carrying an ankle issue through 2017, and he sat out the club's recent 2km time trial. Club champion Elliot Yeo was also on the sidelines for the opening trial with a hip issue he is recovering from. After a period of rest, the Eagles expect to see him in the main training group in the next few weeks. Star ruckman Nic Naitanui is progressing well following a minor arthroscope on his reconstructed left knee and could be in the main training group as soon as next week. Draftee Oscar Allen arrived with a lower leg tibia injury that still needs to heal and has been putting in a lot of time in the swimming pool and gym. Eric Mackenzie is also focusing his time on the gym rather than the running track as he returns from surgery on a big toe. Defender Tom Barrass (groin) has increased his running program to the point he should be in the main group by January. - Nathan Schmook

Rule them out for round one: Nil 

Midfielder Lin Jong had a right knee reconstruction in June and should be back by the early rounds of 2018. Key defender Marcus Adams had his season ended in June after suffering damage to the Lisfranc ligaments in his left foot. He started pre-season on restricted duties and has worked his way into full training. Young ruckman Tim English had hip surgery in September but is back running. Fellow backman Roarke Smith was re-rookied by the Bulldogs after having the second knee reconstruction of his career in March. Smith is doing non-contact work at training and is set to join the main group in January. - Dinny Navaratnam

Rule them out for round one: Lin Jong (Knee)