Essendon has been dealt a big Anzac Day blow, while the Pies face their own injury concern.

Plus the Blues will have a big decision to make on Patrick Cripps.

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ESSENDON star Jake Stringer won’t be ready to return from a hamstring injury in his team’s Anzac Day clash against Collingwood next week, according to Seven News’ Tom Browne.

After an injury interrupted pre-season due to a groin issue, Stringer has appeared in just two games this year for the Bombers.

And Essendon desperately needs its star forward/midfielder back on the park, with Sunday’s loss to Fremantle seeing it drop to 1-4 on the season.

The Bombers have ben several other stars including Zach Merrett (ankle)and Kyle Langford (hamstring), while Anthony McDonald-Tipiungwuti is ramping back up to peak fitness after taking personal leave.

COLLINGWOOD has its own injury concerns, with key defender Jordan Roughead reportedly pulling up sore after his first AFL match of 2022.

Roughead returned in Thursday’s clash against Brisbane following off-season shoulder surgery to shore up the Magpies’ back six.

While Roughead’s potential omission would leave a void in Collingwood’s defence, it could get a boost at the other end of the ground. Jack Ginnivan (soreness) and Beau McCreery (hip) will be in the selection frame, while Brody Mihocek is likely to return from health and safety protocols.

The Magpies could also be without Darcy Cameron after the big man suffered a rib injury against the Lions.

CARLTON co-captain Patrick Cripps remains in doubt to return from his hamstring injury in Carlton’s clash against Fremantle in Perth on Saturday night.

Cripps missed the Blues’ narrow win over Port Adelaide with a hamstring setback sustained the previous weekend that was only considered minor, but he’s no guarantee to play this week.

The star on-baller will need to prove his fitness at training before the Blues make the big selection call.

“I tried to get up this week and next week I will try to get up as well. It was definitely a chance. But it’s one you didn’t want to risk. What that would have done for the next few weeks was the question,” Cripps told ABC Radio over the weekend.

“I am confident for next week but if you talk to the physios I have a few little milestones to tick off before I play.”

PORT ADELAIDE is set for a massive boost for its clash against West Coast, with star midfielder Ollie Wines likely to return, according to the Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph.

Wines missed the Power’s loss to Carlton after he was taken to hospital with a heart irregularity.

But Ralph confirmed the 2021 Brownlow medallist is expected to take his place in Port’s side against the Eagles as Ken Hinkley’s men searched for their first win of the season.

“He says he will play against West Coast next week,” Ralph told Fox Footy.

“He says as it stands we expect him to be available. A deep dark hole they’ve dug themselves, maybe this will be the catalyst.”

WEST COAST is unlikely to welcome back Andrew Gaff and Oscar Allen for the clash, should get Jeremy McGovern back from health and safety protocols.

“McGovern has missed a week so we‘ll see what happens there,” Eagles coach Adam Simpson told Channel Seven.

“Gaff and Allen are probably not going to be available this week. It‘s going to be touch and go. We’ll work through that in the next few days.

“We‘ll transition everyone back on the individual basis that if they’re fit enough, they’ll play. If they’re not, they won’t.”

Both HAWTHORN and GEELONG suffered injury blows in the clubs’ Easter Monday clash.

Hawks ruckman Ned Reeves was subbed out of the game after dislocating his shoulder in the opening quarter, although coach Sam Mitchell didn’t rule him out of playing in next Monday’s Anzac Day clash against Sydney.

If Reeves does need to miss time, it would leave recruit Max Lynch as the club’s only available ruckman, with skipper Ben McEvoy sidelined for the next 10-11 weeks with a neck issue.

The Cats meanwhile suffered several setbacks in the game to Cam Guthrie (corked leg), Jed Bews (shoulder) and Jack Henry (foot). The extend of the trio’s injuries isn’t currently clear.

Geelong faces North Melbourne on Sunday afternoon.

GWS coach Leon Cameron on Fox Footy’s AFL360 confirmed that Toby Greene will return in the club’s clash against St Kilda on Friday night after serving his six-match ban for making intentional contact with an umpire.

Greene will be a welcome return for the 1-4 Giants as the club looks to bounce back from consecutive losses.

But Cameron said expectations needed to be tempered with regards to how much impact the maligned forward could have straight away.

“We can’t expect miracles,” Cameron told reporters after the club’s loss to Melbourne on Saturday night.

“He hasn’t played a game yet, he hasn’t played a practice game, but he’s done an enormous amount of work. He’s fit, he’s hard and it will take a couple of weeks for him to get that game fitness,” he told reporters after the Giants’ loss to Melbourne.

ADELAIDE will need to replace skipper Rory Sloane after the midfielder suffered a season-ending ACL injury in Saturday’s win over the Tigers.

It’s a big blow for the Crows as the club looks to build momentum into its campaign.

Matthew Nicks’ side will be searching for back-to-back wins for the first time this season when it faces the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat on Saturday.