The SUNS are expecting a boost at the selection table this weekend with Sam Flanders pushing for a return to action in Saturday’s match against GWS.

Flanders missed last week’s win over Carlton with a back complaint, but will train fully this week ahead of Saturday’s home match.

Sam Clohesy, who has missed the past fortnight with an ankle complaint, will be unavailable in the medium term.

“Sam has carried an ankle injury for several weeks, and a decision was made for him to undergo surgery. He will be unavailable for selection for the next few weeks,” GC SUNS Head Physiotherapist Lindsay Bull said.

Daniel Rioli’s return to play timeline has been adjusted to short-term as he continues his recovery from a leg injury sustained in Round 19.

Injury List

Player Injury Estimated Return
26. Will Graham

26. Will Graham

Hamstring Probable

Will Graham sustained a hamstring injury in his first game of VFL after his shoulder injury.

33. Sam Clohesy

33. Sam Clohesy

Ankle Probable

Clohesy sustained an ankle injury ahead of the Round 20 QClash.

36. Zak Evans

36. Zak Evans

Thumb Short-term
10. Charlie Ballard

10. Charlie Ballard

Knee Season

Ballard sustained a ruptured ACL injury in the Round 1 match against West Coast.

12. Elliott Himmelberg

12. Elliott Himmelberg

Knee Season

Elliott Himmelberg has sustained an ACL injury and has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2025 season.

37. Max Knobel

37. Max Knobel

Foot Season

Max Knobel has sustained a foot injury.

26. Will Graham

26. Will Graham

Will Graham sustained a hamstring injury in his first game of VFL after his shoulder injury.

Injury: Hamstring
Est. Return: Probable
33. Sam Clohesy

33. Sam Clohesy

Clohesy sustained an ankle injury ahead of the Round 20 QClash.

Injury: Ankle
Est. Return: Probable
10. Charlie Ballard

10. Charlie Ballard

Ballard sustained a ruptured ACL injury in the Round 1 match against West Coast.

Injury: Knee
Est. Return: Season
12. Elliott Himmelberg

12. Elliott Himmelberg

Elliott Himmelberg has sustained an ACL injury and has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2025 season.

Injury: Knee
Est. Return: Season
37. Max Knobel

37. Max Knobel

Max Knobel has sustained a foot injury.

Injury: Foot
Est. Return: Season

Last Updated:

Injury Timeframes
Available = Cleared of injury
Probable = Expected to play
Short-term = 1 - 3 weeks
Medium-term = 4 - 6 weeks
Long-term = 6+ weeks

The SUNS will be without several experienced players for Thursday night’s season opener against the West Coast Eagles in Perth.

2023 Club Champion Claudia Whitfort, Jac Dupuy, Katie Lynch and Clara Fitzpatrick as well as 2024 draftee Tara Harrington will all be unavailable for Round 1 against the Eagles with an eye on returning to action in the near future.

Sienna McMullen will unfortunately also be sidelined for a significant period after sustaining a foot injury in pre-season.

“Sienna has suffered a stress fracture in her foot which will see her sidelined. We’re expecting her to be available for selection in the back end of the season,” GC SUNS AFLW Physiotherapist Jasmine Herlihy said.

In positive news, SUNS ruck Lauren Bella is available for selection after overcoming a calf injury that kept her out of both pre-season fixtures.

Injury List

Player Injury Estimated Return
29. Nyalli Milne

29. Nyalli Milne

Ankle Short-term
04. Claudia Whitfort

04. Claudia Whitfort

Hamstring Long-term
06. Elise Barwick

06. Elise Barwick

Knee Season
10. Ella Maurer

10. Ella Maurer

Foot Season
17. Jamie Stanton

17. Jamie Stanton

Hamstring Season
20. Daisy D'Arcy

20. Daisy D'Arcy

Knee Season

Daisy suffered a ruptured ACL during the Week 9 match against Port Adelaide.

21. Heidi Talbot

21. Heidi Talbot

Shoulder Season
32. Tayla Gregory

32. Tayla Gregory

Knee Season
20. Daisy D'Arcy

20. Daisy D'Arcy

Daisy suffered a ruptured ACL during the Week 9 match against Port Adelaide.

Injury: Knee
Est. Return: Season

Last Updated:

Injury Timeframes
Available = Cleared of injury
Probable = Expected to play
Short-term = 1 - 3 weeks
Medium-term = 4 - 6 weeks
Long-term = 6+ weeks