AFL Round 7: Injuries, returns and suspensions shape Anzac Day blockbuster
Round 7 of the 2026 AFL season opens with a heavyweight meeting between the Western Bulldogs and Sydney, before the traditional Anzac Day blockbuster between Essendon and Collingwood takes centre stage on Saturday. Across the league, selection tables are being reshaped by significant injuries, potential returns and tribunal fallout.
The Bulldogs are counting the cost of last week’s loss to Geelong. Sam Darcy will miss the rest of the season after scans confirmed an ACL tear, while Tom Liberatore (concussion) and key defenders James O'Donnell and Rory Lobb (hamstrings) are under injury clouds.
In better news, ruck Tim English is edging closer to a return. Adam Treloar collected 41 disposals and 11 clearances, while Jedd Busslinger finished with 25 and five marks. Richmond’s injury list lengthened after the loss to North Melbourne, with Sam Banks (collarbone), Maurice Rioli (hamstring) and Tim Taranto (concussion) added to the outs.
Melbourne will be without Harrison Petty due to concussion symptoms for this week’s clash. Pointsbet odds: Tigers $5.50, Demons $1.15. Hawthorn expect Jack Gunston to regain his spot on Anzac Day after he missed the win over Port Adelaide with a corked calf, but the Hawks may still be forced into changes after the MRO handed one-match bans to James Sicily and Dylan Moore.
For Gold Coast, Noah Anderson was ruled out of last week’s match following appendix surgery and was listed out for the “short term”. Collingwood are expected to welcome back veterans Steele Sidebottom (hip pointer) and Jordan De Goey (concussion) for the Anzac Day meeting with Essendon, while captain Darcy Moore is optimistic he will also be available after recovering from a hamstring injury.
The Bombers will again be without key defender Jordan Ridley (calf). Pointsbet odds: Bombers $2.85, Magpies $1.42. Geelong’s Mark O’Connor has served a one-match suspension for rough conduct and will be available this week. Teammate Gryan Miers will be assessed amid fears of a torn ACL, which would be a brutal blow for the Cats if confirmed.
Carlton face a call on spearhead Harry McKay, who was subbed out in the fourth quarter last week after a head knock. Coach Michael Voss has options if he elects to shuffle the side, with Cooper Lord (35 disposals and 10 tackles), George Hewett (30 and nine clearances) and Adam Saad (25 and seven intercepts) among the better performers in a strong VFL win.
Fremantle expect ruck Sean Darcy to be available after he missed the derby while in concussion protocols. Pointsbet odds: Dockers $1.15, Blues $5.50. St Kilda forward Max King is nearing a comeback after 21 months out of the AFL. He has not played since June 30, 2024 and will complete another full week of training before the club plots an exact return.
Pointsbet odds: Saints $1.10, Eagles $7.00. Brisbane will be without Noah Answerth this week after he was concussed in the final quarter against Melbourne, while tough midfielder Jarrod Berry suffered a calf injury and is also expected to be sidelined. Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks said after last week’s win over St Kilda that the club will give its captain all the time he needs to grieve the loss of his brother.
Jake Soligo (ankle) should be available to return. Round 7 begins with the Bulldogs hosting the Swans and culminates in the Anzac Day tradition, with several clubs’ fortunes hinging on late fitness tests and match committee decisions.