North Melbourne defender Hugo Mikunda faces a significant period on the sidelines after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament.
The 19-year-old injured his knee in the club's first official pre-season training session on Monday, hyperextending it when landing from a mark.
"Scans confirmed the injury which disappointingly will see Hugo miss the 2027 season with the need for surgical repair," head of performance Kevin White said.
Midfielder George Wardlaw sustained a low-level MCL sprain in the off-season, delaying his involvement in team training.
He’s set to join the main group in a fortnight.
"Pleasingly, George has put in a huge amount of work in the off-season on his running and strength base which he will use as great foundations when he integrates back in," White said.
Key defenders Charlie Comben (groin) and Griffin Logue (shoulder) are expected to return to training in January of the new year.
Comben is in a recovery phase until next week and will progress into a rehab phase of strength and conditioning away from the main group, while Logue is "tracking as expected" and is now starting to strengthen his shoulder with no restrictions on running.
"Griffin will aim to get into non-contact group skills by January," White said.
Jackson Archer (knee) will return to running next week and will have a slow build across the next two months before a clearer return date is provided.
Recruit Nick Blakey had a procedure on his AC joint in the off-season and will look to transition into group skills next month, while Tom Powell (groin) and Toby Pink (shoulder) are on managed programs until Christmas.
"Tom has had a really diligent off-season with his preparation," White said.
"He joined some team skills training this week and we envisage he’ll be on modified program across the next six weeks to ensure he is absorbing football intensities safely without symptoms.
"Toby has been at a point where he has restriction of overhead mobility post-surgery, which should resolve across the next month.
"In the meantime, he’s been in group skills training in a non-contact capacity and working hard with his running fitness and gym work."
