It is mid-January, and while the humidity is thick and the cricket is still dominating the back pages, the AFL world has collectively held its breath. If you are looking for afl footy scores for today, you won’t find them on a scoreboard at the MCG or Marvel Stadium. Not yet. We are in that weird, high-stakes limbo of the pre-season where the "scores" aren't measured in goals and behinds, but in scans, recovery timelines, and the brutal reality of the casualty ward.
Honestly, it’s been a rough week for the medical rooms.
The 2026 season officially kicks off on March 5 at the SCG, but for several stars, the season ended before it even started. We're seeing a massive spike in "ACL carnage," as Kane Cornes recently put it. It feels like every time I refresh my feed, another young gun is heading for surgery.
The Pre-Season Scorecard: Who is Winning the Injury Race?
When we talk about afl footy scores for today, the most significant "result" came out of Carlton and North Melbourne. Jesse Motlop and Jackson Archer are both officially out for the entire 2026 campaign. Both suffered ACL ruptures during Monday's training sessions. It’s devastating. These aren't just "hiccups"; they are structural disasters for clubs trying to build momentum.
Over at the Giants, the news isn't much better. Their prize recruit, Clayton Oliver, has gone down with a calf strain. The club is downplaying it, calling it a "two-week" thing, but when you’ve got a player of Oliver's caliber starting his tenure at a new club in rehab, people get twitchy. Especially with Toby Greene also managing a glute/hamstring issue.
Here is a quick look at the "scores" from the medical tent as of Wednesday, January 14, 2026:
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- Melbourne: Max Gawn has a fractured finger (splint for three weeks). Tom Campbell is in a neck brace after a collision. Bailey Laurie has a broken hand. It's a mess.
- Collingwood: The premiership duo of Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe both suffered setbacks on Monday. Calf issues are the primary culprit here.
- Sydney Swans: Taylor Adams is in a moonboot. Achilles injuries are notoriously fickle, and for a veteran, this is a massive hurdle.
- West Coast: Tom Cole is running laps with a finger tendon injury, while Max King over at the Saints is still a few weeks away from full training after more knee surgery.
Why is Everyone Getting Hurt?
There is a massive debate raging right now between the sports science geeks and the old-school footy heads. David Buttifant, who used to run the show at Collingwood, reckons the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is actually hurting the players.
Basically, the players get about 90 days off post-season. They come back, have three weeks of intense training, go away for Christmas, and then come back and immediately try to hit "game speed."
The human body isn't a light switch. You can't just flick it on.
When you see afl footy scores for today reflecting a list of ACLs and calf tears, you have to wonder if the "conditioning gap" is becoming too wide to bridge safely. Players are returning unconditioned and launching into high-velocity drills. The result? Snap, crackle, and pop.
The Zach Merrett Drama
While the physical injuries are piling up, the "off-field scores" are just as chaotic. Zach Merrett has reportedly terminated his arrangement with his manager, Tom Petroro. This comes only months after that wild trade deadline day where his move to Hawthorn fell through. The Hawks offered Picks 10, 22, and their 2026 first-rounder, but Essendon wanted even more. Merrett is back at the Hangar now, but you’ve got to wonder where his head is at.
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The 2026 Season Launch: What We Know
If you are craving real afl footy scores for today, you have to wait until February 14. That is when we get the return of State of Origin. Victoria travels to Perth to take on Western Australia at Optus Stadium. It’s been decades since we saw a proper Origin clash, and the hype is actually real.
Following that, the official practice matches start on February 25.
- Wednesday, Feb 25: Carlton vs. Geelong (Ikon Park)
- Thursday, Feb 26: Sydney vs. GWS (Henson Park)
- Friday, Feb 27: Melbourne vs. Richmond (Mars Stadium)
The real season—the one that counts for the flag—starts March 5. The AFL has gone with an "Opening Round" again, featuring four games in the northern states and, for the first time, a Sunday night blockbuster at the MCG between St Kilda and Collingwood.
Navigating the 2026 Fantasy and Betting Markets
For the fans who track afl footy scores for today for their SuperCoach or Fantasy teams, this injury ward is a minefield.
Don't lock in your "must-haves" just yet. If Clayton Oliver is missing most of the pre-season, his fitness base for Round 1 is going to be suspect. Similarly, with the Bulldogs and Hawthorn looking "vocal" and "fitter" (Calsher Dear is reportedly flying at Hawks training), the mid-tier players might offer better value than the hobbled superstars.
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Actionable Footy Steps for This Week:
- Check the Team Apps: Clubs like West Coast and Melbourne are doing weekly video updates. Phil Merriman (Eagles High Performance) is surprisingly honest about who is actually training and who is faking it for the cameras.
- Monitor the VFL/SANFL Migrations: Keep an eye on guys like Will Phillips and Eddie Ford at Collingwood's VFL side. If the senior list keeps getting hit by injuries, these "delisted" players training with VFL affiliates will be the first ones called up for Supplemental Selection Period (SSP) spots.
- Review the Fixture: Remember that Rounds 16-24 are still "floating." If you're booking travel for the latter half of the year, wait for the AFL's mid-year announcement before committing to flights.
- Watch the Origin Squads: State of Origin on Feb 14 will be the first time we see the new rules in high-speed action. If a player looks "leggy" there, they are a risk for the early season.
The "score" right now is Athletics 1, Footballers 0. But by the time March 5 rolls around, the focus will finally shift back to the goals. Stay patient, keep an eye on the rehab reports, and maybe avoid doing any ACL-threatening drills in your own backyard for a bit.
Summary of Key Dates:
- State of Origin: Feb 14, 2026 (WA vs VIC)
- Practice Matches Start: Feb 25, 2026
- Opening Round: March 5, 2026 (Swans vs Blues)
- Round 1 Proper: March 12, 2026 (Tigers vs Blues)
The landscape is changing fast. A month ago, Carlton were flag favorites; today, they are down a key forward and scrambling for depth. That's the beauty—and the brutality—of the AFL.