Patrick Ambrose is tracking better than expected, David Zaharakis has been given the all clear and Shaun McKernan could be back in a week.

That’s the snapshot from the Club’s injury list.

Ambrose was expected to be sidelined until at least round 11 with his quad injury, but such has been his rate of improvement, he could return for the Dreamtime at the ‘G clash against Richmond next week.

“Patty has made very good progress since his quad injury,” High Performance Manager Justin Crow said.

“He started kicking an Auskick sized ball this week, we’ll keep building him up and get him into some training kicking on his opposite side this Thursday.

“The way he’s progressing, it does leave the door ajar slightly for a potential return against Richmond.”

David Zaharakis was one of the Dons best in the win over Geelong.

He collected 31 disposals, laid five tackles and delivered the ball inside 50 six times.

The midfielder also collected an elbow to the throat, but that won’t keep him out of the match against West Coast on Sunday.

“Apart from a hoarse voice, David is good and we expect him to be ready for training on Thursday,” Crow said.

In the VFL, Shaun McKernan left the field in the first quarter with a hand injury.

He didn’t return and it has since been discovered he has a broken bone in his hand, but it will only keep him out for one or two weeks.

“Shaun broke one of the fingers in his hand and he had that plated yesterday,” Crow said.

“’Hep’ (Dyson Heppell) had this a couple of years ago and missed one week.

“We’ve had players miss as much as three weeks and the average would be two, so we’re going to wait and see how he comes out of that surgery.

“With some luck he’ll miss between one and two weeks.”

Mitch Brown will step up his recovery from an ankle injury this week when his moon boot comes off and he builds up his running program with an eye to a return in four to six weeks.

Jayden Laverde will also come out of his moon boot this week as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury.

He’s expected to be sidelined until about round 15.