Key forward Logan McDonald (ankle) has been cleared to make his first appearance of the season but that good news pales in comparison to Sydney's injury blows.
Papley will miss at least Saturday's clash at Marvel Stadium, and potentially longer, with a heel issue.
"Tom reported heel pain following our training session last weekend," the Swans said on their website.Â
"He will be unavailable for this Saturday's match against North Melbourne and will have imaging to further assess the injury and a return to play timeframe."
Sydney noted captain Mills's recovery from a plantar fasciia tear was "progressing slower than expected", and he won't return to team training for at least two-to-three weeks.
Adams suffered a setback with his hamstring at Saturday's training and is sidelined for another four-to-six weeks.
Even Robbie Fox (calf) hasn't progressed, while Lewis Melican (adductor) and Harry Cunningham (lisfranc) are still one-to-two weeks away.
There is still no timeline on Errol Gulden's return.
With Papley out, the Swans will relish McDonald's return to support Joel Amartey.
McDonald had off-season surgery on the ankle injury suffered in last year's preliminary final and that ultimately forced his substitution halfway through the grand-final loss to Brisbane.
North should regain defender Griffin Logue (hamstring) while prized youngster George Wardlaw is set to return via the VFL from a serious pre-season hamstring injury.
Melbourne hope to regain defender Jake Lever (ankle) against Geelong, after he was a late withdrawal from their loss to Gold Coast.
Wingman Caleb Windsor is available after overcoming an infection in his foot.
Essendon have suffered a heartbreaking blow with pre-season good news story Tom Edwards tearing his ACL.
Edwards was a pre-season supplementary selection and kicked three goals on debut.
Tom Doedee is set to finally make his first Brisbane Lions appearance after back-to-back knee reconstructions and nearly two years between AFL games.
The former Adelaide defender was set for a return at his new club in March last year before tearing his anterior cruciate ligament for a third time just two days before the game.
But the 28-year-old trained on Tuesday at Springfield and if he gets through Thursday's training, will suit up for the club's VFL team against Richmond at Punt Road.
Doedee hasn't played at AFL level since tearing his ACL for a second time in his final Crows appearance in June 2023.
Keidean Coleman, who tore his ACL in the first round last year, is four-to-six weeks away.
Small forward Kai Lohmann (ankle) returned in Saturday's defeat of Geelong but was subbed out in the third quarter, and won't face the Tigers.
Carlton's Zac Williams has avoided damage to his achilles but is a test to face Collingwood through soreness.
Collingwood's Brody Mihocek is clear to return after missing their win over the Western Bulldogs through general soreness.
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