Dressed old players first (8)
I believe the answer is:
bandaged
'dressed' is the definition.
('bandaged' can be a synonym of 'dressed')
'old players first' is the wordplay.
'old' becomes 'aged' ('aged' can be similar in meaning to 'old').
'players' becomes 'band' (I've seen this before).
'first' says to put letters next to each other.
'aged' after 'band' is 'BANDAGED'.
(Other definitions for bandaged that I've seen before include "patched up?" , "Dressed" , "strapped up" .)