Essendon defender Courtney Dempsey will undergo scans to determine the extent of a hamstring strain suffered in Saturday’s VFL practice match against Richmond at the True Value Solar Centre.

Dempsey left the field late in the final quarter in just his second game since returning from an off-season calf injury.

“Courtenay can’t take a trick after getting over his calf injury he just got a slight grab in his hamstring,” Club doctor Bruce Reid said.

“The physiotherapists at the VFL thought he might have strained his lower hamstring so he is having a scan this afternoon.”

Big man Patrick Ryder is still a chance to take on Carlton on Sunday night after scans revealed no major damage to his ankle.

Ryder will now aim to return to training later in the week to prove his fitness ahead of the clash with the Blues.

“He rolled his ankle and had a lot of trouble weight bearing after the game but he is now walking around pretty well,”

“His scan from the weekend shows no major structural damage and no internal damage.”

“We hope we can get him up for Sunday but at this stage it is going to be close and with a nine day break we will decide later in the week.”

In a further boost for the Bombers Nick Kommer continues to make strong progress from a patella tendon injury and is expected to return to full training in the next fortnight.

“Nick is doing really well now, he is had some quiet severe patella tendinitis and he is now really at the stage where he is progressing well,” Reid said.

“We would expect him back with the main group in the next few weeks.”

Jason Winderlich played three quarters in Saturday’s VFL practice match and will now be in line for a return to the senior team along side Jake Melksham who has served his two-match suspension.