Essendon forward Jason Winderlich is in contention to play against Hawthorn on Friday night after returning to the training track this week.
Winderlich has fully recovered from a right hamstring strain suffered against Port Adelaide during the NAB Challenge series.
Club doctor Bruce Reid said the 29-year-old was ready for selection if called upon.
“Jason has now been in full training for the last five days and is out there training today,” Reid said.
“He has had a lot of hamstring issues but this particular one was on his right leg which is the other leg to what he has had problems on previously.”
“We gave him an extra week for recovery but he has been training now for almost a full week so we are confident he is right to go.”
In a further boost for the Bombers, big man Tom Bellchambers is continuing to progress positively in his recovery from ankle surgery.
The 202cm ruckman remains on track to be available for the club’s ANZAC Day clash against Collingwood in Round 6.
“Tom is doing very well, his best aim was Round 5 and he is not far off that,” Reid said.
“He is now running freely without a limp, doing agility work so we will have to get a bit of fitness into him but he will return to reasonably hard training in the next two weeks.”
Nick Kommer remains approximately three weeks away from returning to the field as he battles a patella tendon injury that had hampered his pre-season campaign.
“Nick has a patella tendon which really flared up about five or six weeks ago and he is improving but admittedly it has been slow progress,” Reid said.
“We don’t expect him playing for probably another three weeks at least.”
Half back Lauchlan Dalgleish has resumed full training with the main group following an achilies injury throughout the pre-season.
Despite a positive return for Courtenay Dempsey in last Saturday’s VFL practice match against Geelong, he is expected to remain at that level to gain further match fitness.
Will Hams is some time away from returning to the field as he continues to battle a hip injury.
