Dons hopeful on Fletcher and Winderlich
Essendon veteran Dustin Fletcher's record-breaking 379th game is in doubt after the veteran was reported on Sunday but the Bombers are hopeful he will be free to play.
Fletcher was cited for rough conduct after he caught West Coast's Jamie Cripps high with a raised elbow during the fourth quarter of the Bombers' 53-point loss at Etihad Stadium.
If cleared, the 38-year-old will pass team of the century ruckman Simon Madden at the top of Essendon's games played tally against North Melbourne next Saturday.
Bombers coach James Hird said he hoped Fletcher would be free to play in the milestone match, having equalled Madden's record against the Eagles.
"We certainly hope that he's able to play next week," Hird said after the loss.
"You never know until you see the video and assess it on the categories they've got, so we'll wait and see."
The incident will be reviewed by the Match Review Panel on Monday.
West Coast coach John Worsfold said Cripps had not been hurt by the bump.
It is the 18th time Fletcher has been reported in his 21-season career, but the first since round 13, 2010.
He has been found guilty on 15 of the previous 17 occasions, for a total of 18 matches suspended and $4800 in fines.
Essendon also faces a nervous wait on Jason Winderlich, after he was subbed out of Sunday's match with what Hird said was tightness in his hamstring, stemming from the scar left over from the forward's 2011 anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
"Last time he missed a couple of weeks with it; this time we hope he won't miss any games, but you'd have to think with a six-day break, it will be tough for him to come up," Hird said.
Hird said Scott Gumbleton had suffered a cork early in Sunday's loss.
The key forward was able to play out the match, but had limited impact with only 11 disposals and no goals.