Essendon defender Kaine Baldwin is set to miss the start of the 2024 AFL Season after scans revealed a navicular bone stress fracture in his foot.

Baldwin experienced some discomfort in his foot following training on Wednesday and scans have since confirmed the injury.

He will be non-weight-bearing in the immediate short-term, before commencing rehab in the coming weeks.

A timeline for Baldwin's return will be determined once he gets through the initial rest and early rehab period.