Defender Jordan Ridley will miss the next three weeks after suffering a hip flexor strain in Essendon’s loss to St Kilda last Saturday.

Ridley was subbed out at half-time with what was initially thought to be a corked hip from a marking contest in the second term, however follow-up scans on Monday revealed the full extent of the injury.

“Rids felt some discomfort in his hip after a marking contest just prior to half-time. We used the break to assess the injury, which we originally hoped was just a cork, but ultimately, he wasn’t able to continue, and so was subbed out of the game at half-time. Follow-up scans on Sunday morning unfortunately showed a strain to his hip flexor,” GM of Football Daniel McPherson said. 

“This latest injury is unrelated to his quad injury from earlier in the year, so while it’s still early days, at this stage we’re optimistic he will be available prior to the end of the home and away season”.

Midfielder Darcy Parish made his long-awaited return from a calf injury over the weekend and got through the game without issue.

Mid-season draftee Saad El-Hawli has ramped up his running and will look to further increase his training loads this week, eyeing off a return to play in two weeks’ time.

Player Injury Estimated Return
11. Jade Gresham

11. Jade Gresham

Adductor 1 week

Gresham sustained a minor adductor strain in the win over North Melbourne.

14. Jordan Ridley

14. Jordan Ridley

Hamstring 7 weeks

Ridley suffered a high-grade hamstring strain in round eight.

23. Harrison Jones

23. Harrison Jones

Ankle TBC

Jones dislocated his ankle in round eight.

42. Jayden Nguyen

42. Jayden Nguyen

Foot TBC

Scans revealed a foot stress issue for Nguyen following round seven of the VFL season.

2. Sam Draper

2. Sam Draper

Achilles Season

Draper suffered a ruptured Achilles late in the round six win over West Coast.

18. Lewis Hayes

18. Lewis Hayes

ACL Season

Hayes suffered an ACL injury during his debut game against Sydney in round nine.

24. Nick Bryan

24. Nick Bryan

ACL Season

Nick Bryan suffered an ACL tear in round five against Melbourne.

45. Thomas Edwards

45. Thomas Edwards

ACL Season

Edwards has suffered a ruptured ACL and will most likely miss the remainder of the season.

11. Jade Gresham

11. Jade Gresham

Gresham sustained a minor adductor strain in the win over North Melbourne.

Injury: Adductor
Est. Return: 1 week
14. Jordan Ridley

14. Jordan Ridley

Ridley suffered a high-grade hamstring strain in round eight.

Injury: Hamstring
Est. Return: 7 weeks
42. Jayden Nguyen

42. Jayden Nguyen

Scans revealed a foot stress issue for Nguyen following round seven of the VFL season.

Injury: Foot
Est. Return: TBC
2. Sam Draper

2. Sam Draper

Draper suffered a ruptured Achilles late in the round six win over West Coast.

Injury: Achilles
Est. Return: Season
18. Lewis Hayes

18. Lewis Hayes

Hayes suffered an ACL injury during his debut game against Sydney in round nine.

Injury: ACL
Est. Return: Season
24. Nick Bryan

24. Nick Bryan

Nick Bryan suffered an ACL tear in round five against Melbourne.

Injury: ACL
Est. Return: Season
45. Thomas Edwards

45. Thomas Edwards

Edwards has suffered a ruptured ACL and will most likely miss the remainder of the season.

Injury: ACL
Est. Return: Season

Last Updated: 6:53 AM Tuesday, May 13, 2025