Essendon duo Jake Stringer and Matt Guelfi are in the mix to be available for selection against Sydney at the MCG after making good progress in their recovery from injury.
Stringer has now missed two games since suffering a leg injury in the side’s defeat of Hawthorn in round 13, but the star has taken a number of strides forward this week.
“Jake’s back running, which is good news,” physical performance manager Justin Crow said.
“He’s missed a period of running, so we will be looking to see what he can do at training on Wednesday and then make a decision about his availability.”
Jake Stringer is a chance to return to the field this week. (Image: AFL Photos)
Guelfi narrowly missed last week’s thrilling victory over Greater Western Sydney due to soreness in his ribcage from a nasty knock suffered against West Coast, but Crow said his progress has been “really good”.
“Matt had a good session over the weekend, he’s done plenty of running.
“We’ll be training him this week and testing him to make sure that he’s ready to go, but I’m very optimistic about that one.”
Exciting youngster Irving Mosquito unfortunately suffered a hamstring injury in the opening exchanges of the VFL Bombers’ win over Werribee on Sunday and is set for a stint on the sidelines.
“Irving had a hamstring strain really early in the game in the VFL at Werribee. That strain is a reasonably normal hamstring strain,” Crow said.
“He will be expected to miss three or four weeks with that, given he is a fast-twitch young player, we want to make sure we get that one right.”
The club will take a careful approach to Irving Mosquito’s rehabilitation. (Image: AFL Photos)
He joins Tom Bellchambers (calf) and Patrick Ambrose (quad) on the injury list, with the experienced Bombers ruled out for a number of weeks.
“Tom has a high-grade calf tear, it’s of his gastrocnemius (muscle) in the musculotendinous junction.
“The grade of the injury means he’s going to miss six weeks, particularly given Tom’s size. We think he’ll go two weeks without running and then build up from there.
Tom Bellchambers is likely to miss six games as he recovers from a calf strain. (Image: AFL Photos)
“Pat has a low-grade tear on the surface of the muscle in his kicking leg (in his quad).
“It’s really the location and the fact it’s his kicking side that will cost him there, rather than the actual grade of the injury.”
James Stewart (groin) remains on the sidelines, while Devon Smith (knee), Joe Daniher (groin) and Sam Draper (knee) will not return this season.
The senior Bombers will face the Swans at 1:45pm on Saturday at the MCG, with the VFL Dons taking on Coburg at Piranha Park from 12:30pm on Sunday.
