Sean Wellman (foot) and Damian Cupido (knee) will both face fitness tests this week and could line up against Carlton. Ben Haynes and Jobe Watson - who have both been battling thigh injuries - are also close to returning. You would expect Haynes to come back via the Bendigo Bombers but Watson might come straight into the senior side. He player well against Port Adelaide and has only been sidelined for a week.
But just as importantly, there were some very good performers in the Bendigo Bombers' team that scored a six-goal win over Geelong in round one of VFL action.
Among them were the Bombers two number-one draft picks of the past two seasons. Kelpler Bradley was best on ground playing at centre half forward and in the ruck. He worked very hard in both roles, marked well and looks set to return to the senior side in the near future. He finished with 28 disposals, 13 marks and kicked 3.2.
But Essendon supporters would have been even more excited by the form of Jason Laycock. The 202cm youngster - who grew four centimetres dung the summer - was superb kicked 7.1 with another shot at goal going out on the full. It was a dominant performance.
The VFL stats were:
Rosa: 12 kicks, four handballs, 8 marks
Robbins: 9, 4, 7
Winderlich: 8, 0, 6
Carter: 15, 6, 7
Alvey: 14, 7, 3
Walsh: 11, 2, 6
Hawkins: 8, 1, 5
Bradley: 15, 13, 13
Campbell: 8, 8, 5
Bowen: 5, 4, 2
Laycock: 9, 0, 8
Hunt: 6, 0, 1
Stanton: 8, 6, 3
Davies: 11, 2, 5
Nash: 9, 8, 5
Lovett: 7, 2, 0
Wilson: 12, 3, 6
Summers: 6, 8, 7
Sellers: 1, 0, 1
Doering: 13, 9, 5
Madden: 4, 2, 1
