While Mark McVeigh is a chance to return to the seniors this week from an ankle injury, it is the likely VFL debut of former Geelong midfielder Prismall that will have Bombers fans just as excited.
Essendon acquired Prismall on the final day of last year’s trade period – in exchange for pick No.39 in the NAB AFL Draft.
Bombers football operations manager Paul Hamilton confirmed that the 22-year-old, who has not played since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in last year’s finals series, was on track to return ahead of schedule.
“The medical team have said if he trains really well this week then he could get his first run up at Bendigo,” Hamilton said.
“It’s a little bit ahead [of schedule], he’s been going really well but the surgeon and all the medical staff have been really happy with the way he’s trained, so they’re looking to get him back playing this week.
“It’ll just be a gradual thing; he won’t play a full game.”
The Bombers have said from the moment Prismall arrived at Windy Hill that they wouldn’t rush his comeback.
But he has made such good progress from his injury – which he sustained on September 7 last year – that the Bombers are confident he will be able to make the transition to senior level after a few runs in the VFL.
“We’d probably be thinking mid-season for him with the AFL, if he’s going to be back playing VFL this week,” Hamilton said.
“He’s a terrifically-fit guy anyway … so we’ll just see how he travels.”
