Andrew Welsh was today ruled out of contention for Friday night’s clash with the Bulldogs by coach Matthew Knights.

Welsh, who has played 117 games for the Bombers and is a member of the Club’s leadership group, is yet to play a senior game this season due to a battle with hamstring troubles.
 
However, it is unlikely that Welsh will be out of senior action for much longer, with the Essendon forward expected to play for Bendigo this weekend before returning to the senior line-up in the coming weeks.

“If Andrew performs well at training today, he will play for Bendigo this weekend,” Knights said.

“Last time he played for Bendigo, he kicked five goals in the first half but then couldn’t complete the remainder of the game, so therefore, if he is fine, he will play VFL.”

Welsh is one of four players on the Essendon list that are currently recovering from hamstring injuries. Nathan Lovett-Murray, Scott Gumbleton and Leroy Jetta are also on the mend, but Knights believes the high quantity of hamstring injuries is no cause for alarm.

“We obviously have a number of hamstring injuries but they are different types of hamstring injuries,” Knights said.
 
“Andrew Welsh and Scott Gumbleton, for example, are significantly back related whereas with Leroy Jetta and Courtenay Dempsey it is a case of young men who are getting used to playing who don’t have a lot of base behind them.

“It is disappointing to be without all of these guys because I have a lot of faith in them, but the team we are putting out there this week will play hard and will play their role and we will keep pushing on.”

Lovett-Murray is a chance to return to the senior side taking on the Western Bulldogs this Friday night.

In other injury news, Heath Hocking has been ruled out for 8-10 weeks with a groin injury, while Tom Hislop is expected to miss five weeks of football after having a screw inserted in his wrist following an injury during a Bendigo practice match.