Essendon have revealed two huge inclusions ahead of Friday night's clash with the Lions with Scott Lucas and Jason Winderlich certain to play.
Assistant coach, Gary O'Donnell, said that while 31-year-old veteran, Scott Lucas, is a massive inclusion he is also very excited by the return of 24-year-old Jason Winderlich.
""The first back operation (Winderlich had) wasn’t a success and he had to go back in and, at that stage, we were thinking maybe that was the end of his career - it was a fairly serious operation,"" O'Donnell said.
""He’s certainly come through and is training at a good level. He has had the odd set-back and the medical staff just hold him back but he is ready to go and we are really excited about it because we really missed his pace last year.""
O'Donnell confirmed that young-gun, David Myers, and excitement machine, Alwyn Davey, are also a good chance if they get through training well this week.
""Davey is getting close, he’s on the verge. He's a very good chance (to play) but we are just seeing what happens for the rest of the week.""
In a wide ranging interview, O'Donnell also updated media on a few key player injuries.
Jason Laycock:
""He’s just had another operation so he’s keeping some doctors and surgeons very comfortable with their houses in Maui.
""He had a screw removed (from his foot) which is what was troubling him so our medical staff think they have gotten to the root of the problem. Hopefully it’s onwards and upwards from now on.
""It’s been very frustrating for him, the rest of the players take it for granted that they can train most of the time and get the best out of themselves and he has been inundated with problems, not just with his foot but all sorts of joint injuries and hopefully this is the last of it and he can have a running jump into his football career.""
Michael Hurley.
""He’s probably two weeks away; he’s just joining in full training following his gall bladder. I am sure he will play senior football for us at some point this year.""
