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LUCAS AND RIOLI SIDELINED
Essendon will be without Scott Lucas and Dean Rioli this weekend after both were injured in Saturday night's Wizard Cup match against Fremantle. Lucas strained a thigh midway through the second quarter and left the field immediately while Rioli jarred his right knee after a final-quarter collision across the Essendon half-forward line. ""Lucas will miss the next two weeks but we are hopeful that Rioli will only miss the one,"" Essendon football manager Matthew Drain said. ""Most importantly they will both be ready for the first home and away match against Geelong."" Essendon will play a practice match against West Coast at Optus Oval this Saturday. A full injury wrap is attached.
Essendon will be without Scott Lucas and Dean Rioli this weekend after both were injured in Saturday night's Wizard Cup match against Fremantle. Lucas strained a thigh midway through the second quarter and left the field immediately while Rioli jarred his right knee after a final-quarter collision across the Essendon half-forward line. ""Lucas will miss the next two weeks but we are hopeful that Rioli will only miss the one,"" Essendon football manager Matthew Drain said. ""Most importantly they will both be ready for the first home and away match against Geelong."" Essendon will play a practice match against West Coast at Optus Oval this Saturday. A full injury wrap is attached.
In other injury news, Essendon ruckman Steve Alessio continues his race against time to be fit for the Bombers' round one clash with Geelong. Alessio has a strained achilles and will not play in Essendon's next two practice matches. The Bombers' fitness team is still hopeful Alessio will be fit to partner Paul Salmon in the opening round match.
Danny Jacobs (knee) is still two weeks away from re-joining full training after straining his medial ligament against Port Adelaide. Gary Moorcroft is a chance to play this weekend after recovering from a minor operation that saw floating bone taken from his elbow. Matthew Lloyd has overcome ankle soreness but is unlikely to be risked this weekend.
On a positive note, star mid-fielder Chris Heffernan played his first full match of the pre-season and was clearly the Bombers' best player in the VFL practice match against Geelong on Saturday afternoon. Heffernan, who was suffering from osteitis pubis in the early part of the pre-season, will push for senior selection this Saturday.
Paul Salmon made his long-awaited return to AFL football against Fremantle on Saturday night and it was a remarkable comeback, according to the man who spent most of the first half at his feet. Mid-fielder Jason Johnson is in a better position than anyone to judge the success of Salmon's comeback and he said the big Fish played like he had never been out of the game. ""It was a great return for someone who has been out of the game for more than a year,"" Johnson said. ""He got his hands on the football first at centre bounces and around the ground - it is a good sign for the season ahead.""
