Hooker, who has been sidelined for the past three weeks with a hamstring injury, will be eyeing a return to the field pending fitness tests during the course of the week.
Watch The Recovery Room here on BomberTV ?
General manager of football operations Paul Hamilton said Hooker’s inclusion would be a massive boost for the Bombers, following their 39-point win over the Tigers on Saturday.
“Cale should be right to play. He’s missed the last three weeks and he is now really ready to go.
“It’s been 28 days since he played so we do expect him to play Friday which is very pleasing and it is a massive boost for the defensive side of our game,” Hamilton said.
Speedy 19-year-old Travis Colyer, who was subbed out of Saturday’s game early after sustaining a heavy knock to his head, has avoided concussion and is likely to be available for selection this weekend.
“While Trav didn’t suffer from concussion, he did get quite a knock to the head. As a result he had a significant headache but it’s certainly not a concern ongoing and he should be right to play this week.”
Hamilton said midfielder Heath Hocking, who also left the field early at one stage in the game with a tight gluteus, has recovered well and is likely to be available to face Adelaide on Friday night.
“Heath should be fine and while he did get quite a knock to his gluteus, he is okay and had a jog this morning and we don’t expect that knock to hold him back this week,” he said.
Captain Jobe Watson will face fitness tests later this week to determine his availability for selection, but Hamilton said the Club was not prepared to take any risks.
“Jobe is right on the borderline. He will be at 21 days (since the hamstring strain) this Friday and that’s generally the time you give for a minor hamstring, which is what his was.
“He currently sits right on the border and in that case we really need to put the faith in our medical and fitness staff. We will track how he trains this week and make a decision later in the week,” he said.
Hamilton told BomberTV wounded pair David Myers and Andrew Welsh were tracking for a return to the field in the coming weeks.
“David is coming along well and should be made available in the following week and it’s a case of so-far-so-good with Welshy. He has started running again and we would expect him to be a further week after that.”
“Obviously its early days with Sam and his rehab with his medial ligament so we’ll be keeping a watchful eye over his recovery and rehabilitation but we’re looking forward to seeing him out there in the early 2012 pre-season.”
Hamilton said Essendon’s woeful interstate record was not a factor for the Bombers players leading up to Friday night’s clash at AAMI Stadium.
“It’s a great challenge and it’s obviously been well recorded that we haven’t had great success [interstate]. This has been a year of challenge and a year of improvement and we’ve been trying to make sure we take steps forward in a lot of areas and Friday night is one of those challenges that we need to meet head on.”
