A neck injury that prevented Jake Carlisle from moving for half an hour on Wednesday isn’t expected to keep the Bomber big man from facing the Brisbane Lions next weekend.
The 23-year-old missed Friday night’s 11-point defeat by North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium after suffering the injury at the club's main training session this week.
Coach James Hird detailed Carlisle’s scare following the loss, which leaves the Bombers with a 3-4 record after seven rounds.
"He (Carlisle) went for a mark in almost the last five minutes of training on Wednesday morning and copped a little knock to his head which pinched a nerve in his neck,” Hird said.
“He was on the ground for probably half an hour not moving, and he had no feeling in his arm.
"The doctors were very precautious, put the neck brace on, brought the stretcher out and went to hospital. The MRI scan came back to say there was no damage to his spine, which was very fortunate.
"Realistically you look after the welfare of the player and it was best for him not to play [against North Melbourne]."
The Bombers had to take training off their main oval and use their indoor facility while Carlisle was carted off the field and into an ambulance. They believe he will be fit to take on the Lions next Sunday.
"[He's] a very positive chance for next week," Hird said.
"He's a bit stiff in his neck but nothing too bad. We'll certainly be looking to get him out on the track on Monday and Tuesday and get him ready for the Brisbane game."
Carlisle will add some experience to a forward mix that Hird defended after the loss to the Kangaroos.
As well as lamenting the team's skill level in moving the ball forward, Hird said he would continue to resist the urge to push Michael Hurley into attack while the former forward plays so well in the backline.
"We're hesitant to move him because he is doing very well with [Cale] Hooker. There might be a time we do move him, but at the moment I'd like to keep him going there for his career," Hird said.
"He's playing outstanding football and you want to give your players the best opportunity to succeed and I think that's it at the moment with him."
The Bombers put in perhaps their best game since their round three win over Carlton, but continue to get beaten in clearances and contested possessions with the absence of injured pair David Myers (shoulder) and Heath Hocking (groin).
The loss came days after the World Anti-Doping Agency confirmed it will appeal the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal's decision to clear 34 past and present Essendon players of taking a banned substance.
It brings back another wave of uncertainty for the Bombers after two years in the spotlight, but Hird said he had not spoken about the issue in the lead-up to the game.
"We're confident they'll respond. Our boys are very confident with what's going to happen off the field because they know the facts," Hird said.
"It feels different to maybe what it did the last couple of years in that the 'not guilty' verdict has certainly given them a lot of confidence. Our belief is we can concentrate on our football.
"We don't even know when this thing [the Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing] is going to start, it might not even start until the end of the year.
"We've got to make the most of all our careers – whether it be players or coaches – and try and do something with our careers."
