Essendon defender Jake Carlisle is not expected to suffer any major setbacks despite being affected by back spasms during Saturday night’s loss to Richmond.

Carlisle left the field and was substituted out of the game in the third quarter of Saturday night’s loss.

Football Operations Manager Steve Alessio said the key defender was still restricted in his movements on Tuesday morning.

“Jake had a back spasm during the game which really restricted his movement throughout the game and he is still a little bit restricted as of today,” Alessio said.

“It should loosen up, he has had one or two of them in the past, he should be alright.”

Alessio said dashing halfback Courtenay Dempsey was continuing to recover well from a serious hamstring injury he suffered against Collingwood in Round 19.

“For Courtenay it has been a long term hamstring injury, he is training well and is well and truly into his rehabilitation,” he said.

“He is already running so he will continue that on throughout the break so he is ready for pre-season when that comes around.”

Veteran Dustin Fletcher missed the last match of the season due to a hamstring injury with a decision still to be made on the 38-year-old’s future.

“Fletch is going well, unfortunately during training he injured his hammy,” Alessio said.

“He will have a recovery program to go through but there shouldn’t be any issues coming out of that injury.”