Joe Daniher is close to resuming full training, but fellow big man Tom Bellchambers is set to spend some time on the sidelines.

The pair had been on modified programs in recent weeks because of knee complaints.

Daniher is expected to return to full training over the next fortnight, but Bellchambers will undergo surgery and be sidelined for around eight weeks.

“Tom, like Joe, has a knee surface issue from a number of years ago that raised its head before Christmas,” High Performance Manager Justin Crow said.

“He was in rehab after a rest and progressing well until a week ago.

“He’s not quite at 100% so today we sought the advice of his specialist, Julian Feller, and Tom is going to go in for a clean-out of his knee to try to get him to 100%.

“Tom will start running in a month, he’ll build up his football over a month after that and then he’ll be pushing for selection.”

Essendon’s home and away season gets underway against Hawthorn in around ten weeks time. 

The Bombers begin their JLT Community Series campaign on February 16 against Collingwood.

Crow said Daniher hasn’t been ruled out of that match but is a more likely starter for the later pre-season games against Gold Coast (Mackay, February 26) or Geelong (Bendigo, March 12).

“We’ve got to find the balance between filling Joe’s tank up for the season and also getting him to the point, from a football point of view, where he’s ready to play at a high level,” Crow said.

“We’ll be weighing that up as we go but I’d be thinking more the later end of the Community Series, than the front end.”

Recruit Josh Green is making strong progress after a foot problem hampered his final season at Brisbane.

The small forward has begun full training this week.

“Josh started with us with the background of two different foot stress issues,” Crow said.

“He’s been brilliant – we’ve been really impressed with the way he’s been able to transform his body. 

“He’s done match play over the last couple of weeks, he’s doing full work at training this week.” 

Shaun McKernan joined in match practice for the first time this week after undergoing wrist and ankle surgery at the end of last season.

The Club is taking a patient approach with fellow big man, Sam Draper.

The 203cm ruckman arrived at the Bombers with knee tendonitis, but he’s resumed running and will build up his training program in the coming weeks.