Essendon Captain Brendon Goddard looks set to spend another week on the sidelines because of a groin complaint.

Goddard sustained the injury against Geelong nine days ago and despite making strong progress in his recovery, he’s set to miss Sunday’s match against the Western Bulldogs. 

“He’s going very well in his rehabilitation, but it’s too dangerous to get him up for this week,” Essendon’s Head Physiotherapist Peter Blanch said. 

“We’ll aim to get him up for the week after.” 

Number six draft pick Aaron Francis is recovering from a cork to the calf. 

He’s also set to miss another week. 

“Aaron took a really bad cork to his calf not in the past weekend, but the weekend before,” Blanch said. 

“We started to run him on the weekend and it tightened up a little bit.

“There is a big cork there, we’re just going to manage it day by day, so he’s unlikely to be available this week.”

Courtenay Dempsey has resumed running after his hamstring injury.

He’ll rejoin training later this week, with a view to stepping up his program in the lead up to the match against Carlton.

Ryan Crowley suffered a similar injury to Dempsey in the Bombers VFL win against Williamstown. 

He’s been ruled out for this week, but could be available for the game against the Blues. 

“He’s very keen and very passionate and wants to play this week, but just given the nature of his injury, we’re going to hold him back and see how we go,” Blanch said. 

And Michael Hartley has been given the all-clear after a heavy knock to his face during the match against Gold Coast. 

“He fractured his nose and got a big cut on his nose, at some stage he’ll have to have that all cleaned up a little bit,” Blanch said.

“But he should be out there playing again this weekend.”