Jobe Watson appears likely to play his first game of 2012 this weekend, with the Essendon captain one of several key Bombers set to face St Kilda at Wangaratta on Saturday night.
Watson sat out the club's opening round NAB Cup trip to Perth, but Essendon football manager Paul Hamilton said the 27-year-old was a strong chance to lead the club against the Saints.
""Jobe would be a good chance to play,"" Hamilton said.
""We've got our main training session on Wednesday and we'll select the side after that, but Jobe would be a reasonable chance given he didn't play in Perth.""
Brent Stanton, Heath Hocking and last year's NAB AFL Rising Star Dyson Heppell are also likely to face the Saints after missing the trip west, but Hamilton said Michael Hurley - who suffered a hamstring injury in January - might have to wait another week.
""Hurls' is a possibility,"" Hamilton said.
""He's doing full training, but that'd be a call once the coaches and fitness staff have got together to make an assessment whether it's this week or the week after. I wouldn't rule him out, but it's still to be decided.""
Despite a disappointing start to the season with back to back losses to Fremantle and West Coast, Hamilton said the inclusion of senior players was in line with their pre-season programs.
""It's all about just managing the load of a whole group of players and making sure they get enough game time in them before round one,"" he said.
""It will be a more experienced side [this weekend], but there will be some guys who played in Perth who won't play this weekend against St Kilda too.""
Watson sat out the club's opening round NAB Cup trip to Perth, but Essendon football manager Paul Hamilton said the 27-year-old was a strong chance to lead the club against the Saints.
""Jobe would be a good chance to play,"" Hamilton said.
""We've got our main training session on Wednesday and we'll select the side after that, but Jobe would be a reasonable chance given he didn't play in Perth.""
Brent Stanton, Heath Hocking and last year's NAB AFL Rising Star Dyson Heppell are also likely to face the Saints after missing the trip west, but Hamilton said Michael Hurley - who suffered a hamstring injury in January - might have to wait another week.
""Hurls' is a possibility,"" Hamilton said.
""He's doing full training, but that'd be a call once the coaches and fitness staff have got together to make an assessment whether it's this week or the week after. I wouldn't rule him out, but it's still to be decided.""
Despite a disappointing start to the season with back to back losses to Fremantle and West Coast, Hamilton said the inclusion of senior players was in line with their pre-season programs.
""It's all about just managing the load of a whole group of players and making sure they get enough game time in them before round one,"" he said.
""It will be a more experienced side [this weekend], but there will be some guys who played in Perth who won't play this weekend against St Kilda too.""
