Essendon will be without Peter Wright for the next 4-6 weeks after the key forward suffered a high-grade ankle ligament injury in Saturday’s VFL practice match against Collingwood.
The 28-year-old was sent for scans after an awkward landing in a marking contest during the second quarter, which confirmed strained ligaments in his left ankle, ruling him out for the start of the 2025 season.
Midfielder Darcy Parish is building his running loads and progressing in his recovery from a niggling back complaint, with the former All-Australian aiming for a return in the early stages of the home-and-away season.
Defender Jayden Laverde will be unavailable for the next 2-3 weeks as he battles a persistent hip flexor complaint.
Utility Nik Cox is now working back into non-contact, skills-based training after managing lingering symptoms from a concussion sustained back in December.
Matt Guelfi continues to rehab from last month’s hamstring surgery, while Alwyn Davey Jnr has also increased his running loads after undergoing surgery on his meniscus.
Essendon’s clash with Hawthorn kicks off from 7:40pm AEDT this Friday night at the MCG, broadcast live on Ch 7, FOX and Kayo.
| Player | Injury | Estimated Return |
|---|---|---|
3. Darcy Parish |
Back |
Test
Parish continues to progress from a niggling back complaint over the pre-season. |
|
15. Jayden Laverde |
Hip |
Test
Laverde is battling a hip flexor issue, aiming for a return early in the season. |
|
5. Elijah Tsatas |
Hand |
2 weeks
Tsatas broke his hand during the warm-up of Essendon's round two clash against Adelaide. The midfielder will look to return for Gather Round. |
|
16. Archie Perkins |
Quad |
2 weeks
Perkins suffered a quad strain in round two. He'll be looking to return for Gather Round, following the Club's round four bye. |
|
20. Peter Wright |
Ankle |
3 weeks
Wright suffered a high-grade ankle ligament strain in Saturday's VFL practice match, ruling him out for the start of the season. |
|
4. Kyle Langford |
Hamstring |
4 weeks
Langford suffered a right hamstring strain in the Bombers' round one clash against Hawthorn. |
|
35. Matt Guelfi |
Hamstring |
6-7 weeks
Guelfi had surgery on his hamstring back in February, looking to be available in the second half of season 2025. |
|
13. Nik Cox |
Concussion |
TBC
Cox is managing lingering symptoms from a pre-season concussion sustained in December. |
3. Darcy Parish
Parish continues to progress from a niggling back complaint over the pre-season.
15. Jayden Laverde
Laverde is battling a hip flexor issue, aiming for a return early in the season.
5. Elijah Tsatas
Tsatas broke his hand during the warm-up of Essendon's round two clash against Adelaide. The midfielder will look to return for Gather Round.
16. Archie Perkins
Perkins suffered a quad strain in round two. He'll be looking to return for Gather Round, following the Club's round four bye.
20. Peter Wright
Wright suffered a high-grade ankle ligament strain in Saturday's VFL practice match, ruling him out for the start of the season.
4. Kyle Langford
Langford suffered a right hamstring strain in the Bombers' round one clash against Hawthorn.
35. Matt Guelfi
Guelfi had surgery on his hamstring back in February, looking to be available in the second half of season 2025.
13. Nik Cox
Cox is managing lingering symptoms from a pre-season concussion sustained in December.
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