Essendon skipper Zach Merrett will return for his 250th career game on Thursday night against Carlton.
The Captain underwent successful surgery on a metacarpal fracture in his hand last week, and following consultation with a surgeon on Monday, he’s been officially cleared to play in the Club’s final home game at the MCG.
Forward Liam McMahon will also be available for selection - scans showed no structural damage after the mid-season pick’s hand was stomped on late in last Friday’s defeat to the Saints. He’s trained fully this week and is expected to line up on Thursday.
Defender Jayden Laverde was subbed out of last week’s match against the Saints after receiving a heavy knock to his hip in a marking contest. He is expected to train fully this week and take his place in the team to play Carlton.
Elijah Tsatas will remain on the sideline this week having not yet fully recovered from a hamstring injury that’s sidelined him since round 19.
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| Player | Injury | Estimated Return |
|---|---|---|
15. Dyson Sharp |
Shoulder |
Test
Sharp suffered a shoulder injury against the GIANTS in round nine. |
|
3. Darcy Parish |
Knee soreness | 1 week |
|
36. Angus Clarke |
Foot (stress fracture) |
1 week
Clarke sustained a stress fracture in his foot during round three of the VFL. |
|
38. Rhys Unwin |
Hamstring |
1 week
Unwin sustained a hamstring injury against Williamstown in round six of the VFL season. |
|
35. Matt Guelfi |
Hamstring |
1 week
Guelfi sustained a hamstring injury against Richmond during Dreamtime at the 'G. |
|
10. Isaac Kako |
Back stress |
1 week
Kako has sustained a stress injury to his back. |
|
1. Andrew McGrath |
Jaw |
1 week
McGrath fractured his jaw in the Dreamtime clash against Richmond. |
|
6. Jye Caldwell |
Ankle |
2 weeks
Caldwell will be aiming for a return post-bye after injuring his ankle. |
|
17. Vigo Visentini |
Hamstring |
2 weeks
Visentini injured his hamstring in his VFL return against the Giants. |
|
48. Liam McMahon |
Ankle |
3-4 weeks
McMahon suffered a dislocated ankle in the corresponding VFL fixture against GWS. |
|
20. Peter Wright |
Knee |
4-5 weeks
Wright suffered ligament damage to his knee in a collision against the Dockers. |
|
40. Zak Johnson |
Foot |
5-6 weeks
Johnson suffered a broken foot against GWS in round nine. |
|
26. Archie May |
Shoulder |
Season
May suffered a dislocated shoulder in the first quarter against West Coast in Round 12 and will miss the remainder of the season. |
|
18. Lewis Hayes |
ACL |
Season
Hayes re-injured his ACL during his VFL return game against Werribee. |
|
8. Brayden Fiorini |
Back |
Season
Fiorini will undergo surgery on his back, ruling him out for the majority of the home-and-away season. |
|
37. Nic Martin |
ACL |
Season
Martin re-injured his ACL during pre-season. |
15. Dyson Sharp
Sharp suffered a shoulder injury against the GIANTS in round nine.
36. Angus Clarke
Clarke sustained a stress fracture in his foot during round three of the VFL.
38. Rhys Unwin
Unwin sustained a hamstring injury against Williamstown in round six of the VFL season.
35. Matt Guelfi
Guelfi sustained a hamstring injury against Richmond during Dreamtime at the 'G.
10. Isaac Kako
Kako has sustained a stress injury to his back.
1. Andrew McGrath
McGrath fractured his jaw in the Dreamtime clash against Richmond.
6. Jye Caldwell
Caldwell will be aiming for a return post-bye after injuring his ankle.
17. Vigo Visentini
Visentini injured his hamstring in his VFL return against the Giants.
48. Liam McMahon
McMahon suffered a dislocated ankle in the corresponding VFL fixture against GWS.
20. Peter Wright
Wright suffered ligament damage to his knee in a collision against the Dockers.
40. Zak Johnson
Johnson suffered a broken foot against GWS in round nine.
26. Archie May
May suffered a dislocated shoulder in the first quarter against West Coast in Round 12 and will miss the remainder of the season.
18. Lewis Hayes
Hayes re-injured his ACL during his VFL return game against Werribee.
8. Brayden Fiorini
Fiorini will undergo surgery on his back, ruling him out for the majority of the home-and-away season.
37. Nic Martin
Martin re-injured his ACL during pre-season.
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