General manager of football operations Paul Hamilton said veterans Nathan Lovett-Murray and Andrew Welsh had staked their claim to return to senior football after impressive performances for the Bendigo Bombers in the VFL on Saturday.
“Both Nathan and Andrew played about 80% of the game and while they didn’t play full games, they played very well and they didn’t just play – they really performed and showed some really good signs,” Hamilton said.
“It would be great to have them available [this week]. They will certainly be pushing for senior selection and we’ll be looking at our side and how to improve it so it has been great to be able to create more pressure around selection.”
Following Essendon’s thrilling one-point win over Sydney, Hamilton said the club was relieved that no serious injuries were sustained during Saturday’s night clash.
“We were really pleased, obviously with the win but also with what has come with that in terms of our injuries. At this stage, it doesn’t look like anyone will miss this week for that reason.
“We have a few sore players and every time you play Sydney you are going to expect that, but the medical staff are telling us that at this stage of the week, things are looking good in terms of our shorter-term injuries,” he said.
Key defenders Tayte Pears and Cale Hooker are also outside chances to return to the field this week after progressing ahead of schedule with their rehabilitation programs.
“Tayte is an outside chance to return and so is Cale, so we’d hope they both play. Those boys are very much in the ‘test’ category but it will depend on how they train this week,” Hamilton said.
“Cale has come along really well and Tayte has progressed well too, so we haven’t ruled them out just yet, but pleasingly there are quite a number of players who could become available this week.”
Small forward Travis Colyer will also be pushing for selection this week, after making a remarkable recovery following ligament damage to his lower leg sustained during the Bombers' Round 19 clash against Collingwood.
“Travis has started running and he is well and truly ahead of schedule. The medical team has done a really great job of monitoring and accelerating Trav’s recovery,” Hamilton told BomberTV.
“He is not a definite, but he is an outside chance to return this week - depending on how he progresses over the course of the week - which is good news for Trav.”
Injured midfielder Brent Prismall underwent traditional surgery on his ruptured anterior cruciate ligament last week and is now in the early phases of rehabilitation.
“Brent’s surgery went really well and he had the full traditional reconstruction. The medical staff are really buoyant about the operation and now we look at the long period of rehab, but we hope that he will be available by the end of April next year,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton told BomberTV, long-term injured players Jason Winderlich and Courtenay Dempsey were also making impressive progress with their recovery programs and are shaping toward a Round 1 return next year.
“Brent’s surgery went really well and he had the full traditional reconstruction. The medical staff are really buoyant about the operation and now we look at the long period of rehab, but we hope that he will be available by the end of April next year,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton told BomberTV, long-term injured players Jason Winderlich and Courtenay Dempsey were also making impressive progress with their recovery programs and are shaping toward a Round 1 return next year.
“They’re both tracking well and Jason in particular is well ahead of schedule and training brilliantly. Courtenay is on track at the moment too so we’re quite happy with how those two lads are progressing and we’ll have them ready for round one next year.”
Hamilton said despite the nail-biting victory against the Swans, the Bombers’ focus now turned to the highly-important Saturday night clash against the Western Bulldogs.
“This week is just as important and we understand that if we get a victory this week, it sets us well on the path of where we want to be but the Bulldogs are a very good side and we will have to come out and play at our best,” he said.
Purchase Essendon's nail-biting win over Sydney on DVD from the Bomber Shop today.
