Essendon midfielder Heath Hocking is continuing his recovery from surgery to correct an ongoing groin problem.

Club doctor Bruce Reid said the club would continue to take a cautious approach to ensure Hocking was ready for the season opener against Sydney.

“Heath had a fair bit of trouble at the end of last year and it didn’t settle down so he was operated on just before Christmas,” Reid said.

“He is now coming up to four weeks and is doing well but he is still not going to be back in full training until mid February.

“The concern is that he is missing out on a full pre-season but the upside for him is that this is about his ninth or tenth pre-season so it is not like dealing with an eighteen year old kid.”

The club is continuing to take a cautious approach with Jake Carlisle as he increases his modified program recovering from some patella tendonitis.

“Jake has in the past had minor patella tendonitis and he had an acute flair up just before he resumed in November so we went back to square one prior to Christmas,”

“He is progressing to the point where he has been out there running today and so far he is so good.”

“We want that patella tendon to be right because being a tendon they are resistant and if you rush them you can get bitten.”

“We want him really ready to go in mid February and March.”

Nick Kommer is continuing his slow progress in a pursuit to a return to football after a disappointing 2014.

Reid said the club was taking a very steady approach with Kommer to ensure he was ready to go before the start of the season. 

“Nick Kommer has been our biggest disappointment, he still has ongoing symptoms under his knee cap,” Reid said.

“The progression is forward so he is running on the alter G but he is still not totally pain free so we are going to take our time.”

“At the moment I wouldn’t expect him back in the full group training before March so he is our most concerning injury because of the duration.”