In a major boost to the Bombers' on-field chances, hard working forward Angus Monfries is expected to return from a hamstring strain this weekend.
The 23-year-old South Australian suffered a slight set-back last week but is now fit and firing according to general manager of football operations Paul Hamilton.
""He was really very close last week, and he’ll play this week,"" Hamilton said on The Recovery Room.
""He trained in our main session yesterday, got through that fine and feels good today, so we’re expecting him to play.""
Monfries injured his hamstring in the Round 11 clash with Sydney.
In other injury news, Hamilton confirmed rookie Taite Silverlock will miss the rest of the 2010 season after breaking his leg in the VFL on Sunday, Darcy Daniher will miss again with an ongoing adductor problem and Anthony Long will be side-lined for one more week with a slight hamstring strain.
Champion ruckman David Hille is still up to three weeks away after re-injuring the hamstring he originally hurt in Round 11, last week.
""It was really unfortunate last week, he was progressing fairly well (from a hamstring strain), and he was the first (player) we’ve had this year that’s had a soft tissue and re-done it,"" Hamilton said.
""Whilst it was only a niggle, it’s a bad sign, so we’re going to have to be conservative of David.
""Unfortunately he’ll be out for at least two or three weeks, they want to get it completely right, they thought they were very close last week.
""When we get the Hille/Ryder combination together, it is a particularly good one, so we’re hopeful to get him back, but we’re not going to risk him by bringing him back early.""
Hamilton said that Tyson Slattery will be available to play despite breaking his nose in his AFL debut on the weekend, but Henry Slattery has bruised ribs and won’t play.
The club's biggest injury concern, Tayte Pears, continues to recover well at home after a major operation on his pancreas over two weeks ago.
""He has been into the club once or twice which is great to see,"" Hamilton said.
""He’s lost a fair bit of weight, because he finds that every time he eats, he has a bit of pain, due to the surgery where he was cut right down the middle of his stomach.
""He’s progressing well, so we’re hopeful. He’s still a chance to play this year; it’s an outside chance but he’s progressing really well.""
Fan Note: The TV broadcast of Essendon's Round 15 clash with Melbourne has been re-scheduled to 3.30pm in Melbourne to avoid a clash with the V8 Townsville Round broadcast.
The entire match (which starts at 2:10pm) will still be broadcast so viewers will not miss any part of the match.
Channel Seven, the AFL and V8 Supercars said they are always working together to avoid such clashes.
