Bomber Anthony Long has been placed on the club’s long term injury list as he recovers from a reoccurring hamstring complaint.

 

General Manager Football Operations Paul Hamilton said the club would continue to take a cautious approach with his recovery.

 

“Anthony had an operation towards the end of last year on his hamstring and he spent a lot of the pre-season rehabbing,” Hamilton said.

 

“He’s at the stage now where he can train at 90 percent but every time he tries to go to the next level he’s having some concerns and he’s re-injuring his hamstring.”

 

Long is yet to make his AFL debut but Hamilton said the exciting 20 year old is a long term project for the club.

 

“The doctors and the fitness staff have taken the approach that he now needs a period of consolidation where they will work on pure strengthening on his hamstring for a four week period and then build him up over the following four weeks so he’s ready for match like conditions.” Hamilton said.

 

“It’s really disappointing for Anthony, we have the highest regard for him and he is a wonderful young man”

 

Moving Long to the long-term injury list gives the Bombers the opportunity to promote a rookie to the senior list.

 

Stewart Crameri, Josh Jenkins, Jay Neagle, Tait Silverlock, Tyson Slattery, Michael Quinn and James Webster are all rookie listed players at Essendon.

 

“We haven’t made a decision as yet but obviously we have some good candidates and there is no need to make a decision until you are about to play a player in a match,” Hamilton said.
 

“We’ll make a decision on who does come up when one of the players looks like being selected in the senior side.”