General manager of football operations Paul Hamilton revealed the injured-duo had undergone MRI scans earlier this morning, following the injuries the pair had sustained during Essendon's 74-point loss to Collingwood on Sunday afternoon.
“It’s unfortunate for Pris as he has been playing some very reasonable football in recent weeks but we can confirm he has done his anterior cruciate ligament,” Hamilton said.
“He is seeing the surgeon late this evening to assess the course of action needed to be undertaken, but clinically he has done his ACL which will see him sidelined for the remainder of the season.”
Hamilton also revealed the extent of the damage sustained to Colyer's lower leg after Collingwood’s Harry O’Brien fell heavily on it at the MCG on Sunday.
“Unfortunately, Travis has sustained two injuries from that incident and he has certainly damaged ligaments in the lower part of his leg near his ankles,” Hamilton said.
“At the same time we can confirm he has also strained his medial ligament in his knee on the same leg.
“At this stage, we would say he will be out for a number of weeks and he has certainly pulled up particularly very sore today. We imagine there is a fair bit of damage but we will monitor him very closely this week,” he said.
Hamilton told BomberTV both David Zaharakis and David Myers should be available for selection this week, despite minor injury complaints following Essendon’s weekend loss.
“David Myers dislocated his finger and it was pulled straight back in to place during the game. While he will need to keep it strapped with tape during training this week, it shouldn’t be an injury that will keep him out,” he said.
“Zaharakis pulled up very sore after the game with his elbow and he will have treatment this week but it is not an injury where we will it will keep him from playing this week.”
Despite Essendon’s expanding injury list, the Bombers could welcome back a number of key players this week. Hamilton said Bomber veterans Dustin Fletcher, Andrew Welsh and Nathan Lovett-Murray would all face fitness tests during the course of the week.
“With all three of those boys, we are very hopeful that they should be available to play. It is important that they get through this week but we would think that they are all on track to play.”
Hamilton said Essendon utility Michael Hurley and midfielder Heath Hocking were outside chances to return this week but will be reassessed and closely monitored by the club’s medical staff.
“Hurles is a reasonable chance to play this week but it really is one of those ones that we will leave to assess later in the week to make a decision on.
“We have hope for Heath Hocking this week so we will see how he pulls up after our training sessions to see if he has any pain so we’ll know fairly soon whether he is right to go or whether he is not,” he said.
In further injury news, wounded duo Tayte Pears and Cale Hooker will be sidelined for the next two to three weeks but Hamilton said both were tracking well and making significant progress with their recovery programs.
“Cale is at least three weeks away and we will need to give his recovery a bit of time,” he said.
The Bendigo Bombers are likely to welcome back Scott Gumbleton this week after making a return to full traning.
“Scott Gumbleton would have returned to the VFL this week [if there was a game] so he should be available to play this week which is pleasing news.”
