""Sean Wellman should be available as will Damian Cupido. They will both be monitored during the week, but the indication from the medical staff at this stage is that they will both be available to play,"" football manager Dominic Cato said.
Mark McVeigh left the field with a severe corkie in the second quarter of Friday night’s match. Cato said the medical staff is optimistic that he will be available to play against St Kilda and will spend time in the hyperbaric chamber this week to aid the recovery process.
Despite training last week and giving Essendon fans hope that he might return early, Cato said that James Hird is still two to three weeks away. ""I don’t think the doctors have changed their initial view on it, which was three to four week injury,"" he said.
""Certainly it has progressed well in terms of the blood naturally dissipating out of the body, which has allowed him to train. He is training without any contact at this stage and keeping up his fitness.""
Dean Rioli (hamstring) and Scott Lucas (hamstring) are still one week away from returning to the team. The progress of the pair will be monitored heavily this week by the fitness staff, but Cato said they will not risk playing either Lucas or Rioli until they are 100% fit.
Essendon injury list:
Damian Cupido – knee – available
James Davies – foot – 3 weeks
Dustin Fletcher – teeth - test
Aaron Henneman – lacerated kidney – 4 weeks
James Hird – broken rib – 2 to 3 weeks
Courtney Johns – hip – season
Scott Lucas – hamstring – 1 week
Mark McVeigh – corked thigh - test
Joel Reynolds – ankle - season
Dean Rioli – hamstring – test to 1 week
Sean Wellman – hamstring – available
