Injury news: Bombers to slow back on returning stars
A group of Dons will be managed throughout preseason games.
Essendon will be cautious with their healing players in Friday’s first pre-season match against St Kilda.
Jordan Ridley, Peter Wright, Ben Hobbs, and first-year draftee Nate Caddy will all miss the practice match at RSEA Park, but are expected to be available for Friday’s Community Series encounter against Geelong.
Wright and Ridley have been active in primary training in recent weeks and will gradually return to competitive games, while Hobbs has a slight shoulder injury and Caddy is sore from an uncomfortable landing in a marking challenge at training last week.
Defender Jake Kelly reported hamstring awareness following the Bombers’ training session on Wednesday and will miss the first preseason game as a result.
Sam Draper has returned to main training after passing all of his groyne injury tests, but he will not play on Friday as he continues to prepare for the start of the season.
The 25-year-old took part in a match simulation over the weekend alongside midfielder Dylan Shiel, who has made significant progress in his comeback from a foot injury that has kept him out of action since 2023.
Kaine Baldwin is in the early stages of recovering from a stress fracture in his foot, while youngster Tex Wanganeen has made progress in his recovery from foot surgery at the end of last season, steadily increasing his weight bearing capacity in recent weeks.