Essendon still waiting on forward Joe Daniher to reach full speed but signs indicate he is on track

The wait continues for key forward Joe Daniher to resume full training at Essendon but the club remains upbeat about his progress over the past month and that he remains on track.

Joe Daniher runs laps at their Tullamarine headquarters. Picture: Getty Images

Essendon is not putting a time frame on when key forward Joe Daniher will return to full training, but the Bombers say they have been buoyed by his progress over the past month.

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Daniher, who has not played since Round 7 last year due to osteitis pubis, had a minor interruption to so start 2019 as he suffered a bout of viral conjunctivitis.

However, the 24-year-old returned to the track at Tullamarine on Thursday and is beginning to ramp up his running in a bid to return to full training.

Essendon is banking on key forward Joe Daniher being 100 per cent right for the start of the season proper.

“He’s had a really good, solid month of training most recently,” Essendon physical preparation manager Justin Crow told the club’s website.

“In that time he’s built up next week to do an 11km session. We’re really happy with the volume he’s getting in and he’s starting to do a lot more football movements.

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“What we need to start to work on is his top speed and also getting him back into football training and drills, which we’ll do once he’s ready.”

Fellow Bombers forward Orazio Fantasia also remains on light duties after suffering a finger injury at training in late November.

“He’s got another two weeks until he can grip fully,” Crow said.

“Until that time he’ll be out of drills where he’ll be required to tackle or he’ll be in harm’s way.”

Ruckman Tom Bellchambers is nearing a return to full contact training in his recovery from post-season shoulder surgery.

The Bombers meet arch-rival Carlton in their first JLT Community Series match at Ikon Park on February 28.

Exciting Essendon forward Orazio Fantasia before his injury setback in November.

Originally published as Essendon still waiting on forward Joe Daniher to reach full speed but signs indicate he is on track