Essendon’s finals bid not helped by injuries to Josh Green and Michael Hurley

SECURING a finals spot could come down to percentage for Essendon but it will likely face Fremantle without two important players.

Josh Green was on crutches after the Suns game. Picture: Getty Images

ESSENDON could face its date with finals destiny without Michael Hurley and Josh Green as it moves to the brink of a September berth.

The Dons can play in their first finals clash since 2014 if they beat Fremantle and maintain a 1.8 percentage gap over West Coast.

That percentage gap is about 34 points, with John Worsfold agreeing the Bombers could have stretched it had they kicked straighter in the win over Gold Coast.

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Essendon believes Green has a similar issues to the broken foot that saw him miss 10 weeks in 2016 except this time to his left foot.

He will have scans on an injury that would put him out for the rest of the season, with Orazio Fantasia 3-4 weeks away with a hamstring strain.

Worsfold said on Sunday All-Australian defender Hurley was positive about his calf injury but said he was far from a certainty to play.

Josh Green’s season could be over with a foot injury. Picture: Getty Images

The Bombers face a tough call, knowing they must win to nail a finals spot but would give him a full three-week recovery if they achieved victory without him.

First-gamer Josh Begley was brilliant with two goals and two assists in his first game but Green has been a clever goal-a-game forward this year.

Former captain Jobe Watson is available for selection after being managed, but Essendon fears the worst for Green.

“That looks serious. He is off to get a scan tomorrow morning,” said Worsfold.

“He fractured a bone in his foot in Brisbane a few years ago (January 2016) and had it pinned and it’s possibly the same thing in the other foot.

“We will get it confirmed tomorrow but it’s not looking good for him.”

Hurley has missed only one week with his calf issue but will need to convince doctors at training this week.

“I would love to have him out there against Freo but it will be a medical decision,’’ Worsfold told Triple M.

He is pretty up and about saying I am only going to miss one week but he doesn’t have that say.

“We are unsure at this stage if he will be ready to go.”

Michael Hurley is no certainty to return against the Dockers. Picture: Getty Images

Begley exploded onto the AFL landscape this weekend, an amazing story for a player recently playing division three EFL football with Upper Ferntree Gully.

He was considered overweight but dropped 5kg, starred in the TAC Cup, was taken at pick 31 by Essendon and dropped another 5kg.

His debut came with his parents overseas in Canada but they watched him on the internet as he set the game alight early.

“He kicked a goal with his first kick in footy after intercepting a kick meant for Joe Daniher, which Worsfold didn’t mind at all.

Good on him, he plays the game as he sees it and saw the opportunity to take his mark and he has got to back himself in,’’ he said.

“He has been on the edge of selection for a number of weeks, he has good form and it really opened up for him.

“It is an excellent start of hopefully what is a nice long career for him.”

Originally published as Essendon’s finals bid not helped by injuries to Josh Green and Michael Hurley