AFL pre-season injury watch: Essendon set to regain star trio ahead of second practice match

Essendon will get a few of their stars back for their second practice match against Geelong next week after a poor showing against St Kilda.

Essendon will tune up for its round 1 clash against Hawthorn with a full dress rehearsal against Geelong next week which could include returning stars Peter Wright, Sam Draper and Jordan Ridley.

The Dons were smacked around by St Kilda in a 66-point loss at Moorabbin with assistant coach Daniel Giansiracusa admitting Essendon could not stop their rival’s run from half back.

In a game where Jake Stringer, Zach Merrett, Todd Goldstein and Zach Reid were rested at half time with no fresh injuries, it was a particularly lifeless performance after so much work over summer from Essendon.

Wright and Ridley were sore this week so missed the clash against St Kilda, while Draper (groin) will play some football next week and Dylan Shiel (foot) could also feature against Geelong.

Giansiracusa said there was no more pressure on the Dons to play well in their final hitout next Friday against Geelong but the fans will be eager to see some progress.

Sam Draper is set to return next week. Picture: Michael Klein

“It was a scrappy affair. Around the ball and contest it was pretty even but on the intercepts with their defenders they played their way and transitioned on us too quickly,” he said.

“We always knew this game would be about evidence and it was good to have a competitive hitout against someone other than ourselves.

“It will be a full dress rehearsal next week and will get us ready for our round 1 clash against the Hawks. (Ridley and Wright) did plenty of work today, they will play some minutes and those guys all trained and did a match-like session. So it’s pleasing that those guys should be available. (Draper) did that session as well so it will just be a matter of planning where he’s at but he will play some footy next week.”

While Jade Gresham was excellent in his first outing the huge positive was the strong form of full back Zach Reid after so many injury issues in his first three seasons.

“That was the pleasing thing. (Ben) McKay and Reid playing together and I know it was only for a half but they are going to play together for a long time and they held their own when the ball was coming in quite fast and they were under the pump,” Giansiracusa said.

“We are excited. You temper it a little bit with his (injury) history but he’s a top pick for a reason and he’s had a really strong summer and been able to get out onto the park and really connect with his teammates. It’s another step in his journey and he will continue to play more game time. Next week we play Geelong. So he’s playing against good quality forwards and that’s going to be a good thing for his development.”

SUPERCOACH ALERT: POPULAR BLUE IN RACE TO BE FIT FOR ROUND 0

Carlton could start the season without six members of coach Michael Voss’s best 23 as injury clouds hover over Zac Williams, Sam Walsh and Jack Martin.

Williams – who did not feature in 2023 due to an ACL injury – was absent from Thursday’s scratch match against Geelong and still has to get through “a couple more milestones” before the club’s high performance department will mark him available for selection.

Assistant coach Aaron Hamill said Williams had enjoyed an “excellent” couple of months training as a defender.

The Blues are certain to start the season without Jack Silvagni (knee), Jacob Weitering (calf) and Elijah Hollands (suspension).

Zac Williams is helped from the field after being injured in 2022. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Hollands played alongside younger brother Ollie on Thursday and the brothers were among Carlton’s standouts with their supreme running power on show.

They were among four sets of brothers alongside Tom and Sam De Koning, Ollie and Jack Henry and Cam and Zacg Guthrie.

“It’s on the table that (Williams) may get some minutes next week. If high performance hand him over then we’ll play him,” Hamill said.

The Blues were content with how their backline contested without Weitering.

Jordan Boyd provided bounce off halfback while Brodie Kemp, Sam Durdin, Lewis Young and Mitch McGovern blended nicely after quarter-time.

PREMIERSHIP CAT LIMPS OFF IN HORROR INJURY RETURN

Cameron Guthrie has limped off in the opening minutes of Thursday’s practice match against Carlton.

Geelong have confirmed the veteran midfielder suffered a quad injury with one of the first possessions of the match at Ikon Park.

Cameron Guthrie limps from the ground at Ikon Park. Picture: Michael Klein

Guthrie looked in pain and was taken straight down the race.

Guthrie, 31, was talked up by teammate Tom Stewart on Tuesday as an important cog in the midfield this year.

Cam Guthrie has come from the ground in the hands of the trainers early in Geelong's match sim.

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“Cam Guthrie slots back in nicely and I think everyone sort of forgets how good Cam Guthrie is,” Stewart said.

“Guthrie was a best-and-fairest winner in not only a premiership year (2022), but also a grand final year in 2020 as well.

“He clearly has a massive impact on that group, and the ferocity he plays with is something that can’t be understated.”

Originally published as AFL pre-season injury watch: Essendon set to regain star trio ahead of second practice match