Joe Daniher is closing in on Essendon return after more than a year on the sidelines
The struggling Bombers may soon be boosted by the return of injury-riddled forward Joe Daniher. Essendon coach John Worsfold says he is edging closer to a return after more than a year on the sidelines.
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Essendon coach John Worsfold says Joe Daniher is “tracking well” towards making his return to the AFL after niggling injuries have kept him out of the game for more than a year.
The Bombers squad have been hit hard by injuries in the past few weeks, including David Zaharakis to a season-ending quad injury.
However, Worsfold was hopeful the cavalry was returning for the 11th-placed club over the coming weeks, in what would be a huge boost for the club.
The head coach revealed Daniher had returned to full training loads in recent weeks.
“He’s tracking well,” Worsfold said of Daniher.
“His progression has been good.
“He was progressing really well before he did his calf and he’s now back starting to do full training loads which is great.
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“That changes where everything is at and we’ll just monitor him as we go.
“We’ve got quite a few players that are working their backsides off to be available in coming weeks so we’ll welcome any players as they start to come through these long-term injuries.
“There’s a lot of measures the boys use what their current loads are in these shorter games and what the players have been doing in training loads. Joe is progressing really well.
“I couldn’t tell you right now what his training loads have been this week and whether they match up to game volumes.
“I’m going to be excited to hear about where he has progressed to.’’
It comes after the Bombers were beaten by 35 points to St Kilda at the Gabba on Sunday afternoon, in a game that was lost from the opening quarter.
Worsfold admitted they had to improve their effort from the get-go to have any shot at the finals.
“We need to start with the intensity that we’ve shown we can play at,” he said.
“That was off tonight.
“The Saints took uncontested marks, used the ball as they wished under really limited pressure in that first quarter and to go forward like they did and score at ease as they did in that first quarter, really put the game away .
“We matched them fairly well for big parts of the game after that but the damage was done.
“We can’t really give teams that unpressured look for those long periods.”
SAINTS, STAR RECRUIT RESPOND TO WAKE-UP CALL
St Kilda returned to normal transmission with a dominant 10.8 (68) to 5.3 (33) over the Bombers in a Sunday afternoon showdown at the Gabba.
After copping a worrying wake-up call at the hands of Geelong last Monday night, the Saints bounced back into form to climb back into the top four.
A dominant defensive effort kept the Bombers at bay to run out as 35-point victors and keep their finals hopes alive.
Milestone man Zak Jones celebrated his 100th career game in style, finishing the match with 26 disposals, 11 contested possessions and four clearances.
St Kilda head coach Brett Ratten said the club was growing in confidence with every win.
“We just have to keep building,” Ratten said.
“The half games are going to play a big part in it. Teams have had draws as well. Percentages can be like a win as well.
“It’s going to be very tight.
“For us though, we want to put ourselves in a position to make finals.
“We haven’t done it in eight years.
“With each win we get closer, and with each win we get some self belief so we’ll just keep pushing on.”
It's the perfect start for the @stkildafc 👑#AFLSaintsDons pic.twitter.com/PDVWBUyO0K
— AFL (@AFL) August 16, 2020
Ratten admitted the return of several star players will bolster the playing squad for their game against the Lions.
“To get (Paddy) Ryder and (Zak) Jones back this week, and Seb Ross as well, really helped our team,” he said.
“(Dean) Kent will probably be available, (Jake) Carlisle will probably be available so we’ll get a few back as well.”
The win also sets up an enticing clash next Sunday between St Kilda and Brisbane.
The loss has added more grief to the Bombers 2020 season, who now prepare for a tough road ahead with games against Richmond, Hawthorn and West Coast in the next fortnight.
WAKE UP CALL
After last week’s shock 59-point loss to Geelong, the Saints returned to normal transmission.
St Kilda ran out to a 22-point lead at the end of the first quarter on the back of great defensive pressure and ball movement.
And they came out firing.
The first stanza saw the Saints with four centre clearances to Essendon’s one and 27 marks to the Bombers eight.
By halftime, their lead blew out to 35 points and that lead never really came under threat for the rest of the game.
Jones said the side had worked hard on their defensive effort during the week.
“We started really well,” Jones said at halftime.
“(Geelong) pulled us apart a bit.
“We worked hard to close those back kicks so they couldn’t switch it.”
SEASON BOMBERED
Essendon’s finals aspirations took a massive blow after Sunday’s carve up at the Gabba.
The Bombers four-game winless streak continued after being out-muscled by the resurgent Saints.
Following their 73-all thriller with the Suns on Wednesday night, the Bombers couldn’t match it with the Saints in what shaped as a pivotal game for their finals chances.
The Bombers fell to 11th on the premiership ladder and face a tough fortnight against the likes of Richmond and West Coast.
HILL’S TOP GOODS
St Kilda look much better when Bradley Hill has the ball.
The star wingman was one of the best on ground at the Gabba, finishing the match with 17 disposals and four inside-50s.
Saints coach Brett Ratten earlier in the week urged his side to use their big money recruit and it proved to be a wise game plan.
Hill showed his worth on Sunday afternoon and his blistering speed was no match for the Essendon defence.
PATON HEAD KNOCK
St Kilda lost Ben Paton to a head knock in the first quarter and never returned to the field.
The young gun copped an accidental bump and slammed his head into the ground before trying to stand up visibly dazed.
It adds to the Saints growing injury toll which includes Jade Gresham and Dean Kent.
.@stkildafc's Ben Paton has come from the ground after this accidental incident in the opening quarter.#AFLSaintsDons pic.twitter.com/Rjb4thQQev
— AFL (@AFL) August 16, 2020
ST KILDA: 4.4 7.5 9.5 10.8 (68)
ESSENDON: 1.0 2.0 4.1 5.3 (33)
GOALS
St Kilda: King 3, Membrey 2, Butler, Hind, Battle, Ryder, Lonie
Essendon: Townsend, Begley, Tipungwuti, Langford, Saad
BEST:
St Kilda: Jones, Steele, Billings, King, Hill, Ryder, Marshall
Essendon: Shiel, Parish McGrath, Hurley, Saad, Merrett
VOTES:
3. Billings
2. Steele
1. Jones
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