Essendon set to use Joe Daniher in the ruck to curb influence of Collingwood star Brodie Grundy

ESSENDON coach John Worsfold has forecast the prospect of last year’s Anzac medallist Joe Daniher spending some time in the ruck to help curb the influence of Brodie Grundy.

ESSENDON coach John Worsfold has forecast the prospect of last year’s Anzac medallist Joe Daniher spending some time in the ruck to help curb the influence of Brodie Grundy in Wednesday’s blockbuster clash against Collingwood.

Grundy has arguably been the in-form ruckman of the AFL so far this season and while Tom Bellchambers will be his primary opponent, Worsfold expects Daniher to help out at stages.

When asked if the 24-year-old key forward could spend more time in the ruck tomorrow, Worsfold said: “He could do.”

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“It is a bit of a workload thing with Joe, we are very conscious as a young key position player he carries a big workload on the forward line, and we are looking after his long-term career by not overworking him through the ruck as well.”

“We are constantly searching for that balance, but Joe in the last couple of weeks has gone into the ruck more than he did in the first couple of rounds.”

Worsfold admitted Daniher - who has kicked only six goals so far this year - was yet to “hit his peak form”, but stressed his four games haven’t been “poor”.

Joe Daniher in the ruck in 2015. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

“I think Joe knows if he keeps working at it, his best footy will come,” Worsfold said.

“It comes if you keep working; it doesn’t come because everyone is telling him he should be playing better.”

Worsfold also suggested Steele Sidebottom and Zach Merrett could go head-to-head in the midfield, while saying Collingwood’s forward line set-up could allow the Bombers some flexibility in how they could use Cale Hooker.

Hooker has played forward for much of the past year, but returned to defence last week in the club’s win over Port Adelaide.

“We are still weighing up exactly where he will start in the game,” Worsfold said of Hooker.

“Zach Merrett and Steele Sidebottom might tag each other, that would be a first, wouldn’t it?” he said with a smile.

Zach Merrett and David Myers at Essendon training.

“Sidebottom is a tagger, but we might have to tag him. If we use Zach Merrett to tag Sidebottom, then everyone will be happy.”

He said Orazio Fantasia, who was ruled out of the Magpies’ clash with a groin injury, could be available to return to take on Melbourne on Sunday.

Fantasia had a private fitness session before the main group trained at Tullamarine, with Worsfold saying he was definitely in the mix to take on the Demons.

“He was fairly close (to taking on Collingwood), but weighing it all up, we thought it was probably too much of a risk,” the coach said.

“It would be nice if he was available for Sunday.”

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