Essendon’s Aaron Francis injured in club practice match at Tullamarine

UPDATE: ESSENDON coach John Worsfold is confident an ankle injury to promising big man Aaron Francis is not serious after he sent a scare through the Bombers’ camp today. INTRA-CLUB PHOTOS

Aaron Francis is carried off with leg injury. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

ESSENDON coach John Worsfold is confident an ankle injury to promising big man Aaron Francis is not too serious after he sent a scare through the Bombers’ camp at their intra-club on Wednesday.

Francis had to be carried from the field by support staff after injuring his ankle in the third quarter of the hitout in hot and blustery conditions at the club’s Tullamarine base.

But Worsfold said he had received an encouraging report from medical staff afterwards and did not expect the 19-year-old to be sidelined for too long.

CAPTAIN CALL: HEPPELL TO LEAD BOMBERS

FAIRYTALE WIN: PUNTERS BACK JOBE FOR BROWNLOW

“He rolled his ankle, but he has fairly loose ankles anyway,’’ Worsfold said.

“We are confident it is not a serious sprain. A bit like ‘Hurls’ (Michael Hurley) last week, Hurls is out there running no worries, so we are hopeful that Aaron will be out there running pretty quick.

“You just hope it’s as minor injury as it can be, but you’ve got no control over it, but you let the guys do their job and concentrate on the players playing out the game and sort through all that afterwards.

Aaron Francis goes down at the Essendon intraclub and is now being taken off with a leg injury. Had taken a beautiful mark playing forward pic.twitter.com/J37mhpujq2

— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) February 8, 2017

“I was pleased that we had a good report from that.’’

Francis, the Bombers’ first round selection at No.6 overall in the 2015 draft, played three games in his first season for the Bombers last year after making his debut in Round 18.

He battled soft tissue injuries throughout the year, but Worsfold said this was just another small hurdle to overcome.

“You feel for him, you feel for any player when they go down, but he’s got a season to focus on and prepare for and this is just one thing that he has to take into account,’’ Worsfold said.

Aaron Francis had been playing in attack. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

“I don’t feel sorry for him, it’s just you know what you have to do now, you’ve got to work really hard to bounce back really quickly and get up and going.

“It’s not different to tommy Bellchambers and Cale Hooker at the moment and what Joey Daniher was going through, it’s just part of your preparation for the year.’’

Hurley also rolled his ankle during an intraclub last Friday, but was busy with running drills on a neighbouring oval yesterday.

Worsfold said Hooker, who has been managing a hamstring problem over the pre-season, was also making good progress.

Joe Daniher takes a big grab over Kyle Langford. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

“He’s going well, maybe (he’ll play) up in Mackay, the second JLT (pre-season) game without rushing,’’ Worsfold said.

“He is a guy that we will just monitor his preparation a little bit different than a normal hamstring. We’ll just take ultra caution with ‘Hooksey’, but he is tracking really well.

The Bombers’ coach was also pleased with the progress of key forward Daniher, who provided a highlight with a big grab in the first quarter.

“Joey’s tracking really well, we’re rapt,’’ Worsfold said.

“His progression to be out there today, he was pretty excited about it. He doesn’t take long to slot in and look natural.’’

New captain Dyson Heppell. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Jobe Watson in action.

Jayden Laverde breaks clear.