AFL 2024: Essendon star Jordan Ridley hopes to only miss two games

Essendon defender Jordan Ridley has moved to allay fears over his latest quad injury which came days after he signed a mega new contract.

Essendon star defender Jordan Ridley says he is aiming for a return in round 3 or 4 after a minor quad strain during a pre-season match. Picture: Michael Willson / Getty Images

Important Essendon defender Jordan Ridley says he hopes to only miss “one or two games” as he recovers from a second right quad strain in nine months.

Ridley said his latest setback against Geelong on Friday was in “a different spot” to the high grade strain which ended his season in round 19 against the Western Bulldogs last season.

The 25-year-old was enjoying his best game of the 2023 season when he suffered the initial quad injury with 29 disposals and 14 marks across halfback, as he said he was looking forward to having more help in defence from new recruit Ben McKay and a fully fit Zach Reid this season.

But Ridley said another defender would need to take his place for likely at least two weeks, with Jayden Laverde or Nik Cox set to be called upon to play against Hawthorn in the Bombers’s season opener.

“I won’t play round 1 unfortunately, but hopefully not too (long) after that, so three to four weeks,” Ridley said on Monday.

“It’s certainly frustrating … no player wants to go through the whole pre-season and then go down on the eve of the season.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 09: Jordan Ridley of the Bombers runs with the ball under pressure from Izak Rankine of the Crows during the round 17 AFL match between Essendon Bombers and Adelaide Crows at Marvel Stadium, on July 09, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

“So certainly disappointing – also positive though that it won’t be a long period of time, so hopefully it’s only one or two games and I’ll be back out there.”

Ridley, who last week signed a bumper new contract until the end of 2029, said McKay and Reid would bring more “stability” to Essendon’s backline, which struggled notably against tall forwards in 2023.

Geelong star Tom Hawkins booted 13 goals in his two games against the Bombers last year, while Giant Jesse Hogan took 17 marks and kicked nine goals in the humiliating 126-point loss in round 23.

Ridley said having McKay and Reid in defence alongside him could help him play as an intercepting loose member of the backline, but also said there would be times for the duo to zone off and Ridley to pick up an opponent.

“Obviously (they are) both big presences, both over 200cm tall, so really looking forward to playing a lot of footy with them in the future,” Ridley said.

“There’s potentially room for (zoning off) … depends on the opposition week-to-week.

“We can actually help each other – Ben’s a very capable interceptor – he’s shown over the last few years, he’s been right up there in terms of intercept marks, so hopefully I can help him just as much as he helps me.”