AFL round 1 injury list: Zach Reid injured in Essendon comeback match

Injury-plagued Bomber Zach Reid was subbed out of his comeback game before halftime in a cruel twist for the former top-10 draft pick.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 16: Jack Gunston of the Hawks handballs whilst being tackled by Zach Reid of the Bombers during the round one AFL match between Essendon Bombers and Hawthorn Hawks at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on March 16, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Luckless Essendon tall Zach Reid’s comeback game has not lasted two quarters after he copped another hamstring setback.

The defender has been highly touted but struck by injuries since he was taken with the 10th pick in the 2020 AFL Draft, and appeared to have finally put his soft tissue injuries behind him over a strong pre-season.

But Reid, 22, was subbed out by Essendon at halftime of Saturday’s match against Hawthorn, diagnosed with “hamstring awareness” by the club.

He came from the field in the middle of the second quarter and headed straight to the rooms, emerging to get a rub on his back and left hamstring.

Utility Nik Cox was swung into a key position role in the second half to cover for Reid and said the injury was “shattering”.

“At half-time I went and spoke to him and it is shattering for him,” Cox said.

“Touch wood it is nothing too serious but the history he has had, you just want to see him get a good go at it. He is an incredibly talented player, he is a great person and extremely professional.

“He does everything he can to prepare himself to play AFL. Hopefully (the injury) is not much.”

Zach Reid tracks Jack Gunston in the early stages of Saturday’s game. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Reid then attempted some run throughs and jogged over to join the Bombers heading into the rooms at halftime, before he was subbed off for youngster Elijah Tsatas.

The 202cm tall did not play a single AFL game last year and has missed 15 games across his career due to hamstring issues.

He had played just eight senior matches before Saturday.

Off the back of a strong summer, Reid was chosen to pair recruit Ben McKay in defence, replacing Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, who won a trade to Port Adelaide in the off-season.

Brad Scott has diagnosed a problem in the Essendon defence in dealing with tall forwards and Reid played 40 minutes on Hawthorn talls Mitch Lewis, Mabior Chol and Jack Gunston in his limited gametime without conceding a goal.

Essendon surprised some by leaving defender Jayden Laverde out of the side for round 1.

Originally published as AFL round 1 injury list: Zach Reid injured in Essendon comeback match