All the injury news from Round 16 as Bombers dealt triple soft-tissue blow
Essendon was bracing for a big boost after the bye with up to five players returning, but a key trio have suffered more soft-tissue injury setbacks. Jay Clark has the details.
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Essendon’s soft tissue problems have reached crisis point after stars Darcy Parish, Mason Redman and Kyle Langford all suffered fresh injury blows at training on Saturday.
The Bombers confirmed Parish (calf), Redman (hamstring) and Langford (quad) all reported concerns after training at Tullamarine during a bye in a huge setback for the club.
Parish and Langford were sent for scans, while Redman will also undergo more assessments on the severity of his hamstring complaint.
More information will be known in the next few days about their availability for the clash against Gold Coast on Saturday, but all three are under injury clouds.
Parish initially reported his concern as tightness, but given his terrible soft tissue history, the club will be cautious with the gun midfielder.
He has already sought outside specialist advice on his back and leg issues.
Essendon was already reeling from a terrible run of injuries this year but the fresh problems will intensify the focus on the club’s injury management and high performance department.
The coaching staff will be enormously frustrated by the latest blows.
Parish has repeatedly endured soft tissue problems, as well as Langford who was expected to return against Gold Coast this weekend from a quad problem.
The club is almost certain to conduct a thorough review of its high performance department at season’s end after a tough run on this front in recent years.
The club has had one of the worst injury rates in the competition this season as the Bombers attempt to rise up the ladder with a young and developing list.
Langford has played six games this season before hurting his quad a month ago against Richmond.
Parish had strung three games together after a series of back and soft tissue injuries which has plagued his career in recent years.
The gun midfielder has been incredibly frustrated by the issues and has sought specialist advice in its search for answers.
Redman is coming off a quad injury and was also slated to come back against the Suns but could be set for another stint on the sidelines.
The Bombers had a training session on Saturday morning at Tullamarine off a few days break to help prepare for the clash against the Suns.
Originally published as All the injury news from Round 16 as Bombers dealt triple soft-tissue blow
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