Star Bombers put pressure on for returns
REJUVENATED Essendon could welcome back a host of key players for its crunch AFL clash with Greater Western Sydney at Spotless Stadium on Saturday.
The teams are in a dogfight to keep their seasons alive with GWS (4-4-1) and Essendon (3-6) 11th and 14th on the ladder going into Round 10.
And while the Giants look set to recall star players Josh Kelly (groin) and Phil Davis (concussion), the Bombers could be boosted with coach John Worsfold saying Michael Hurley (hamstring), Andrew McGrath (calf) and David Myers (hip) are in the frame to return from injury.
“Depending on what they can manage to tick boxes in terms of their program today, they’re all a chance (but) there’s a protocol to go through,” Worsfold said yesterday.
After a strong performance in the VFL, midfielder Darcy Parish is also in line for a recall after he was dropped for the first time following the Bombers’ stunning loss to previously winless Carlton.
“He really responded well, we were rapt with how he went about it,” Worsfold said.
“He won a lot of the footy, worked really hard, so that certainly means he’s fit and available and puts his hand up.”
Before producing its best performance of the year last weekend — a 34-point thump- ing of Geelong — Essendon had endured a horror month with losses to Collingwood, Melbourne, Hawthorn and Carlton.
But Worsfold said “the wheel is definitely turning” in the right direction for the club, despite its recent form slump.
“You don’t automatically become great at something when you decide you want to be great at it,” he said.
“You have to extremely hard at it.” work