Daniher return is gaining momentum
ESSENDON coach John Worsfold said Joe Daniher could be less than a month from an AFL return as he backed his forward line to continue its brilliant start to the season.
Worsfold admitted the Dons had considered throwing Cale Hooker forward against North Melbourne, given the club’s amazing defensive depth.
Aaron Francis, Matt Guelfi, Brandon Zurk-Thatcher and Mason Redman were all overlooked at selection and instead played in a scratch match.
But Worsfold kept Hooker in defence to shut down North Melbourne’s Ben Brown, Orazio Fantasia added punch in a new role off half-back and the Dons still kicked a winning score.
Daniher has started putting together strong training session and is impressing track watchers after continued groin issues but is still some weeks away.
He would be an enticing prospect in the Dons forward line given their 4-1 start.
“The aim is to get him back playing footy as quickly as we can without rushing it,” Worsfold told 3AW before Friday’s clash against the Western Bulldogs.
“We want Joey, when he gets back playing, to have a career uninterrupted as much as possible and it’s what we are working towards.
“He has been tracking along pretty well so it’s been great to have him on the training track.
“One thing about the training protocols is Joey has been able to get on the track with players earlier than if we were in full contact, so it’s just been nice to have him out there.
“It might be four weeks, it might be six.”
Essendon will lose Brownlow contender Dylan Shiel to suspension but has continually shown this year it can win without its best side.
Andrew McGrath and Jordan Ridley continue break-out seasons, with Ben Rutten and Worsfold backing in the undermanned forward line.
“Hooker as a forward is very tempting — and it was very tempting — and Guelfi, Zurk-Thatcher, Redman and
Guelfi were all ready to g,o so it was very tempting to say one could come in and release Hooksy but we wanted to back in the work the forwards have done and give them an opportunity to build chemistry and trust they will do the job for us,” Worsfold said.
“Kyle Langford hit the scoreboard, (Shaun) McKernan and (Jacob) Townsend competed well, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti is always a threat even defensively and creates so much for us and we were confident they would get the job done for us.”