Shaping up nicely but Dons coach wants to play it safe with Stringer
ESSENDON coach Brad Scott says the Bombers want to play it safe with dynamic forward Jake Stringer despite another key target battling an injury concern.
Uncertainty remains over whether Sam Weideman will play against the Suns at Marvel Stadium on Sunday after he stubbed his toe while kicking during the Bombers’ 59-point win over Hawthorn.
Scott said Weideman would “do a little bit” on Friday on the track as the Bombers give him every chance to play in round 2.
Weideman and Stringer both began training with the main group at the Bombers’ Tullamarine headquarters on Thursday.
“Depending on how he warms up, we might do a session indoors with him just to give him every chance of being in the best shape he can be for Sunday,” Scott said.
“But there’s also a chance that he warms up and he just trains fully. A little bit will depend on the session, but even if he doesn’t train today, the likelihood is we’ll give him up to Sunday morning to prove his fitness.”
The plan was for Stringer to play a full game in the VFL this weekend, the final box for him to tick in his recovery, Scott said.
“He will attract some attention when he comes back in, and I just don’t think it’s the right thing to do to bring a player in of his calibre when he’s not absolutely 100 per cent and had a really good prep,” he said.
“He doesn’t need to do anything outside the regular program … this is the final bit of preparation for him to be available.”
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, who will miss with quad soreness, may take some time to return to the starting 22 as the Bombers try to build up his running loads.