Hurley, Green in doubt for finals bid

ESSENDON’S finals destiny could be decided without any input from Michael Hurley and Josh Green.

The Dons can make their first finals series since 2014 if they beat Fremantle on Sunday and maintain their 1.8 percentage advantage over West Coast. That gap equates to about 34 points.

Essendon fears small forward Green could have suffered a fracture in his left foot against Gold Coast on Saturday night.

Green broke his right foot and missed 10 weeks while playing for Brisbane Lions last year.

Possible replacement Orazio Fantasia is 3-4 weeks away from resuming after a hamstring strain.

Coach John Worsfold said yesterday All-Australian defender Hurley was pushing to return from a calf injury for the clash with Fremantle.

First-gamer 19-year-old Josh Begley, was brilliant with two goals and two assists on debut against the Suns, but Green has averaged a goal a game this season.

“That looks serious. He is off to get a scan tomorrow morning,” Worsfold said of Green’s injury.

“He fractured a bone in his foot in Brisbane a few years ago [January 2016] and had it pinned and it’s possibly the same thing in the other foot.

“We will get it confirmed, but it’s not looking good.”

Hurley has missed only one game but will need to convince doctors of his fitness this week.

“I would love to have him out there against Freo, but it will be a medical decision,’’ Worsfold told Triple M.

“He is pretty up and about saying, ‘I am only going to miss one week’, but he doesn’t have that say.

“We are unsure at this stage if he will be ready to go.”