Daniher to give buzz to Bombers
AFL: Essendon spearhead Joe Daniher will make his longawaited return for the Bombers tonight at Ikon Park, while Carlton is set to unleash No.1 draft pick Sam Walsh in the JLT Community Series opener.
Daniher, who is priced at $13 with Ladbrokes to win the Coleman Medal, was struck down after seven rounds last year with a crippling case of osteitis pubis. The 24-year-old is likely to be on restricted minutes.
“It certainly adds a bit of a buzz for the group,” Bombers assistant coach Ben Rutten said. “It’s certainly a positive for him and a great credit to our medical team and coaches and guys who have done a power of work behind the scenes to get him to where he’s at – that’s not just a one-man show.
“Certainly it’s going to be great to have him back in, but he’s just got to play a role and come in and play to the way we want to play just as any other player does.”
Daniher was an All-Australian and the Bombers best and fairest winner in 2017.
After starring in a practice match against the Hawks last week, Walsh, who is the $3.75 favourite to win the Rising Star award, will get the chance to shine before Blues fans starved of success in recent years.
With 26-man squads at their disposal, clubs are expected to field strong line-ups. Each team will play two JLT Community Series matches before Round 1 kicks off at the MCG on March 21.
Essendon stars Zach Merrett (ankle) and Dyson Heppell (hamstring) look set to play following pre-season setbacks.