Don close to return

FORGOTTEN Essendon tagger Heath Hocking is finally closing in on a comeback, 10 months after his last appearance.

Hocking played in pain for a lot of last year and underwent surgery on his left groin in December before being forced to have a second operation on his right groin six weeks later.

But the Bombers, who last night recalled David Zaharakis and Ben Howlett for Sunday’s meeting with St Kilda, could have the rugged left- footer available for his first game of the year next week.

Essendon football manager Neil Craig said Hocking’s absence had left a void.

“We’ve certainly missed his experience,” Craig said.