July start at latest, says Don
JASON PHELAN and GLENN McFARLANE
ESSENDON chief executive Xavier Campbell is confident that the AFL premiership season will restart by July at the latest following the coronavirus shutdown.
The AFL sent a memo to clubs on Tuesday outlining the state of play just over a fortnight into the shutdown, with the league hopeful of having a return-to-play plan in place by the end of the month.
“I feel relatively confident that in July we’ll be back playing football, at the latest ... I don’t say that with any great insight or as an educated insight but I feel confident,” Campbell told the club’s Working Through It podcast.
And Joe Daniher could play in Essendon’s next game, with coach John Worsfold saying the injury-plagued forward is making steady progress from his nagging groin issues.
Worsfold also hasn’t ruled out Irishman Conor McKenna playing a role later in the year, despite fears that Australia’s borders might be closed long after the shutdown restrictions are eased.
Daniher would have missed the first half of 2020 as he plots a return from the same complaint that has ruined his past two seasons.
But the AFL’s postponement of the season until at least June — and possibly longer — gives the 26-year-old a chance to play in the Bombers’ rescheduled Round 2, whenever that might be.
“Obviously what it means is that Joe might not have been available until round whatever it is — five, six, seven or eight — [now] potentially he’s going to be available for round 2, which I’d be pretty excited about if I was Joe,” Worsfold said. “He misses less footy than he potentially would have, and I’m sure that’s what he’s focusing on … as are players like Cale Hooker and Dyson Heppell who had resigned themselves to missing some rounds of footy this year and potentially may not miss too much.”
Worsfold said the club had been in communication with McKenna, who returned to Ireland following the AFL shutdown to be closer to his family. He had only returned to Melbourne a few weeks earlier, after battling homesickness earlier in the year, and resolving to make a decision on his long-term future at the end of 2020.
“We’ll deal with whatever the rules and regulations are in place,” Worsfold said.
“We’ve got three young Irish guys back in Ireland, which was the right thing to do for this period.
“When everything starts to open up, our expectation is if they’re allowed to come back.”