Dons injuries further sour defeat

ESSENDON’S AFL injury crisis has escalated with Jake Stringer and Dylan Shiel joining the casualty list in a 23point loss to Richmond in the Dreamtime at the ‘G game.

The Bombers threatened a late comeback before the Tigers ran out 10.13 (73) to 6.14 (50) winners in front of 80,176 fans last night at a sodden MCG. But the injuries to Stringer and Shiel threaten to further derail the Bombers’ season.

The mercurial Stringer clutched at his left hamstring late in the second quarter, left the ground and played no further part in the game. Star recruit Shiel also went down to the Essendon rooms in the fourth quarter and re-emerged with his right hamstring iced up.

Joe Daniher (groin) and Devon Smith (knee) are out for the rest of the season, and Orazio Fantasia (quad) is several weeks away.