Hamstrung Stringer a strike for Bombers
ESSENDON has been dealt a significant blow ahead of its opening round clash against Hawthorn, with matchwinner Jake Stringer ruled out with a hamstring injury.
The Bombers’ star forward suffered a hamstring strain in the lead-up to the club’s practice game against the Gold Coast Suns and the club said it was not prepared to take any risks with his return at the start of the home-and-away campaign.
While Essendon considered Stringer’s recovery to be progressing well, the Bombers did not want to rush him back to play without a full block of training with the main group.
The club has him listed as being one to two weeks away from a return.
The Bombers are also sweating on the fitness of former captain Dyson Heppell (foot) and will make a decision on his availability for the Hawks’ clash during the week.
Essendon’s general manager of performance Daniel McPherson said Stringer, 28, had already put in a solid twoweek block of running and kicking since the injury. “Our performance team have put together a comprehensive plan with Jake to get him back to his best post injury,” McPherson said. “He participated in a strong session on Saturday, and we want to make sure he has a block of full training with the main group before he is available for selection.
“It’s a long season ahead and we want to ensure Jake is fully ready to go when he returns to play, so we won’t be rushing him back.”
Stringer kicked 25 goals from his 15 games for the Bombers last season and was the club’s leading goalkicker in 2021.
Heppell sprained his foot in the hitout against Gold Coast and the Bombers said his recovery was progressing well and he would face a fitness test.
Small forward Matt Guelfi and midfielder Kyle Langford pushed their case for round 1 selection after strong performances in the club’s VFL practice match against Frankston on Saturday.
Midfielder Jye Caldwell (ankle) and second-year Bomber Ben Hobbs (calf) will also face fitness tests this week.
The Bombers face Hawthorn at the MCG on Sunday.