Another training mishap has left Essendon on edge as their medical team assess a fresh injury concern to reigning best and fairest winner Peter Wright.
The Bombers have already been dealt a pre-season setback with top draft selection Elijah Tsatas suffering a torn meniscus at training last week, with the midfielder facing close to two months on the sidelines.
While a quad issue has kept key forward recruit Sam Weideman off the track, Brad Scott's tall forward stocks look to have taken yet another hit at a pre-season session, with Wright requiring medical assistance on a calf injury on Wednesday.
According to News Corp's Jay Clark, Wright was left in the hands of the Bombers' medical staff as his teammates continued their match simulation, sparking further injury concerns for Scott ahead of his first campaign in charge of the Dons.
The severity of Wright's injury is yet to be known, however the club are said to be confident that Wright will be back on the track in the next week or so.
The former Suns forward was a pivotal piece in Essendon's predominately dissipating 2022 campaign, booting 53 goals for the season in what was a breakout year for the tall forward.
With Weideman currently kept to the sidelines and emerging forward Harry Jones looking to build his fitness levels after an injury-interrupted second season in the AFL, Wright is placed as one of Essendon's most important players heading into 2023.
The 203cm forward is set to headline a new-look attack under Scott this season, with the likes of Weideman, Jones, Will Snelling and returning livewire Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti all pressing to break into the club's best 22.
Jake Stringer is poised to take on more minutes in the forward 50 this season, while the likes of Archie Perkins, Ben Hobbs and Nic Martin are likely to split their duties between the midfield and forward thirds.
Essendon opens its 2023 season with a highly-anticipated clash against rivals Hawthorn at the MCG on Sunday, March 19.
