Essendon midfielder Jye Caldwell and vice-skipper Andrew McGrath will undergo procedures in the next week, both repairing respective injuries sustained during the season.
Caldwell will have an athroscopy on his hip following a concern raised toward the end of the season. The 23-year-old played through the injury in the Bombers' fight for finals, and may unfortunately see a hampered preseason under a modified program.
McGrath sustained a wrist injury earlier this year which he also played through, but will now undergo surgery and too go through an altered preseason, but with the capacity for full aerobic training.
Forwards Kyle Langford and Jye Menzie have already undergone surgery for separate concerns, Menzie's shoulder reconstruction will also force him to start his November preseason under a modified program, with the expectation to return fully over the new year.
Langford too had an arthroscope on a knee concern, fixing up his meniscus with the expectation to begin running in the next week weeks.
Fortunately it seems Langford's preseason will not be hindered, with the hope of training fully before Christmas.
While just four names on the post-season injury list is a positive outcome, three are critical coggs for the Bombers' future success and delayed starts to the upcoming preseason is not ideal for a club seeking a more concerted effort this summer than most.
Club GM Daniel McPherson will take the positives out of the update and prepare for an important preseason with not too much to worry about on the injury front.
"We expect the large majority of our playing group will be in full training right from the beginning of the pre-season program when they return in November.โ
— Essendon FC (@essendonfc) August 30, 2024
โEnd of season medical reviews with our playing group have confirmed we're in pretty good shape heading into the off-season,โ McPherson said.
โThe number of players who require off-season surgeries is low and others who finished the year with soft tissue injuries have been given comprehensive off-season rehab programs.
"This means we expect the large majority of our playing group will be in full training right from the beginning of the pre-season program when they return in November.โ