BomberAce7
23 Mar 2009, 16:08
Promising young defender/midfielder David Myers is available for selection this week after being given the all-clear by medical staff following an ankle injury.
Myers experienced ankle soreness following Essendon’s practice match against North Melbourne in Bendigo last fortnight but has since resumed full training.
Football operations manager Paul Hamilton said Myers would be a welcome addition to the side should he be named on Thursday.
“It is good to have David available. His injury isn’t as bad as we might have first thought,” Hamilton said.
“He has recovered well and is training and will be available for Round 1 pending selection.
“We will select the team later in the week, so he will be available to play if he makes the side.”
Henry Slattery, who sustained a grade one ankle injury in the same match, must pass a fitness test before being cleared to play this Sunday.
“We need to be fully confident that Slattery is able to give 100% before he is cleared to play so he will require a fitness test this week and we will work that out as the week goes on,” Hamilton said.
“He is nearly at full training and is doing a fair bit of training but we haven’t tested his ankle out 100% in terms of contact so we will have to wait and see as to whether he will be available.”
Meanwhile, Scott Gumbleton will see a specialist this week to get further advice on a back irritation which sidelined him for Essendon’s last two practice matches.
“Scott is doing non-weight bearing work. He has progressed in that area but not in terms of his normal training load. Until we see good strong signs of recovery, we are not going to return him to the training track,” Hamilton said.
“He is feeling better than he was last week so he is progressing. It is always a difficult one with these type of back injuries. We have had some medical opinions and are seeking other medical opinions before we push forward with him.”
Meanwhile Mark McVeigh and Kyle Reimers have been ruled out of selection for Round 1.
Myers experienced ankle soreness following Essendon’s practice match against North Melbourne in Bendigo last fortnight but has since resumed full training.
Football operations manager Paul Hamilton said Myers would be a welcome addition to the side should he be named on Thursday.
“It is good to have David available. His injury isn’t as bad as we might have first thought,” Hamilton said.
“He has recovered well and is training and will be available for Round 1 pending selection.
“We will select the team later in the week, so he will be available to play if he makes the side.”
Henry Slattery, who sustained a grade one ankle injury in the same match, must pass a fitness test before being cleared to play this Sunday.
“We need to be fully confident that Slattery is able to give 100% before he is cleared to play so he will require a fitness test this week and we will work that out as the week goes on,” Hamilton said.
“He is nearly at full training and is doing a fair bit of training but we haven’t tested his ankle out 100% in terms of contact so we will have to wait and see as to whether he will be available.”
Meanwhile, Scott Gumbleton will see a specialist this week to get further advice on a back irritation which sidelined him for Essendon’s last two practice matches.
“Scott is doing non-weight bearing work. He has progressed in that area but not in terms of his normal training load. Until we see good strong signs of recovery, we are not going to return him to the training track,” Hamilton said.
“He is feeling better than he was last week so he is progressing. It is always a difficult one with these type of back injuries. We have had some medical opinions and are seeking other medical opinions before we push forward with him.”
Meanwhile Mark McVeigh and Kyle Reimers have been ruled out of selection for Round 1.