Essendon forward James Stewart is poised to play his first AFL match in more than two years as the injury-hit Bombers prepare to face Brisbane.
Essendon’s forward stocks took another hit when Jayden Laverde suffered an ankle injury in their three-point win over Adelaide.
Laverde joined forwards Joe Daniher (groin, calf), Jake Stringer (ankle), Cale Hooker (calf) and Orazio Fantasia (calf) on the sidelines.
Stewart last played senior football in round 11 of the 2018 season, his second as a Bombers player after switching from GWS.
He then struggled with form and a long-term groin injury.
Stewart suffered a setback soon after the season restart in June when he was deemed a close contact of teammate Conor McKenna, who had tested positive to COVID-19, and was isolated for 14 days.
Coach John Worsfold told reporters on Wednesday that the high injury toll won’t force radical changes to his attacking strategy and that Stewart is “ready to go”.
“We’ll continue to work with the way that we want to move the ball and that does mean that different players may have to step in and play some other roles,” Worsfold said.
“So if it was a James Stewart coming into the line-up he’ll be very clear on how we move the ball and what his role in the forward half would be.
“All of our depth players have been training in and are aware of the roles that we would like them to play.”
With skipper Dyson Heppell (ankle) out indefinitely, Worsfold’s personnel problems worsened with Kyle Langford’s one-match suspension for making front-on contact with Crows forward Shane McAdam.
“It’s very hard to challenge … you’ve got to challenge in specific areas where you think you can get it downgraded,” the coach said of the decision to accept the ban.
“In the end the fact that it was front-on, regardless of any intent, it makes it very hard to challenge.”
On a positive note, the Bombers will be buoyed by the return of star midfielder Dylan Shiel from suspension for Friday night’s Metricon Stadium clash with Brisbane.
The Lions are second on the ladder heading into round nine while Essendon are seventh – although both teams have suffered just two losses, with the Bombers’ round-three clash with Melbourne postponed after McKenna’s positive test.