Jake Stringer appears unlikely to be ready for Round 1 after scans confirmed the ESSENDON star had suffered a hamstring strain.
He has officially been ruled out of Thursday’s clash against Gold Coast but given the club’s season opener is three weeks away it will be difficult - though not impossible - for the forward, who has battled injury setbacks across the pre-season and in recent years, to be declared fully fit.
Stringer has never played a full home and away season and managed 15 games in 2022, though he was subbed out after a quarter of the last one.
The powerful forward was absent from the track on Wednesday morning as the Bombers went through light drills ahead of their departure for Queensland.
Stringer moved around the gym at The Hangar but did not join his teammates for the session.
After leaving training with an injury complaint on Tuesday, Stringer looked disappointed.
New Essendon captain Zach Merrett defended Stringer, saying a lack of preparation was not behind his continued injury woes.
“Jake, like every player, has his own program to an extent,” Merrett said.
“He’s a very unique player … him, De Goey, Petracca, these guys that are super explosive and powerful are unique, and at times I’m sure with that explosiveness he has injuries that will pop up.
“We just want him to get back to that explosiveness and impact on the scoreboard and forward of centre.”
But their match simulation opponents GOLD COAST have copped their own blow with Touk Miller to miss both pre-season hitout due to a “mild” hamstring injury.
Miller suffered the blow in an intra-club match simulation last Friday but the club is optimistic he’ll be ready for Round 1.
“Touk felt some discomfort in his hamstring on Friday and on assessment, has a mild hamstring injury,” Gold Coast head physiotherapist Lindsay Bull said.
“Touk will reintegrate into full training over the next couple of weeks leading into the start of the season.”
The Suns will also be without Lachie Weller (knee) and Wil Powell (hamstring) for the clash with the Bombers.
ST KILDA’s injury woes have increased with Zak Jones (Achilles) set to miss the start of the season.
A calf strain and stomach issue limited his pre-season output with the former Swan having played 13 games in each of the last two seasons.
Now while Jones’ return date is uncertain, he will at least miss Round 1.
Crucial key forward Max King is moving towards a return to training but won’t be ready until at least Round 7 after his shoulder reconstruction.
Tim Membrey won’t play in either of the Saints’ pre-season games but the club is optimistic he’ll be fit for Round 1.
GWS has copped a pair of blows to their small forward crop, already reduced in number by the loss of Bobby Hill in the trade period.
Ex-Demon Toby Bedford and Brent Daniels both injured their hamstrings in match simulation drills last Friday.
Bedford will miss up to three months while Daniels, who missed the entire 2022 season with hamstring issues, is managing another tweak though optimistic he could play in Round 1.
ADELAIDE will take it slow with Taylor Walker with the veteran forward to miss this Friday’s trip to face Fremantle, before returning for the club’s second trip west to face West Coast.
“As you get a little bit older you get looked after a bit more, so we’ll leave it for the real stuff,” he explained on Triple M Breakfast.
