Essendon could unleash last year’s top draft pick Elijah Tsatas in a bid to restart their spluttering finals campaign against West Coast on Saturday, with coach Brad Scott declaring the No.5 selection was “knocking the door down” in the VFL.
The Bombers are no closer to knowing when Sam Draper (hip), Jake Stringer (foot) and Dylan Shiel (foot) will return, but Scott insisted the trio, along with star defender Jordan Ridley, who is listed as five to seven weeks away, were working through their rehab programs with the goal of returning this season.
Tsatas though is the frontrunner for inclusion against the Eagles, with the Bombers committed to bringing fellow on-baller Will Setterfield back via the lower level this week.
“I wouldn’t want to speculate one way or the other because we genuinely don’t know, but they’re certainly a chance (to return this season) – they’re showing good enough signs that we’re pushing (them) really strongly,” Scott said.
“By no means have we put them on ice and said they won’t play again.
“Ridley fits that category as well – he’s rehabbing with a view to playing this year.”
Scott said Setterfield would be eased back in after being cleared to return from a foot injury that has sidelined him since round 9.
The Carlton recruit played every game at AFL level before the injury in what was shaping as a breakout season, averaging 22 disposals, six tackles and three clearances.
“He’s been training really strongly … he’s available for senior selection, but he’s missed quite a big chunk of footy, so he’ll play VFL footy this week, which is a really important step forward for him and for us to get him back in our team,” Scott said.
Tsatas has emerged as a leader of the Bombers’ VFL midfield since his return from knee surgery two months ago, but Scott could not guarantee him a debut.
“I think trying to select the side before you’ve had your main training session … for me, it’s always fraught with danger,” he said.
“Everyone has to remember he missed over three months with a knee surgery right on the eve of the season, so it’s been a long, slow build for Elijah.
“His performances are really starting to knock the door down, so he’s very, very close.”
Scott acknowledged that the strongest finals teams tended to have a relatively clean bill of health late in the season but said the absence of senior players was helping him to grow depth in his first season at the club.
“Every team at this time of year would love to have their full complement, and that’s probably consistent with the top teams who are competitive right at the pointy end of September – most of them have got pretty close to full availability,” he said.
“We’re in the first year of building a foundation for our football club that we think is going to hold us in good stead for a long time to come … while you’d like to have all your personnel available, getting other players into the team is a big bonus for us.”