Essendon have not put a date on Joe Daniher’s AFL return with coach John Worsfold unable to confirm whether the injury-prone forward will feature this season.
Daniher was limited to just 11 games across 2018 and 2019 and hasn’t played since round nine last year due to groin issues.
Worsfold said Daniher, who unsuccessfully sought a trade to Sydney at the end of last season, wouldn’t feature in round two and was a “fair way off” reaching the training intensity required to push for AFL selection.
“I can’t answer that question (whether Daniher will play in 2020),” Worsfold told reporters on Tuesday.
“All I can say is that our aim is to help him get back ready to play, ready to resume his career – so that’s what we’re aiming for.
“He’s progressing well and we’re trying to get him up, ready to go.”
Worsfold emphasised Daniher’s injury rehabilitation wouldn’t be “linear” and his next step was reaching the point where he could join in main training for at least “a couple of weeks” before he could push for selection.
“We’re not too concerned about saying ‘get him back as quickly as possible’,” Worsfold said.
“We’re just following the protocol because … this is about long term for Joe, (to) help him absolutely get over this so his career progresses at the rate we want, rather than trying to get him back one or two weeks earlier.”
Daniher, 26, qualifies for free agency at season’s end but Worsfold said the Bombers weren’t in contract discussions, instead focusing on getting the forward back playing
Dyson Heppell is in doubt to feature in round two as he progresses in his return from a foot injury but has built up his running load, with the Bombers optimistic their captain will feature early.
“It’s going to be line ball I would guess but the good part is that we’re talking that way – that he’s prepping to play now, and it’s just a matter of whether it’s in a couple of weeks or whether it stretches out by an extra week or so,” Worsfold said.
Conor McKenna returns from Ireland later this week but will have to enter a 14-day quarantine period before he can rejoin training and Worsfold conceded it would be “tough” for the speedster to press his case for round two.
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Yeah, of course. But wouldn't it be ironic, and a little bit funny? I can see his acceptance speech. "This one's for you, Joe!"
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
A couple of strong predictions there my friend. Unless there is something in the Sydney drinking water we don't know about. Considering one of the greatest forwards of all time has only won 2 Colemans since he went to Sydney. Daniher's talent level is quite a few rungs down the ladder compared to that great man. He will be competing against the likes of Cameron, Ben Brown, Riewoldt, Hawkins, Lynch, Darling etc. A top 3 finish competing against this sort of talent would be an outstanding result. My advice if you are a betting man, don't take too short an odds on that result.
Kane
Guest
Essendon are the reason he is in this predicament, they brought him back way to early for the ANZAC Day game i believe it was and he's been buggered ever since. Their medical department can't fix him. I'm backing the swans to sort him out and he will repay them with 2 Coleman's.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
He’s a restricted free agent, end of the first round is the lowest I would go, particularly with a draft as compromised as this one
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
They won’t, he’s damaged goods and the reason he wanted to go to the swans was because of the relative anonymity of AFL players in sydney
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I wonder if the Pies will have a crack
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Pick 30? To high?
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
A real talent cruelled by injury
Macca
Roar Rookie
A 27 year old with 11 games in 3 years shouldn't cost much. Bombers walk away with a second round compo pick.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Seems a free hit for the Swans
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Pride and hubris are poor reasons for resisting trades, someone needs to tell Dodoro this already. Daniher is gone next season and Essendon will pick up the tab for his rehab in the meantime.
Macca
Roar Rookie
Just think this could be Sydney's problem now.