Dashing defender Mason Redman has been ruled out of Essendon’s blockbuster AFL clash with Carlton with a hamstring strain, while star forward Kyle Langford will have to prove his fitness.
Redman pulled up sore after Sunday’s loss to Gold Coast, while Langford was substituted out of the game with a corked hip.
The Bombers said their leading goalkicker Langford and ruckman Todd Goldstein (ankle), who was rested against the Suns, would have to get through training to prove their fitness for Sunday night’s game at the MCG.
Essendon have the bye after the Blues contest and hope Redman will recover in time for their round 15 match against West Coast.
Gun midfielder Darcy Parish has suffered a setback in his recovery from a calf strain and will be sidelined for another five-to-six weeks.
Talented but luckless defender Zach Reid will be in a race against time to feature again this season after requiring surgery on a torn pectoral muscle suffered in the VFL.
Reid has played just nine AFL games in four years, and one across the past two seasons, due to a horror run with injuries.
Given the recovery time can be up to three months, Reid would be unlikely to feature again this campaign unless the Bombers make finals.
Carlton ruckman Marc Pittonet faces a fitness test in his bid to return from a finger injury.
Geelong could regain Patrick Dangerfield from a hamstring injury against Sydney, with the skipper and forward Ollie Henry both facing fitness tests.
“Both are tracking pretty well, Dangerfield has been training with the team for close to two weeks now so he’ll be a test later this week,” assistant football manager Brett Johnson said.
“Ollie was subbed off during the game on the weekend with some hamstring awareness.
“His function was slightly limited during the game which was the reason for subbing him out, therefore he’ll be a test to play this week as well.”
St Kilda key forward Max King (knee) will have to pass a fitness test on Thursday to face twin brother Ben’s Gold Coast on Saturday night.
Suns skipper Jarrod Witts has been ruled out with a hamstring injury but is expected to return in round 15.
The Brisbane Lions are set to regain Brandon Starcevich (calf) for Friday’s clash with the Western Bulldogs, after a month on the sidelines.