Important Essendon defender Michael Hurley is staring at time on the sidelines after it was confirmed he has suffered a minor hamstring strain.



Hurley was unable to play out the side’s loss to Carlton last Saturday and Physical Performance Manager Justin Crow says he is likely to spend a fortnight out of the side.

“Michael Hurley actually didn’t finish the game, he finished the game on the bench,” Crow said on the SKINS Injury Update on Tuesday.

“He came off with maybe three or four minutes to go with a cramp in his hamstrings.

“Obviously we scanned that, he’s got a hamstring strain. It’s a bleed from the interface between the hamstring muscles with very little muscle fibre involvement, which is a good thing in that it helps the prognosis.

“He’ll definitely miss this week, most likely he’ll miss two games, but it’s not impossible he’ll do a little bit better or a little bit slower depending on how he tracks over the next few sessions.”

Young gun Andrew McGrath is also set to miss this week’s Country Game against Geelong as he recovers from a calf injury sustained during the club’s frantic run of three games in 11 days from rounds five to seven.

“Andy, out of our block of three matches, came away after finishing the game against the Hawks with calf tightness in both sides,” Crow said.

“In the end he was left with tightness in one side, so rather than training him we checked what was going on (and) it’s a small bleed in that calf, which is a low-grade soleus strain.

“Obviously with Andy he needed to miss last week, he’ll also miss this coming weekend and then depending on how he’s progressing we’ll be looking at his best day to return.”

Dynamic forward Jake Stringer was sent for a scan on Tuesday, but Crow said it was largely precautionary as the medical team continues to gain an understanding of the former Bulldog.

“Jake has a little bit of back stiffness out of the game (against the Blues).

“(There is) nothing we’re particularly concerned by, we just want to get a really good idea of what’s going on in there like we would with all of our players as we learn more and more about Jake and his body.”

One forward in line for a return to the park is Josh Green, who has overcome a hamstring strain suffered on ANZAC Day.

“Obviously the whole group trains tomorrow, Josh will be part of that,” Crow said.

“We’ll be looking to see him train with speed and intensity after his hamstring issue.

“All going well, he’ll be made available, but he’s still got to get through that session exactly how we’d like to be made available.”

Travis Colyer has also made progress as he continues to recover from a broken foot and Crow said he is set to reach an important milestone at the training session on Wednesday.

“Trav will be back in with the main group for the first time since his injury, he’ll be in the warm-up only tomorrow and then obviously progress up his training with the group from there.”

The Bombers face Geelong at 4:35pm at the MCG on Saturday.