Essendon Bombers Darcy Parish is on the verge of making a return to the Essendon lineup as he continues to recover from a troublesome calf injury. The 26-year-old has been sidelined since round 10 after reaggravating the injury initially sustained in June. His imminent comeback is expected to provide a significant boost to the Bombers’ clearance game during the crucial final weeks of the home-and-away season.
Parish’s absence has been felt by the team, as he has been a key player in their midfield, known for his ability to win crucial contests and deliver the ball effectively to forwards. With the season drawing to a close, his return could be pivotal for Essendon’s playoff aspirations. The Bombers have struggled with consistency in the midfield, and Parish’s presence is likely to enhance their performance, particularly in contested situations.
On a less optimistic note, defender Kaine Baldwin has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2024 season. Baldwin has been dealing with a navicular stress injury that has not responded to treatment as hoped. General Manager of AFL Daniel McPherson provided an update, stating, “Kaine’s recovery from his recent navicular stress injury hasn’t progressed as quickly as we’d like and he’s still showing symptoms with variations in his program.” Given the limited time left in the AFL season, the decision was made in consultation with Baldwin to focus on a full recovery rather than rush him back into action.
In other injury news, mid-season draftee Saad El-Hawli is projected to return from a syndesmosis injury in the next 3-4 weeks, adding another positive note to the Bombers’ injury list. Additionally, young key defender Zach Reid is out of his sling after undergoing surgery to repair a pectoral rupture last month and has started running, suggesting he could be back in contention sooner rather than later.
As the Bombers gear up for the final stretch of the season, the mix of promising recoveries and unfortunate setbacks will play a crucial role in shaping their campaign. The team will be eager to capitalize on Parish’s return while navigating the challenges posed by Baldwin’s absence.