The 3 knee boys are progressing well. We know Martin is an unknown. Cox is training fully.
Perkins has a groin issue, I’ve heard he will integrate back into training in Jan.
Jones - hasn’t been seen running yet this pre-season
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I saw this a week back, and noted Robey in the comments sections
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That’s all I’ve seen from the Training Reports. I don’t think he’s been seen on the field at all.
I’d imagine that isn’t actually him.
Or maybe it is, and he calls himself big Sullivan Robey.
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Hope its not serious also as i don’t wish injury on anyone, but based on his 1st 100 odd games or so, barring an injury riddled year Perkins should be no lock for a game from next year.
So in the past couple of days we have had
Caddy - groin
Martin - confirmation - re did acl/out for 2026
Ridley - Hammy
Langford I think??
How can this happen in preseason training…
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If vehicles didn’t move, the road toll would be zero.
Maybe we could train with VR?
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The sooner we move past the injury prone senior players the quicker we progress to a flag, odds on that Parish breaks before Rd 1.
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Essendon’s nightmare soft tissue run has continued with gun defender Jordan Ridley suffering another hamstring injury.
The Herald Sun has confirmed scans have shown Ridley has hurt his hamstring again at training this week and will be put on light duties.
It is a devastating setback for one of Essendon’s most important players who considered a trade to Brisbane Lions last season due to his repeated injury issues.
Forward Kyle Langford also reported leg soreness after Friday’s session and is expected to scale back his training loads.
But it is hoped the injury is not serious.
Langford had enjoyed a strong training block over the offseason but he left the track early on Friday.
Ridley’s injury in particular is another massively frustrating setback for the backman and the Bombers after a disastrous injury run in 2025.
Ridley has played only 19 games over the past two seasons due to repeated soft tissue injuries and is desperate to stay on the park next season.
The club overhauled its entire fitness department at season’s end in a bid to overcome its horror run of soft tissue injuries in recent years.
Mathew Inness was poached from West Coast to lead the high performance department, while new strength and conditioning boss David Regan came across from NBA club Brooklyn Nets.
But the Bombers have suffered another significant hiccup as the new fitness department staff try to push its senior contingent.
Essendon has made no secret it wants to push its players over preseason to help build the fitness capabilities and resilience in its players’ bodies.
But coach Brad Scott would love to have a full list at the start of the season after losing as much as half of the club’s squad to various injury issues last year, prompting the overhaul.
Don’t miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
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Essendon’s nightmare soft tissue run has continued with gun defender Jordan Ridley suffering another hamstring injury.
The Herald Sun has confirmed scans have shown Ridley has hurt his hamstring again at training this week and will be put on light duties.
It is a devastating setback for one of Essendon’s most important players who considered a trade to Brisbane Lions last season due to his repeated injury issues.
Jordan Ridley has suffered another setback. Picture: Getty Images
Forward Kyle Langford also reported leg soreness after Friday’s session and is expected to scale back his training loads.
But it is hoped the injury is not serious.
Langford had enjoyed a strong training block over the offseason but he left the track early on Friday.
Ridley’s injury in particular is another massively frustrating setback for the backman and the Bombers after a disastrous injury run in 2025.
Ridley has played only 19 games over the past two seasons due to repeated soft tissue injuries and is desperate to stay on the park next season.
The club overhauled its entire fitness department at season’s end in a bid to overcome its horror run of soft tissue injuries in recent years.
Kyle Langford (left) is another Bomber who is struggling to get his body right. Picture: Getty Images
Mathew Inness was poached from West Coast to lead the high performance department, while new strength and conditioning boss David Regan came across from NBA club Brooklyn Nets.
But the Bombers have suffered another significant hiccup as the new fitness department staff try to push its senior contingent.
Essendon has made no secret it wants to push its players over preseason to help build the fitness capabilities and resilience in its players’ bodies.
But coach Brad Scott would love to have a full list at the start of the season after losing as much as half of the club’s squad to various injury issues last year, prompting the overhaul.
Nic Martin will miss the entire 2026 season. Picture: Getty Images
MARTIN OUT FOR 2026
- Josh Barnes and Matthew Forrest
Essendon star Nic Martin will miss the entire 2026 season after further surgery to his injured knee in a bitter blow for the Bombers.
The dashing half back and midfielder tore his ACL last season and was expected to miss until about the bye rounds, pending his recovery.
But he slipped at training earlier in November, which resulted in Martin getting sent for scans.
The scans confirmed damage to the reconstructed knee, which the surgeon and club’s high-performance team opting to have further surgery, ruling him out for the season.
“It’s obviously a setback, but I have complete confidence in our medical and high-performance team and our long-term plan for me,” Martin said.I’m feeling good post-surgery and I’m ready to take the time to build my knee back up and I know I’m in the best hands possible.
“I’ll attack this rehab with everything I’ve got to come back stronger.”
The club will take a long-term focus with Martin’s recovery, aiming to have the star ready for the start of pre-season heading into the 2027 campaign.
Essendon footy boss Daniel McPherson said there was real disappointment for Martin.
“We are all really disappointed for Nic, but we are also really proud of the maturity with which he has handled this setback,” he said.
“The decision to go back in for surgery sets Nic up for the best long-term result, and he’s determined to come back from this setback an even better player and stronger athlete.”
It follows recent news of Sullivan Robey’s deloading over the coming months after the club identified a hot spot in the No.9 draftee’s back.
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What if we find some one next year who goes past Martin who is younger and better? by 2027 that might be the case where Martin wont be able to get a game. Footy moves pretty fast and you get left behind quickly
How many black cats we see, ladders we walk under, umbrellas we open inside?
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Martin will still get a game in 2027.
Given he’s probably the second best player at Essendon as it stands, I reckon he’s pretty safe.
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I blame Thorburn. We need an exorcism.
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Thank you!
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Langford reporting some leg soreness is a “Shattering blow” according to the Herald Sun
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Another day another injury to an Essendon player.
It’s the facilities.
Has to be.
The people have changed.
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The issue is Ridley’s hamstring.
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Ship him to Brisbane then