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Injury news: Hunter surgery successful, Draper set to rejoin main group
See the latest January injury news.
By essendonfc.com.au
Sam Draper is closing in on a main training return. (Photo: AFL Photos)
Essendon forward Jaiden Hunter successfully underwent a knee reconstruction yesterday after rupturing his ACL last week.
The 21-year-old will now enter a recovery phase before commencing a lengthy rehab program.
Ruck Sam Draper has reached a milestone in his recovery from a groin injury, with the 25-year-old expected to begin to integrate into training next week. Draper underwent groin surgery over the off-season and has just completed a strong rehabilitation running block following the Christmas break.
Dylan Shiel is also progressing well in his recovery from a foot injury, with the midfielder continuing to build his on-field running volumes with the aim of commencing agility work and reintegration into training next month.
Fellow forward Tex Wanganeen is progressing steadily following surgery on a navicular injury in his foot at the end of the 2023 season. The 20-year-old has commenced running on the Alter-G machine while continuing in a high-volume off-legs conditioning program.
He’s playing the Alwyn Davey Snr CHF role, so yeah, key position! 
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Thought Hunter was more 23-4. 21 is pretty young to have him written off like a lot here seem to be doing. Granted he’s had a few bad ones but so’s Baldwin. Hunter reportedly as much upside as him, hope he gets another chance.
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If he’s absolutely dedicated and 100% professional in his rehab, I dare say that will go a long way towards convincing the club that he deserves another crack at it.
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I think it’s entirely dependent on he we rate him against available prospects.
If he’s clearly better, we’ll keep him. If it’s close, we’ll probably try someone else.
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Better than running on:
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That’s fair, but before Baldwin’s second (from memory) ACL he was being talked about as a first round draftee.
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Yeah can’t discount the Caddy factor I guess, or Langford emerging as he has. Depth up there though, of a high quality, so important. Hope we show faith, as we have with Wanganeen also.
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Cant remember it ever being this quiet in here.
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Meanwhile, down in the Hangar injury and sick bay departments …
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Such a wave of relief and a little disbelief in the peaceful silence of our long, fit list.
My panic dollars account is nearly full, balance has never been as high at this time of the year.
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Essendon talls and stress fractures. Name a more iconic duo
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Surely stress related injuries are a black mark against your Fitness department? I still don’t understand how Sean Murphy survived the purge last year.
I’m a huge Baldwin fan, and he seemed to be firing this pre-season, but given he appears down Brad’s pecking order and on a one year deal, this one could be tough for him to come back from.
Fingers crossed.
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Pull up that fkn turf.
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