The latest updates on Dyson Heppell, David Zaharakis, Dylan Clarke and more.
4 days
Dyson Heppell is making progress in his quest to return to full fitness. (Photo: AFL Photos)
Young midfielder Dylan Clarke will have a delayed start to the season, while experienced campaigners Dyson Heppell and David Zaharakis are on track to be available for the early rounds following Essendon’s first injury update of 2021.
Clarke, who was reinstated to the Bombers’ list via December’s rookie draft, suffered an ankle injury before the Christmas break, forcing the 22-year-old to undergo surgery.
“Dylan unfortunately sustained an ankle injury in our last session before the Christmas break. We hoped that it would settle over the break, but unfortunately it was more sinister than we wished,” head of strength and conditioning Sean Murphy said.
“He’s gone in for surgery on Saturday to get a clean out, and that will hinder his pre-season preparation for about two months. It’s going to be a gradual build-up for ‘Clarkey’, but hopefully we can get him back early in the season.”
Heppell , who had surgery in September to fix an issue with a screw in the ankle he fractured in June, is slowly working back into full training.
Murphy said the 28-year-old was making encouraging progress.
“Hepp’s in a good spot at the moment. He’s come back in really good shape physically, but we’re just managing his loads from the injury that he had last year,” he said.
“He’s starting to build in with the main group in terms of their skill program, and now it’ll be a balance between the right amount of conditioning and the football drills. We’ll build his program over the next five to six weeks and have him ready to play good football when he returns.”
While Zaharakis has recovered from the high-grade quad tendon strain that cut short his 2020 season, the veteran has had a delayed start to pre-season after undergoing surgery on his posterior cruciate ligament (PCL).
Murphy said Zaharakis was ticking the boxes in his recovery.
“Zacka had PCL surgery over the off-season. He’s in a really good spot at the moment. All his strength markers are where we want them to be,” he said.
“He’s starting to build his loads from a running perspective. Hopefully over the next four to five weeks he’ll start to integrate back into the main group and be in full skills training.”
After his breakout 2020 season was cut short by a syndesmosis injury, midfielder Andrew McGrath has returned to pre-season in full fitness and showing no ill-effects.
It’s also positive news for fellow youngster Tom Hird , who has overcome the navicular stress fracture that sidelined him in his first year at the club.
“Andy sustained that syndesmosis injury late in the season. As we always expect from Andy, he’s a professional and he did everything over that break to make sure he was right for day one of pre-season,” Murphy said.
“Pre-Christmas we were able to tick off the last part of his rehab to ensure he would integrate in. He hasn’t missed a beat since and is in full training. He’s ready to go and has been impressive on the track.
“Tom had that navicular stress fracture last year, which kept him out for the whole season. He has now built up his loads over the off-season through to now, where he’s into full skills and with the full group.
“We’ll keep an eye on his loads given his history, but he’s a little animal and trains at a high intensity, so if anything we’ll need to control him a little bit. He’s in a really good spot at the moment. It’s nice to see him part of the main group and learning the game plan.”
Essendon will face Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on February 18 in its first competitive hitout of 2021, before rounding out its pre-season campaign against Greater Western Sydney at Manuka Oval on March 5.
Sucks for Clarke but luckily he’s not a best 22 player
This time around they need to just make sure that when Heppell comes back that he’s fully fit and confident in his body again. Even if that takes until 5 or 6 weeks into the season (or later). He can’t afford any more false starts at this stage of his career. Get him right.
Looks like Heppell and Zaka will miss the first couple games
No mention of others who seem to have been undertaking modified training such as Ridley, Guelfi, Redman, Stringer and Perkins
Just make McGrath captain
Johnson?
“on track to be available for the early rounds”
see ya mid year hep. he’s cooked
I am no medical expert but question why they wouldn’t have done the surgery earlier rather than waiting for the quad to heal and then have the op.
I’d hate to burden him so early in his career and coming back from injury. I’d have Stringer until Hepp is back.
“Pushing to be healthy for round 1” means he’ll be back rounds 3-4.
“On track to be available for the early rounds” means he’ll be back rounds 5-6.
Not surprised at all with Hep the bloke is legitimately cooked
Decent result really given previous campaigns.
Round 1 is still over 8 weeks away - I doubt we’ll see Heppell in the pre-season games but he sounds like he’s on track to be ready for the start of the proper season, all things going well (I know, I know).
Surprised that Stringer, Guelfi, Ridley, etc weren’t mentioned but I’ll take that as a good sign.
Overall, it seems as though the list is actually in fairly reasonable shape (in terms of more serious injuries) compared to previous years.
It’s obvious we will never get a full season from hep again
If I were Rutten would take the captaincy from him and give it to Merret or McGrath time for a young bloke to lead this club who will be around at our next flag tilt
Can any of the above pessimists point to where in the article it says Hepp is either doubtful or won’t be available for Round 1?
“He’s starting to build in with the main group in terms of their skill program, and now it’ll be a balance between the right amount of conditioning and the football drills. We’ll build his program over the next five to six weeks and have him ready to play good football when he returns.”
Round 1 is 8 weeks away.
Talk about either confirmation bias, or imaginary words on the page, not just in the head.
Re: Tom Hird. Animal.
“We’ll keep an eye on his loads given his history, but he’s a little animal and trains at a high intensity, so if anything we’ll need to control him a little bit. He’s in a really good spot at the moment. It’s nice to see him part of the main group and learning the game plan.”
Bring him in.
With Joe leaving let’s hope Tom becomes the next f/s gun
Could be ready for round 1 but the issue is he’s had another intrupted pre season and hardly trained
In another words you can’t
Try deleting a post occasionally Nino