Essendon forward Joe Daniher is set to play his first game in well over a year on Thursday evening against Hawthorn.
Reports on Tuesday night suggested the club would select the injury-plagued star and Bombers great Tim Watson believes it will happen.
“I believe so, (Daniher will play) unless something happens between now and Thursday, which would be great,” Watson told SEN Breakfast.
“He hasn’t played for 15 months and he hasn’t had the opportunity to play practice games. Obviously he’s done a long training campaign and conditioning campaign, he’d have to be a touch rusty would he not?”
Daniher requested a trade to Sydney last year and Watson believes the Swans remain in the frame to target him again.
“I think maybe the Sydney Swans will be just as interested as anyone looking at that game as well,” Watson said.
“My understanding is they’re still interested and he’s still interested in the idea of going there as well.
“For them it’s a decision with Lance Franklin’s injury as well and where he’s going to be at … and what it will look like if (Daniher) isn’t able to play next year.
“You back your own intel, your own doctors and medical people and all that type of thing and they’re a really conservative football team Sydney if you go back and look at the last 15 years, they generally get it right don’t they? Their decision making process has been pretty good.”
Daniher only played four games in 2019 and seven games in 2018 dealing with ongoing groin issues.