Brad Scott says Jake Stringer is “medically available” to suit up for Essendon, but can’t put a timeline on when the utility will return.
Stringer’s pre-season has been plagued by injury concerns, the latest of which was a hamstring niggle that’s prevented him from training with the main group.
It’s not the first time the 28-year-old has been underdone heading into a season, having also missed the opening round for the last two seasons.
In his first season at the helm, Scott told reporters on Friday morning that the club will get fitness into Stringer before selecting him in 2023.
“He’s medically available now,” Scott said.
“He’s in full training, it's just a matter of getting the work into him.
“I can’t put a timeframe on that. He’s training well so when he comes in, I suspect it will be sooner than later because he is ready, but he’s not ready for Round 1.
“There’s medically available and then there is being fully conditioned and ready to compete for 12 minutes.”
The Bombers will also be sweating on the fitness of Peter Wright, who left the training track early on Friday with an apparent shoulder injury, per AFL Media’s Cal Twomey.
Essendon announced that the key forward has signed a four-year contract extension just hours earlier.
More to come.