After a 299-day-long footy hiatus, Essendon star Joe Daniher is set to make his long-awaited return.
Daniher has been declared fit to feature for the Bombers against Carlton in their JLT Community Series clash at Ikon Park on Thursday night.
His 2018 season was ruined by injury, with Daniher sidelined since early May last year following a round seven loss to Hawthorn.
Daniher has been suffering with osteitis pubis - chronic pain in the groin area - and was restricted to just seven games in 2018.
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On Monday, it was confirmed the forward will play against the Blues, albeit on a limited schedule.
Regardless, after 10 months out of the game, Daniher's return to the park is a positive headline for the Bombers as they look to avoid missing the finals for a second year running.
Essendon missed him in 2018, with Daniher coming off a 2017 season that was highlighted by 65 goals, All-Australian honours and the club's best and fairest gong.
"Joe's had a good progression of match play here over the last month," Essendon physical performance manager Justin Crow told the club's website.
"We're really comfortable with how he’s progressing, he's showing no signs of not doing well with his program that we’ve set out, so he’ll be available to play some of the game in JLT (game) one."
He's ready ✅
— Essendon FC (@essendonfc) February 25, 2019
Even in returning to full training, Daniher's chances of reaching Essendon's season opener against GWS remained up in the air.
There were fears Daniher would face a delayed start to the season after he was reported to be making "slow" progress in his return to full training.
However, regardless of Daniher's full return - whenever that may be - St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt believes there's work to be done if the 24-year-old can rise above the potential that earned the Bombers flyer All-Australian honours in 2017.
"I thought he got far too high on the ball for a key forward, so he took his space away from himself basically," Riewoldt told SEN Breakfast on Monday.
"He looked like a player struggling for form and struggling body-wise, which ended up being the case.
"Just as a key forward, sometimes you see things. The ability to split with your opponent and give yourself as much room to work in is one of the greatest assets you can have as a key forward and I thought Joe got far too high on the ball."
