Peter Wright may not take to the field in 2023 as further details of his shoulder injury come to light.
Wright dislocated his shoulder on Friday, just over 48 hours before Essendon’s Round 1 clash with Hawthorn.
The Bombers provided an update on Saturday afternoon, stating the 26-year-old will be sent for surgery next week with an expectation he would miss the first half of the season.
But there are now fears that timeline is overly optimistic, according to Nine’s Damian Barrett.
"There is significant doubt about whether he actually plays again this year."
— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) March 19, 2023
Damian Barrett gives us an update on Peter Wright, as the panel dissects the Bombers' 'untenable' football department conflict. #9AFLSFS | @Channel9 pic.twitter.com/laJH5NHcAJ
“As we speak this morning, there is significant doubt about whether he actually plays this year,” he told Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.
“That is yet to play out, but on top of dislocating the shoulder he has actually done some serious damage to the bones around where the shoulder did dislocate.
“That’s where you get real problems with such an injury and there is an unknown about whether we do see him at all in 2023.”
Wright is Essendon’s reigning best and fairest after a career-best season in 2022, booting 53 goals while playing every game.
Sam Weideman is set to field Wright’s void early in the season after Essendon traded for the former Demon last year.
He’ll team up with fellow key forward Harrison Jones, who’s tipped for improvement in his fourth year at the top level.