ESSENDON has declared Joe Daniher fully fit as the Bombers ponder whether his return will come on Good Friday or through the VFL this week.
Daniher trained with the main group at Tullamarine on Tuesday morning, showing no signs of the calf setback he suffered five weeks ago.
Stationed at full-forward in match simulation, Daniher commanded the forward 50 alongside a first-choice attack.
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With the Good Friday date with North Melbourne to be followed by another six-day break into Anzac Day, coach John Worsfold said a call on Daniher's return would be made post-training.
"At the moment, he's fit to play full game-time," Worsfold said before training on Tuesday.
"That's a real great sign, everyone's pretty pumped about that.
"Whether he plays AFL this week or not, there's a lot of factors to take into account.
"We're confident he's done enough work. He's a bit like Cale Hooker (coming off a calf) last week, making sure that if they've done the work, they're ready to go.
"The fixtures play a part on how we manage Joe throughout the next month."
Essendon's VFL outfit plays North Melbourne in Werribee on Saturday morning, just five days before the Anzac Day blockbuster against Collingwood at the MCG.
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Should Daniher play in the AFL, Worsfold said he would be ready to return to his back-up ruck role behind Tom Bellchambers, one he played throughout two JLT Community Series fixtures.
That would leave a decision to be made at selection on support ruckman Zac Clarke, who has partnered Bellchambers in Bombers' return to form over the past fortnight.
Clarke was a notable absentee on the track on Tuesday along with Devon Smith and David Zaharakis, with the trio expected to train on Wednesday.
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David Myers trained fully, sporting a lacerated face courtesy of a wayward boot from Lion Eric Hipwood on Saturday.
Worsfold also said Aaron Francis was "definitely in the selection mix" after he was dropped last week, using the Bombers' VFL bye to overcome ongoing soreness.
The Bombers were led onto the track on Tuesday by five-year-old Bombers fan Jack, who will run through the banner with the team at Good Friday's 'Kick For the Kids' at Marvel Stadium.
A patient at the Royal Children's Hospital, Jack has battled craniosynostosis, requiring two skull reconstructions before the age of one, with another scheduled for next week.
The youngster addressed the pre-training meeting, drawing rapturous applause as he demanded Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti improve on last week's haul of seven majors with 10 against the Roos.
