ESSENDON best and fairest winner Devon Smith will be taken out of full contact training for a week after he copped a significant knock to the biceps in the session at Tullamarine on Friday.
A Bombers spokesperson confirmed to AFL.com.au Smith suffered a partial disruption to the muscle in the training session at Tullamarine.
Essendon will be cautious with his return to training following the incident, particularly after being on a modified program pre-Christmas and being eased into training.
Smith participated in the Bombers' modified match simulation session at Tullamarine and got involved in the midfield rotation before joining in tackling drills with teammates on the adjacent oval.
When the three-period match play finished, Smith went over to join the rehab group to complete the conditioning aspect of his training before leaving the track following the incident.
In better news, speedster Orazio Fantasia is back in full training after fully overcoming a finger complaint.
Fantasia spent most of his time in attack where he linked up nicely with the midfielders charging out of the centre square and also went into the middle in bursts.
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Key forward Joe Daniher continues to make key strides in his recovery, joining in bits and pieces of the match simulation session.
Daniher kicked an early goal much to his teammates' delight and took a strong mark floating over the top of a pack, collecting around five disposals in a short sequence when stationed behind the ball.
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Conor McKenna (groin) also joined in the first period of match play before joining Daniher and the other rehab players Josh Begley and Marty Gleeson for a draining conditioning block on the other oval.
Draftee Irving Mosquito also had a couple of exciting moments, taking a strong mark and making a clean breakaway from the man on the mark before delivering a beautifully weighted ball to Sam Draper in front of Michael Hurley inside forward 50.
In the very next passage of play, Mosquito dived full length to smother Tom Jok's clearking kick and keep the ball trapped in the forward line.
Andrew McGrath again thrived in an onball role, exhibiting his speed away from stoppages and zipping in and out of traffic.
Dylan Shiel was dominant through the midfield, winning disposals at will all over the ground and appears to be in top nick heading into his first season with his new club.
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James Stewart trained with the rehab group after experiencing tightness while draftee Jordan Houlahan copped a knock to the jaw in a tackling drill but is expected to pull up fine.
Skipper Dyson Heppell (hamstring tendinitis) and vice-captain Zach Merrett (ankle) watched the match simulation from the sidelines.
Cale Hooker (hamstring) was not spotted on the track.