But he is just one of a number of quality Bombers at VFL level pressing for a return to the top side.
Laycock, 24, had not played since round 20 last season after suffering problems with his navicular bone in his foot.
He required two operations – one to insert a screw into the site of the fracture, and another to remove it in February after seemingly overcoming the injury.
But he suffered an adverse reaction to the second surgery and was put in a moon boot in early March. Doctors were unsure when he would be right to return to the game.
On Sunday, the Tasmanian made his comeback against Coburg in Bendigo, and was one of the Bombers' best.
"Jason played a good 60 minutes and we were really pleased with his performance given he hasn't played at all this season," Essendon assistant coach Gary O'Donnell told the club's website.
"He was the biggest positive from the game as far as our senior side was concerned."
The Bombers will be hesitant to rush the big man back into the seniors, given his time away from the game and the nature of his injury.
However, his presence could be more than valuable in the second half of the season, given the long-term absence of Hille and the developing nature of emerging ruckman Tom Bellchambers.
Mark McVeigh, Kyle Reimers and Hayden Skipworth also returned from injuries, with all three also playing around 60 minutes.
"Mark McVeigh definitely needed the run as did Hayden Skipworth. Both did a few nice things but they will have derived great benefit from getting a game under their belt," O'Donnell said.
"Kyle Reimers did some nice things. He kicked a nice goal coming off a wing and kicked the ball well to advantage going inside 50m."
Young defender Darcy Daniher played well, while Scott Lucas kicked three goals.
Former Geelong midfielder Brent Prismall played his third game in his comeback from a knee reconstruction, and was listed as one of the side's best.
Essendon gun Andrew Welsh could play in the VFL this Sunday against Sandringham as he returns from a serious ankle injury sustained in the pre-season.
