ESSENDON is hopeful Orazio Fantasia will only miss the Bombers' round two clash with Sydney after straining his quad at training on the weekend.
AFL.com.au revealed on Sunday the important forward suffered a quad injury during the club's training session at Tullamarine on Saturday
Another injury setback for Essendon forward Orazio Fantasia. The speedster suffered a quad injury on Saturday. Club hopeful it is minor but will find out more tomorrow.
— Callum Twomey (@CalTwomey) May 31, 2020
More details on @AFLcomau soon.
The Bombers confirmed that Fantasia had been ruled out of their trip to take on the Swans at the SCG in Essendon's return to footy on Sunday, June 14.
"Scans have confirmed Orazio has sustained a low-grade strain, which will rule him out for next week's game against Sydney," Richardson said.
"We are optimistic he will only miss one-to-two matches."
Fantasia has been hindered by injuries in the past two seasons.
Quad injuries and then hip and knee troubles, which both required post-season surgery, limited his impact to just 15 games last season.
And in 2018, finger, adductor and hamstring troubles kept the Bombers barometer to 13 appearances.
He considered a trade back to South Australia at the end of last year but, while contracted to the Bombers until the end of 2021, returned to the club hopeful of getting back to his electrifying best.
He kicked one goal from six disposals in Essendon's round one win over Fremantle.
The Bombers are optimistic captain Dyson Heppell will face the Swans in two weeks as he recovers from his foot injury, but key forward Joe Daniher remains out indefinitely with his groin injury.
