Hurley, 18, was progressing well through his first few months at Windy Hill before suffering stomach pain in January.
He was diagnosed with a non-functioning gall bladder, which was removed in a common key-hole operation.
The promising defender was initially expected to miss the NAB Cup following the surgery, but could now make a pre-season appearance in the coming weeks.
"He has pretty much been given a clean bill of health," assistant coach Ashley Prescott told essendonfc.com.au.
"Now it's a matter of building up his fitness and football conditioning base and that could see him being available for an NAB Cup or Challenge game before the start of the year.
"He had been fantastic at training [before the operation]. He has a great ability to read the play; he is strong defensively and has a fantastic kick from an accuracy and length point of view."
Hurley was taken by the Bombers with selection No.5 in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft, and is touted as veteran Dustin Fletcher's backline successor.
Dream Team watch – Michael Hurley is rated a $134,600 defender in Toyota AFL Dream Team 2009.
