Essendon have confirmed a setback has struck sidelined midfielder Darcy Parish, who has suffered a calf strain in his bid to return from a back injury.
Parish is yet to be seen this season due to the setback that hampered the end of his pre-season, with the one-time All-Australian eyeing a return to the field in recent weeks.
The 27-year-old was due to feature in the Bombers' VFL matchplay this weekend on managed minutes but has since reported calf soreness, with scans revealing a strain in his leg.
The club is yet to determine the likely return timeframe for Parish's latest setback.
"Darcy is a resilient and incredibly determined person who has showcased those traits in what's been a frustrating period of time for him recently,โ Bombers footy boss Dan McPherson said in a club update.
"He's put in a power of work to get his body right, including seeking internal and external consultation.
"He was feeling increasingly confident in recent weeks as he approached his planned return to match minutes this week.
"This is obviously a frustrating setback for him. Given his recent run, we will take added caution in his rehab initially but remain confident he'll return in optimal shape and be available for us for a long time to come."
The midfielder's delayed return plans could mean he is i danger of missing upcoming games against West Coast and Collingwood, while the Bombers are set to face Melbourne in Adelaide this weekend.
Parish is joined by Nik Cox (concussion), Peter Wright (ankle), Kyle Langford (hamstring), Matt Guelfi (calf), Angus Clarke (collarbone) and Jye Caldwell (hamstring) in the club's casualty ward, while recruit Tom Edwards (knee) has been sidelined for the rest of the season.
