Essendon pressure forward Matt Guelfi has suffered a frustrating setback in the last training session before the club breaks up for the Christmas period.
Guelfi has injured his hamstring, with the club taking a "fairly conservative" approach given his history of soft-tissue setbacks.
The 27-year-old has struggled to string consecutive games together over the past two years, playing 13 games in each season, cruelling his time on the field.
In more positive news, breakout midfielder Jye Caldwell has returned from hip surgery at the end of August in flying colours.
Caldwell is on a modified program but has been "doing a lot of running... gradually building towards full training by the end of January or early February".
Key defender Ben McKay also had an ankle clean-out to "alleviate a niggle he had been unable to shake".
McKay is expected to resume full training in the new year.
Small forward Jye Menzie is also back with the main group following his shoulder surgery, while recent draftee Jayden Nguyen rectified a minor meniscus issue and should be raring to go come January.
The Bombers will be on break for the better part of three weeks, returning to training on January 9.
They will face the Western Bulldogs on February 15 at the Whitten Oval as part of their preparation for 2025 before taking on Geelong 10 days later.
It will be a quick turnaround from the Community Series match against the Cats, with Essendon taking on Gold Coast on Saturday, March 8, at People First Stadium as part of the Opening Round schedule for the home and away season.
