Injury Update: Heartbreak for Essendon as Star Needs Surgery, Setterfield Status Report

Mid-season draftee Saad El-Hawli will undergo surgery this week after scans confirmed a syndesmosis injury, sidelining him for the next 6-8 weeks.

El-Hawli sustained the injury during the fourth quarter of his standout performance in the VFL’s three-point victory over Carlton, when his ankle was trapped in a contest. Scans on Monday morning revealed the extent of the damage.

Midfielder Will Setterfield, who was substituted late in his return match due to discomfort in the same knee he previously injured, has recovered reasonably well. If his knee continues to improve over the next week, he may be available for the round 15 game against West Coast following the bye.

In addition to Setterfield, Essendon could see four more players returning next week, including Mason Redman, Ben Hobbs, Xavier Duursma, and Kaine Baldwin, all of whom are set to test for round 15. Ruck Sam Draper is also pushing for a return soon after the mid-season bye.

**Essendon Round 14 (bye week) Injury List**
– **Mason Redman:** Hamstring (1 week)
– **Ben Hobbs:** Calf (1 week)
– **Xavier Duursma:** Quad (1 week)
– **Kaine Baldwin:** Navicular stress (1 week)
– **Will Setterfield:** Knee (1 week)
– **Sam Draper:** Knee (1 week)
– **Darcy Parish:** Calf (5 weeks)
– **Saad El-Hawli:** Ankle (6-8 weeks)
– **Zach Reid:** Pectoral (TBC)
– **Jaiden Hunter:** ACL (Season)