Essendon will be without Jake Stringer once again when they take on Fremantle as he struggles with a hamstring injury.
The Bombers are priced at 9/4 to make the top eight this season but sit 1-3 following a disappointing start to the 2022 AFL campaign.
Dockers clash
Essendon will be looking to build on their first win of the season against Adelaide last weekend when they face Fremantle at Marvel Stadium on Sunday but coach Ben Rutten says Stringer will not be risked.
"He's just got a bit of a hamstring so he won't be available this week," Rutten told reporters. "We'll just keep building him up and make sure we set him up for the rest of the season.
"We're concerned because he's not available but I don't think it's a long-term issue for us."
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Meanwhile Rutten is well aware of the threat that Fremantle will possess. The Dockers are 3-1 for the season so far and have made a solid start as they look to make finals for the first time since 2015.
Freo a threat
Rutten says they are a threat all over the park and the Bombers will have to be at their best.
"They've played some really good footy and shown some real improvement areas in their game, even if it's only after the first four rounds," Rutten said. "We see them as a real threat.
"They've got some really good depth through their midfield, they're really dynamic up forward and they've got some speed and pace at ground level.”
