3 minute read

Melbourne have sent key forward Tom McDonald for foot surgery while Essendon's Jake Stringer could return from a hamstring strain on Friday night.

Melbourne hold some hope Tom McDonald will play again this AFL season after sending the key forward for foot surgery.

McDonald has suffered a Lisfranc injury in a foot which, in some cases, can take up to a year to properly heal.

The 29-year-old will have a small plate inserted across the joint in his injured foot after consulting with multiple surgeons, the Demons say.

"(He) will begin his rehabilitation program with the hope to return in the latter stages of the season," the club said on its website on Tuesday.

Melbourne defender Harry Petty remains in the frame for Monday's Queen's Birthday fixture against Collingwood despite suffering a low-grade shoulder sprain last weekend.

But the Magpies have lost Reef McInnes for the rest of the season after the first-year midfielder dislocated his right shoulder last weekend, with the 19-year-old to have surgery.

Meanwhile, Essendon rate Andrew McGrath as a chance to recover from a groin strain in time to play against Carlton on Friday night.

McGrath hurt his groin during training last Saturday.

"It's not too bad," Essendon's head of high performance Sean Murphy told the club's website on Tuesday.

"But we'll use the week to assess how that comes up by main training later in the week and availability for Friday, he's still a chance at this point."

Essendon's influential utility Jake Stringer is a likely inclusion for Friday night's fixture which will be the Bombers' 150-year celebration game.

Stringer hasn't played since straining a hamstring in round seven.

"He'll train fully at Wednesday's main training and he will be up for selection this weekend," said Murphy, who rated Stringer's teammate Matt Guelfi as also likely to be available after recovering from his hamstring injury.

But Port Adelaide forward Orazio Fantasia won't play until July as he recovers from a thigh strain.

Fantasia hasn't played an AFL game this year after pre-season knee surgery.

The 26-year-old returned in state league ranks late last month but suffered a thigh strain in his comeback match.

The Power were initially uncertain of a timeline for Fantasia's return but now say he's resumed running but won't play for another three weeks.