Essendon say they expect Tom Bellchambers to be back in full training before the Christmas break as they manage a knee issue the ruckman is experiencing.
It's understood the Tasmanian has been on a modified program since returning to the club earlier in the month for the start of pre-season training, and trained away from the main group during a session on Friday morning. The Bombers insist the issue is minor and that the big man should be fully fit within a few weeks.
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Bellchambers joined Travis Colyer, Jobe Watson, Dyson Heppell, Cale Hooker, Brent Stanton, Ben Howlett, Michael Hurley, David Myers and Heath Hocking in returning to the Dons after being suspended for the duration of the 2016 season by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, having been found guilty of taking banned substance thymosin beta-4 in 2012. Bellchambers was already contracted with the Dons for 2017, having signed a two-year deal late in the 2015 season. However, in re-committing to the club, he agreed to a one-year contract extension, meaning he is contracted until the end of 2018.
Like many at the Dons, 2017 shapes as a crucial year for Bellchambers. He hasn't played an AFL game since round 10, 2015, in which he was substituted out of a heavy loss to Geelong, before being dropped. While Bellchambers responded with four goals the following week in the VFL, that remains his most recent competitive match after he missed the remainder of that season with a stress fracture in his foot.
![Tom Bellchambers trains earlier in the week.](/web/20161128113819im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/x/t/x/6/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gsxtqx.png/1480055792363.jpg)
The Bombers recruited free agent ruckman Matthew Leuenberger from the Brisbane Lions in October last year. Bellchambers had spoken of his excitement about the idea of the pair forming a partnership in the ruck, but the prospect of that materialising in 2016 was left in tatters after Bellchambers was suspended in January.
Bellchambers has played just 79 games in nine years at the club since being taken in the 2008 pre-season draft. A handy forward option, he has been used to varying degrees in attack during his time at the Bombers, kicking 53 goals including a career-best 28 in 2013. He was also among the first of the 34 current and former Dons banned by CAS to have settled a compensation claim with the club.
Having battled an Achilles issue in the pre-season, Leuenberger played 20 games for his new club in 2016, shouldering a heavy ruck load for the depleted Bombers with occasional relief from Shaun McKernan and top-up player Mark Jamar. Both former Crow McKernan and rookie ruckman Gach Nyuon have been delisted by the Bombers, although the Dons have committed to picking up McKernan in Monday's rookie draft if he isn't taken by another club.
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