Ryder set to miss AFL game against Blues

Essendon’s Paddy Ryder has conceded he is all but certain to miss Sunday night’s AFL clash with arch-rivals Carlton due to an ankle injury.

Ryder rolled his ankle in the third quarter of last Friday’s narrow loss to Hawthorn and was substituted out of the match.

Key forwards Jake Carlisle and Joe Daniher shared ruck duties for the remainder of the game and are set to do so again on Sunday.

The Bombers’ only other front-line ruckman, Tom Bellchambers, is still several weeks away from returning from pre-season ankle surgery.

The only other ruck option for Essendon is untried rookie Fraser Thurlow.

“I’m most likely to miss this week. It’s still pretty sore at the moment,” Ryder said on Wednesday.

“Hopefully I’ll get everything right this week and be ready to tackle Freo (in round four).”

Carlton ruckman Matthew Krezuer is also in serious doubt for Sunday night’s match at the MCG, having missed last weekend’s loss to Richmond with a foot complaint.

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