Daniher ruled out for the rest of the season in huge blow to Bombers
Key forward Joe Daniher will miss the rest of the season due to ongoing oestitis pubis problems, with surgery the most likely outcome.
Essendon and Daniher made a joint decision to sideline the 25-year-old after symptoms returned in recent weeks, with an operation to be confirmed after further consultation with specialists.
Daniher has played just four games this season after making a shock return on Good Friday against Essendon having missed most of 2018.
His absence will be a devastating blow to the club who are desperate to qualify for finals after a massive recruiting spree in recent seasons that landed them Dylan Shiel, Jake Stringer, Adam Saad and Devon Smith.
Daniher is understood to have made the decision on the advice of specialists to have surgery for both an immediate outcome and in the interest of his long-term health.
Bombers football manager Dan Richardson said the club explored a number of injury management options before arriving at the conclusion surgery was necessary.
"While it is incredibly disappointing to lose a player of Joe's calibre for the remainder of the season, the decision was made with the long term health and welfare of Joe as the utmost priority," Richardson said.
Disappointed at the outcome after undergoing a long rehabiliation process Daniher felt he had no other option with the star forward saying he felt like he had done everything possible to return in good shape.
"Clearly I want to be out there with my teammates, but with the key people involved in this process, we made the decision to go down this path, with surgery more than likely," Daniher said.
"I've felt like I have done everything I could to get back to this point, but with the relapse our options are now exhausted which is obviously disappointing."
Daniher will now have played just 11 games and kicked 15 goals in the past two seasons after winning the club best and fairest and kicking 65 goals while being named All-Australian in 2017 when the Bombers made the finals.
Essendon have had a shocking run with injuries to key players with last year's best and fairest Smith also sidelined for the rest of the season with a knee injury while speedy forward Orazio Fantasia has been out with a quad injury.
The club expects Daniher, who is out of contract at the end of 2020, to be available for the start of the pre-season.