Bombers confirm foot fracture for key defender

Essendon defender Kaine Baldwin is expected to spend time on the sidelines after being diagnosed with a stress fracture in his leg.Baldwin, who has played just eight AFL games in three seasons, remains a standout. this season due to illness, the Bombers confirmed Friday.andquot;Essendon fullback Kaine Baldwin will miss the start of the 2024 AFL season after tests revealed a fracture in his foot,andquot; says the club’s press release.” Baldwin experienced leg discomfort after Wednesday’s practice and scans later confirmed the injury.andquot;He will be weightless for the foreseeable future before he begins rehab in the coming weeks.andquot;The return schedule of Baldwinand#039; will be determined after he goes through his initial period of rest and early rehabilitation.andquot;The 21-year-old, who arrived at Tullamarine in 2021 through the league and supplementary selection season, played four senior games for the Bombers last season under coach Brad Scott as a defender after starting as a forward at Essendon. .Baldwin was one of the Bombers who flew to the United States last November for an intensive pre-season training program.Elsewhere at Essendon, back Sam Draper and halfbackl continue to recover from injuries, while young forward Jaiden Hunter recently underwent successful surgery after tearing his ACL in pre-season.The Bombers begin their 2024 campaign against the depleted Hawks at the MCG on Saturday 16 March..