An Essendon star has reportedly consulted a third party after feeling pain from an initial surgery Bombers doctors recommended.
Bombers' star midfielder Darcy Parish had back surgery earlier this year after struggling with his back throughout the preseason period.
Parish has only played three games for the Bombers this year and is currently ruled out due to a calf injury, with a timeline yet to be determined for his return.
Reported by Mitch Cleary on Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters, it was revealed that Parish’s move to see an independent doctor led to the discovery that the initial procedure had not gone well, which prompted a second successful one.
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“(In) December, (he) has a back injury, works with the Essendon medicos to go under the knife for a procedure on his back. That doesn’t go well and he’s in pain for several weeks off the back of it,” Cleary said.
“He then seeks independent third-party advice around his back injury, which caused some friction and raised eyebrows internally with the club.
“On the back of that second opinion, they found the initial procedure didn’t go to plan.”
Fellow panalist and St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt commented that it was unusual and ‘not common’ that a player would consult with a third party.
Essendon has had a long injury list this season, with many of their star players facing a long time on the injury list, and they are currently sitting 13th on the ladder in Brad Scott’s third year as coach.
The Bombers, who lost to second-last Richmond on the weekend, will play the seventh-placed GWS Giants at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night.