Essendon's Nate Caddy Cleared to Play After Heart Scare, Carlton's Harry McKay Sidelined

Essendon interim coach Dean Solomon says Nate Caddy will play in Saturday's match against Hawthorn following his recovery from a heart scare.

Caddy was taken to hospital during last Sunday's three-point win over GWS due to an elevated heart rate.

The 21-year-old was released from hospital after being given the all-clear.

The club's medical staff has since given its approval for Caddy to face the Hawks.

"He'll be good to go," Solomon said.

"They said there's no risk with what happened and he's fully good to go. I trust our medical staff, and Nate's in a good headspace as well.

"He spent a lot of time with the docs and medical staff, gone through it all and has a good understanding that there's no risk at play here, and he's really confident.

"So we've just got to trust our medical staff."

Essendon has lost Xavier Duursma (hamstring) for the rest of the season, while Kyle Langford will miss the Hawthorn match due to suspension.

McKay sits out Blues training

Star Carlton forward Harry McKay failed to participate during the Blues' main training session on Thursday.

McKay suffered a minor tear to his meniscus, as well as bone bruising to his knee, during Saturday night's 21-point defeat to Collingwood.

The 28-year-old was ruled out early in the match after his knee knocked into teammate Sam Walsh.

But speculation around McKay ran rampant, with Fox Footy commentator David King questioning the one-time Coleman medallist's injury.

The Blues were privately seething with McKay's character being criticised, before the severity of the injury was confirmed on Sunday.

Interim Blues coach Josh Fraser said he "didn't spend a lot of time thinking about" the commentary surrounding McKay.

"Whenever there's an injury, your mindset goes to the care and support for the player," Fraser said.

"We act on the information we're given from our medical team, the commentary around all of that, I probably push it to the side.

"I can only judge him on the way he's presented and he's presented his usual self.

"Great energy around the group, trying as hard as he can to play and leading internally around the club."

Carlton's wildcard hopes will go on the line on Saturday when it host out-of-form Gold Coast at Docklands.