Eagles’ forward Josh Kennedy is nursing a compound fracture after the weekend’s RAC Derby clash against Fremantle, but says it’s healing nicely four days out from the must-win match against Brisbane.
After snapping West Coast’s first two goals of Sunday’s match, the dual Coleman medallist was forced off the field.
“Came through the skin, so got that fixed up yesterday,” Kennedy told 6PR.
“It’s all been good, it’s all healing pretty good, so I’ll see how I go towards the back end of the week.
“Nothing was broken, which was good, it just kind of pierced through the skin.
“Just another thing in football they throw at you, nice and fun,” he laughed.
The 33-year-old now remains hopeful he’ll line-up against the Lions, but said it’s entirely dependent on the recovery period.
“It is realistic, (I) was able to play the back end of that game with it,” he said.
“It is what it is, guys have been able to play with these before, there’d be multiple guys throughout this year that you wouldn’t have even heard of have done it and gone up and played.
“It just depends how it recovers and heals, you know it is pretty good at the moment, you just have to guard it.
“It sounds worse than it is.”
West Coast now prepare to take on an in-form Brisbane at the Gabba, with the round 23 clash a final opportunity to snare a position in the top eight.
And the Lions won’t be easybeats, with a possible top-four finish – and a finals double-chance – in their sights for the side after a domineering win over Collingwood last weekend.
Kennedy the Eagles must first combat Brisbane’s experienced engine room, boosted by the likes of Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale, and All-Australian Dayne Zorko.
But the battle will be well fought, with West Coast’s own All-Australian trio in Nic Naitanui, Andrew Gaff, and Elliot Yeo sure to put the Lions’ midfield strength to the test.
“It’s going to be a big test, they’ve got a pretty young list and a pretty dominant group, and they have for the past couple of years,” Kennedy said.
“For us, it always starts around midfield and getting supply up forward, so hopefully we can match them in that, they’ve got some pretty fast, strong footy and they’re pretty aggressive.
“We’ve got to match them in that as well, so it’s going to be a good test, and season is on the line.”
“Focus for this week is head down, bum up, and we’ve just got to win, that’s all we can do, that’s all we can control.
“Our group is looking forward to that challenge.”
