West Coast senior coach Adam Simpson says the injury-challenged Eagles are keen to ‘get on with it’ and are focusing on the AAMI Community Series against Fremantle on Sunday in their last warm-up game leading into round one.
While several important players have gone down with injury in recent weeks, cavalry should arrive early in the season with the likes of Luke Shuey (hamstring), Liam Duggan (knee), Elliot Yeo (calf) and Oscar Allen (foot) on the comeback trail.
Shuey and Duggan trained with the main group on Thursday in a promising sign, while Allen was out of his moon boot.
“It’s unprecedented really what we’re going through. We’re probably missing 10 of our starting 18,” Simpson said.
“We could feel sorry for ourselves, or we could get on with it – we want to get on with it.”
With the opportunity to sign Supplemental Selection Period players open until Wednesday, the Eagles will continue to look at several players to help cover list positions after signing ex-Fremantle tall forward Hugh Dixon.
Former Richmond midfielder Patrick Naish has flown to Perth to train with the group after a stint with St Kilda recently, and is in contention for a spot along with the likes of former Brisbane midfielder Tom Joyce and ex-Dockers-listed big man Luke Strnadica.
“Exposure in the AFL system at Richmond is one thing (that helps). I think he’s got high-end endurance and speed, and he’s got pretty good skill,” Simpson said of Naish.
“The mature-age look at the moment is what we need. We’ll look at what he brings in the next week or so.
“(Dixon is) needs basis, really. He’ll play this week and he could play round one.
“It’s just unfortunate the position we’re in and fortunate for Hugh that he’s go another opportunity.
“He can’t wait to get into it and I think he was probably our best player on the weekend.
“In terms of an audition, he kicked a couple of goals and played ruck a little bit, so he’s got a bit of back up nature for us in that sense.
“And with Oscar Allen being unavailable for the first four or five weeks, and Jack’s (Darling) situation, we just need some height down there in the front half.”
Simpson was excited to see recruit Sam Petrevski-Seton play his first game for the club on Sunday, with the former Carlton mid-forward recovering from bone bruising in his knee.
“We haven’t seen him play for us yet, so we’ll see what we’ve got there and we’ll give him every opportunity both areas (of the ground),” Simpson said.
Emerging youngster Luke Edwards is also progressing as he build back from groin trouble and continued to ramp up his involvement in training on Thursday at Mineral Resources Park ahead of an early-season return.
