The West Coast Eagles could be bolstered by a number of important players returning for Friday night’s big game against Sydney at Optus Stadium.
Midfield stars Tim Kelly (hamstring) and Elliot Yeo, hard-working forward Jamie Cripps (pectoral) and versatile Samo Petrevsk-Seton (calf) should be available to face the Swans, provided they get through training this week.
Meanwhile, skipper Luke Shuey will be ready to go after a week of training following time in the AFL Health and Safety Protocols, and mature-age draftee Greg Clark is also in the mix for his first game this year following shoulder surgery.
Yeo has pulled up well after his first hit-out of the year coming back from a calf strain, and looks ready to resume in an engine room that will be missing star ruck Nic Naitanui (knee) until the second half of the season.
“Elliot played about 70 minutes in the WAFL and just feels like he’s played a game of football,” Head of Health Mark Finucane told westcoasteagles.com.au.
“Just that football, first game back soreness. A good soreness is how he describes it.
“’TK’ at the end of last week ticked off his speed progressions with his hamstring and he’s just got a full week of training to be available for Friday.
“’Crippa’ and ‘Clarky’ have gone really well through their shoulder progressions and they’re pushing hard to put their hand up for this week.
“They’ll be a test this week and if the doc signs them off and he’s happy with where they’re at with their functional progressions and timelines we might see them this weekend.
“Samo was a little bit tight after the Derby but the calf has settled down really nicely at the back end of last week, and he’s just got to get through training this week to be available.”
Prolific wingman Andrew Gaff (ankle) will miss the Swans clash after being withdrawn from the side that upset Collingwood at Marvel Stadium last Saturday.
Emerging onballer Luke Edwards is a wait-and-see prospect following groin soreness, but brilliant goalsneak Willie Rioli will be ready to go after copping a corked thigh against the Pies.
“Willie copped a knock to the quad early in the game. It didn’t affect his function, but he was a bit stiff and sore on the flight on the way home,” Finucane said.
“He’ll have a lighter start to the week but will be fine for the game.
“Luke, subbed out a three-quarter time, was reporting progressive groin soreness as the game went on.
“He’s come off OP-affected pre-season and a young player we’ll monitor his progression but we’ll see how he is later in the week.”
There is more positive news on the horizon with exciting tall forward Oscar Allen close to resuming from a stress-related foot injury, while midfield duo Dom Sheed and Tom Joyce are ramping up their running workloads from ankle concerns.
“Oscar is building his running and football training with his foot and he’s had no issues with that,” Finucane said.
“He’s got another couple of weeks of that build before we’ll see him in a game.
“Dom and Tom have done their progressions through the Alter-G (treadmill) and they’re going to have their first run on-ground today.
“Both reported well off their initial weight-bearing running. They’ll do their straight-line build, then work through the progressions – change of direction, kicking and then their football progressions - from there.
“Both going well.”
Meanwhile, rookie midfielder Zane Trew appears to have put shin soreness behind him and is close to a welcome WAFL comeback.
“Zane’s built his fitness, his running loads and his football loads,” Finucane said.
“He’ll have a big training session later in the week which will be a game-like prep and we’re hoping to see him back next week.”
Injury list:
Oscar Allen Foot 2 weeks
Campbell Chesser Ankle Inactive
Greg Clark Shoulder Test
Tom Cole Ankle Inactive
Jamie Cripps Pectoral Test
Luke Edwards Groin TBC
Andrew Gaff Ankle 1-2 weeks
Tom Joyce Ankle 3-4 weeks
Tim Kelly Hamstring Test
Nic Naitanui Knee TBC
Samo Petrevski-Seton Calf Test
Dom Sheed Ankle 4 weeks
Zane Trew Shin 1 week
