Champion spearhead Josh Kennedy is set to be a welcome inclusion against the Western Bulldogs and skipper Luke Shuey is also on track to be available for Saturday night’s clash at Optus Stadium.
Kennedy, West Coast’s leading goalkicker with 14 majors from seven games, has missed the past two matches with knee soreness, while Shuey was subbed out of last round’s loss to Greater Western Sydney due to back tightness.
“Luke returned to play on the weekend and coming off the hamstring had some tightness in his back, which increased as the game went on so … the decision was made that we wouldn’t take any risks with him,” Head of Health Mark Finucane told westcoasteagles.com.au.
“He’ll have a light start to the week and he’ll be a test for the game against the Bulldogs.
“JK’s knee has settled down really nicely so he’s just got to train this week to be available for the weekend.”
There is more positive news, with Dom Sheed (ankle) set to play his first game since pre-season in the WAFL on Saturday, potentially alongside Elliot Yeo after a stint on the sidelines.
And after soft-tissue setbacks, the likes of Shannon Hurn, Willie Rioli, Liam Ryan and Jack Petruccelle should all be pushing to play in coming weeks.
Sheed and Yeo, who was concussed in round four against Port Adelaide and then entered the AFL Health and Safety Protocols, could be back on managed minutes in the WAFL clash with East Perth as they build towards senior returns.
“Dom has done some really good training and got some good work under his belt and we’re hoping to see him get some minutes as part of that build to the AFL through the WAFL this weekend,” Finucane said.
Young defender Luke Foley (concussion) is expected to miss one more week, along with Hurn, while ruckman Luke Strnadica hurt his calf playing for the WAFL Eagles last round.
“Luke (Foley) has turned the corner with his symptoms but because of the persistent symptoms early on he won’t be available for this week as per the AFL concussion protocols, but on track for the week following,” Finucane said.
“Luke (Strnadica) had a tight calf in the WAFL game on the weekend and then felt it grab a little bit more in a ruck contest so took no further part in the game. There’s been some good signs on the imaging that it won’t be too severe, but he’ll miss one or two.
“Shannon’s progressing really nicely from his calf strain and he’ll sign off on the weekend and aim to be available against Adelaide in round 12.”
Star ruck Nic Naitanui and emerging onballer Xavier O’Neill are progressing well from their respective knee setbacks, while small forwards Rioli, Ryan and Petruccelle are on similar timelines.
“Nic has started his straight-line running and building his running base and progressions in the gym, weaning out of the brace, and then he’ll start his change of direction work over this next week and progress that from there,” Finucane said.
“Xavier O’Neill had his first run on the Alter-G (treadmill) and we’ll see him straight-line running on Thursday, which is about four weeks after his injury. He’ll still be four-or-five weeks away.
“Liam, Jack and Willie are all building off their hamstring strains and they will all go through a conditioning block in this next week and then we’ll have a decision about how big that build is, but they’ll probably be a couple of weeks each.”
Injury list:
Oscar Allen Foot Inactive
Campbell Chesser Ankle Inactive
Tom Cole Ankle Inactive
Luke Edwards Groin Inactive
Luke Foley Concussion 1 week
Shannon Hurn Calf 1 week
Tom Joyce Ankle 6-7 weeks
Josh Kennedy Knee Test
Zac Langdon Ankle TBC
Xavier O’Neill Knee 4-5 weeks
Nic Naitanui Knee 6-7 weeks
Jack Petruccelle Hamstring 2-3 weeks
Willie Rioli Hamstring 2-3 weeks
Liam Ryan Hamstring 2 weeks
Dom Sheed Ankle Test
Luke Shuey Back Test
Luke Strnadica Calf 1-2 weeks
