‘Workhorse’ tall forward Oscar Allen is one of several key West Coast players making encouraging progress this pre-season following lengthy injury lay-offs, General Manager – Football Gavin Bell says.
Allen was unable to play a game last season due to a frustrating foot issue but, like fellow young leaders Tom Cole and Dom Sheed, is positioning himself to bounce back strongly in 2023.
The 23-year-old looms as a key piece of the West Coast puzzle for coach Adam Simpson next year following the retirement of champion goalkicker Josh Kennedy, and all the signs are positive heading towards the Christmas break.
“Oscar has been fantastic,” Bell told SEN WA. “He’s out there, he’s doing everything he needs to do, he’s making some really great progress. He’s going to be really important for us going forward - he’s a real leader within our group.
“We probably need to hold him back, if anything, because he’s a workhorse and he loves to get all the work in.
“We just need to manage him well having had 12 months off footy, but we’re excited by the person and the footballer Oscar is.”
Like Allen, Cole failed to pull on the blue and gold guernsey last year due to an ankle setback, while two-time John Worsfold medallist Elliot Yeo (five games), four-time All-Australian defender Jeremy McGovern (10), top draftee Campbell Chesser (zero) and Sheed (one) were also waylaid.
But, with one session remaining before the Christmas break, the Eagles are looking fit and healthy after a committed off-season by the playing group.
“’Gov’ has come back in really good condition. He’s moving well, he’s fit and he’s lean, which is fantastic. He’s recovered from the rib injury he sustained last year and he’s been training well,” Bell said.
“'Coley' is a really strong leader for us and he leads by his actions and his training intensity and form to date has been fantastic. We missed 'Coley'. Whilst he’s not a household name for a lot of people, for us he’s really important.
“Elliot is lean, he’s back running (after a minor calf niggle). A lot of these guys, 'Coley', Campbell Chesser and so on, because they missed so much football we really need to manage their return.
“It’s not just a matter of they’ve had time off and get them into everything - it is a build for them.
“’Yeoy’ has been hitting some really good speeds with his running. He’s involved with some skill work. He is on the right trajectory at this stage.”
In another promising sign, star ruck Nic Naitanui made a return to Mineral Resources Park on Wednesday after being unwell recently, training on his individual program as he builds back from knee surgery.
“He’s just been unwell and been laid up, but he’s starting to feel a lot better,” Bell said.
“Nic had really invested in his off-season program. He’d spent a fair bit of time down at McGillvray (oval) trying to rehab his body and trying to get himself in best condition as he could.
“He was tracking well and unfortunately becoming ill when the group came back was just unlucky timing, really.”
Meanwhile, Bell declared the Eagles wouldn’t set any limits for their younger players in 2023, including the impressive crop of recent draftees and Chesser as he rebuilds after a nasty ankle injury curtailed his first season in the west.
“I think he’s played something like four or five games over a three-year period (due to COVID shutdowns and a knee injury before he was drafted),” Bell said.
“When they come in for us it’s not a matter of where they were picked, it’s a matter of getting to work and how can we give them the best chance and best environment to unlock their potential.
“Campbell has plenty of potential. His athleticism, his strength, his power, his speed are all first-class and he’s a wonderful young man.
“There’s a lot to love about Campbell and we just need to do everything we can to get out on the park and show us what he’s got.
“I don’t think we’ll put any limits on any of our younger players. If they’re ready to go and have earned their opportunity, then I have no doubt Simmo will back them in.”
