West Coast Eagles trio Elliot Yeo, Josh Rotham and Jai Culley will be tested at training this week before their availability to play is determined.
Yeo (calf) is more unlikely than likely to be available for the RAC Derby on Sunday but a final decision will be made after main training.
Culley hurt his right shoulder in a WAFL practice game win over East Perth on Saturday but trained on Tuesday and is pushing to play, while Rotham is on the cusp of returning from a fractured arm suffered in the final AFL warm-up game against Adelaide.
“After some persistent awareness through the latter part of last week, Elliot had a good rehab session yesterday and got through awareness-free,” Head of Health Mark Finucane told westcoasteagles.com.au.
“We’re leaving it as late in the week as possible to show high-end function to see whether he is available for the weekend or not.
“After a contact situation in the WAFL practice game a no-risk approach was taken to Jai so he took no further part in the game.
“The shoulder has settled well and he’ll be a decision this week based on getting through full training later in the week, but he got through skills today which is a promising start.
“Josh, after his arm fracture and surgery, is a decision this week based on getting through main training later in the week.”
As communicated by coach Adam Simpson on Monday, star big man Nic Naitanui has been ruled out for coming weeks as he continues to work through Achilles soreness.
Emerging ruck Callum Jamieson will not be available this weekend, however there was good news from his scans on his swollen ankle.
“Cal landed awkwardly in the WAFL game on Saturday and there’s been a lot of swelling in the ankle since,” Finucane said.
“He’s had a good result with the scan that he’s had but we need to let that swelling settle before he starts running, so he’ll be unavailable this week but we’re hopeful for next weekend.”
Tall forward Jack Williams also received positive scan results on his spleen injury and is on the build to return to play, while speedy draftee Coby Burgiel (hamstring) is aiming to be back next weekend.
“Jack had an important six-week scan yesterday which showed that his initial injury has healed, so now he has – after six weeks off - roughly a six-week build to build his fitness again and the latest end stage will be the reintroduction of contact as he gets closer to playing,” Finucane said.
“Coby has progressed through his rehab really nicely. He’ll have a big sign-off session later in the week and if he gets through that then he just needs to train next week to be available for next week.”
Injury list:
Coby Burgiel Hamstring 1 week
Jai Culley Shoulder Test
Callum Jamieson Ankle 1-2 weeks
Nic Naitanui Achilles TBC
Josh Rotham Arm Test
Jack Williams Spleen 6-7 weeks
Elliot Yeo Calf Test
