The West Coast Eagles’ injury list is set to shrink somewhat in coming weeks, with prolific midfielder Dom Sheed, defender Alex Witherden and key back Harry Edwards tests to be available to face Geelong in Gather Round.
Meanwhile, skipper Luke Shuey (hamstring) and ruck Callum Jamieson (ankle) are eyeing round six returns from their ailments.
Sheed (throat) was withdrawn before last round’s loss to Melbourne following an innocuous training incident, while Edwards suffered a minor ankle sprain at training earlier in the week.
Witherden is on track following a collision in the RAC Derby, which inflicted a heavy toll on the injury front for the club.
“Dom has been really comfortable with the running and the football skills that he’s done early in the week. He’ll see the doctors later in the week as to his potential availability for this week, so he’ll be a test,” Head of Health Mark Finucane told westcoasteagles.com.au.
“Alex has progressed through the protocols and he just needs to train this week to be available for the game against Geelong.
“Harry’s done his progressions with his running and his change of direction, and he’s joined in some skills. He just needs to train later in the week to be available for the weekend.
“Luke has progressed really well from earlier on. He’ll have a big session on the weekend and then look for a full week of training next week, so we’re looking at round six against Port (Adelaide).
“Cal’s swelling in his ankle has settled and he has started his straight-line running. He’ll progress through change of direction, jumping and football progressions this week to join the group next week, so we’re looking at round six for Cal.”
Finucane confirmed star trio Jeremy McGovern (hamstring), Liam Ryan (hamstring) and Jamie Cripps (ankle) were in the early stages of recovery following surgery.
Emerging wingman Campbell Chesser (knee) has made encouraging early progress from his setback and was back running on Tuesday at Mineral Resources Park.
“Campbell has been a real professional in getting his swelling down in his knee so he was able to start his straight-line running today,” Finucane said.
“He’ll progress that over this week and then next week we’ll see introduction of change of direction and kicking and then build onto his football conditioning from there.”
Meanwhile, tall forward Jack Williams is back in skills training in a positive step forward, while young Naitanui Academy product Jordyn Baker is set for game time in coming weeks following a disrupted pre-season and subsequent conditioning block he is close to completing.
Injury list
Campbell Chesser Knee TBC
Jamie Cripps Ankle TBC
Harry Edwards Ankle Test
Callum Jamieson Ankle 1-2 weeks
Jeremy McGovern Hamstring TBC
Nic Naitanui Achilles TBC
Liam Ryan Hamstring TBC
Dom Sheed Throat Test
Luke Shuey Hamstring 1-2 weeks
Jack Williams Spleen 5-6 weeks
Alex Witherden Concussion protocols Test
