Nic Naitanui has been ruled out for the rest of the 2023 season, with the star West Coast Eagles ruckman requiring surgery on his sore Achilles.
Naitanui has not played since an intraclub in February, but was making progress until recently.
The two-time John Worsfold medallist consulted a specialist on Tuesday evening and has been advised he needs surgery that will put a line through him returning this season.
“He was tracking OK, stagnated a little bit and we had a follow-up scan recently and it looks like he’s going to need surgery, so it’s time to pull the pin on the season,” coach Adam Simpson said.
“We’ve got no choice unfortunately, so he’ll get surgery early next week maybe.”
Simpson added he hopes Naitanui can fully recover to resume his career next season, albeit the rehabilitation period will be lengthy.
“I’m not fully across the magnitude of the surgery but I know it’s something you can recover from and fully recover,” Simpson said.
“It’s a long stint out, so the season is out of the question. It’s something you can come back from.”
Simpson also revealed suspended defender Liam Duggan has been discharged from hospital after an infection from a cut on his leg.
“Bit worried there for a tiny bit but it was fixed pretty quickly and he’s been discharged and he’ll recover and he’ll be fine post-bye (next week),” he said.
West Coast didn’t challenge Duggan’s one-match rough conduct sanction at the AFL Tribunal given he would have been unavailable this week against Adelaide anyway.
The tough left-footer’s absence has added to the club’s availability issues, with defender Josh Rotham also damaging a finger at training on Wednesday.
Skipper Luke Shuey will return against the Crows, while Luke Edwards (concussion) and Samo Petrevski-Seton (quad) are available and the club will see how key forward Jack Darling (arm) pulls up after training before deciding upon his potential comeback.
“Shuey has done a massive block so we’ve deliberately held him back to try and get this run of injuries he’s had, we tried a different tack, so we’ve given him pretty much a mini pre-season,” Simpson said.
“He probably could have come back two-or-three weeks ago.”
Mid-season rookie draftee Ryan Maric and yet-to-debut ruck Harry Barnett could be in the mix to debut in Adelaide.
The Eagles face another huge challenge against the Crows, who have won five of their last six at home.
Adelaide's only loss during that stretch was by a point to Collingwood, who the Eagles were overrun by last round following a competitive effort until three-quarter time.
“It’s a challenge for us right now. I’m a broken record I know … but the path we’re on doesn’t change it’s just at the moment we are ravaged with injuries,” Simpson said.
“That’s just reality. It’s not an excuse but there’s a fair reason why it’s been a challenge to put four quarters together.
“Some of the games we’ve played recently have been unacceptable, and some we take some real positives from. On the weekend I think we’ll take some real positives from.”
