Champion defender Shannon Hurn and premiership forward Jamie Cripps are in the mix to make their comebacks from injury against St Kilda on Sunday.
However, there is disappointing news for injury-plagued star Elliot Yeo, who is set to miss three-to-four weeks due to a hip concern sustained late in the tough loss to Sydney.
Hurn (hamstring) is in line to play his first game since round 12 against Collingwood, while Cripps only needs to get through training to make a long-awaited return from a fractured ankle sustained in round three.
Emerging tall forward Jack Williams (ankle) and youngster Jordyn Baker (hamstring) are also tests to play this weekend, however star defender Jeremy McGovern is at least one more week away.
“Shannon has worked through his rehab program from his hamstring and we’ve taken an extra week than we might otherwise to give him a really good build into this week’s game – he’s just got to get through training this week to be available this weekend,” Head of Health Mark Finucane told westcoasteagles.com.au.
“Jamie has done an outstanding job after his ankle fracture and has done a mountain of work and has integrated really comfortably into his football work and contact. If he has a good week at training this week we hope to see him on the weekend out there.
“Jeremy pulled up a little bit tight after training last week. We’re just letting that settle down and then will build his way through training this week and then we’ll have a clearer picture about when he’s likely to return.
“The MRI (Williams) had has shown some ligament damage but nothing else internally, which is good.
“He’s been really good getting the swelling down and icing. We’ll give him as late as possible to test his availability for this weekend.”
Yeo underwent scans on a sore hip from the Swans match and was on light duties at training on Tuesday.
“Elliot reported tightness in the front of his hip towards the latter stage of the game … and subsequently has had an MRI that has shown he has got a bit of irritation around his hip flexor on his left side,” Finucane said.
“He’s struggled to get moving at the start of this week and we’ll just need to let that settle down and then build through the rehabilitation for that.”
Samo Petrevski-Seton was another casualty from the Sydney clash after straining a quad early in the match.
“Samo had tightness in his quadricep early in the game, so was restricted in his function but was able to help the rotation with minutes,” Finucane said.
“He has actually pulled up OK from the game but he does have a strain on scan so he’ll miss the next couple of weeks.”
The Eagles hope to regain defender Tom Cole (ankle), ruck Callum Jamieson (hip), backman Luke Foley (hamstring), forward Isiah Winder (knee) and midfielder Greg Clark (foot) in coming weeks.
Jake Waterman remains at home resting and receiving treatment for his medical condition, while Liam Ryan is looking more unlikely than likely to return this year following hamstring surgery.
“Liam has had a number of investigations and review with specialists because he hasn’t progressed as we would’ve liked, so we’re collating all that information and we’ll put that together over the next week or two and make the next phase for Liam’s progress from there,” Finucane said.
Injury list
Jordyn Baker Hamstring Test
Coby Burgiel Hamstring 7-8 weeks
Greg Clark Foot 2-3 weeks
Tom Cole Ankle 2-3 weeks
Jamie Cripps Ankle Test
Jai Culley Knee Season
Harry Edwards Groin 7-8 weeks
Luke Foley Hamstring 1 week
Shannon Hurn Hamstring Test
Callum Jamieson Hip 2 weeks
Jamaine Jones Ankle 6-7 weeks
Jeremy McGovern Hamstring 1-2 weeks
Nic Naitanui Achilles Season
Josh Rotham Thumb 5 weeks
Liam Ryan Hamstring TBC
Samo Petrevski-Seton Quad 2-3 weeks
Jake Waterman Illness Indefinite
Connor West Knee TBC
Jack Williams Ankle Test
Isiah Winder Knee 2-3 weeks
Elliot Yeo Hip 3-4 weeks
