A trio of West Coast Eagles stars will push their cases to take on North Melbourne during main training this week, while scans have confirmed skipper Luke Shuey has sustained a minor hamstring strain.
Key defenders Tom Barrass (shoulder) and Jeremy McGovern (concussion protocols), plus two-time John Worsfold medallist Elliot Yeo (hip), are listed as tests ahead of Sunday’s contest against the Roos at Optus Stadium.
Barrass was a late withdrawal from last round’s loss to Carlton, compounding McGovern’s absence, while Yeo is working his way back towards playing his first game since round 15.
“Tom, Elliot and Jeremy will all be a test this week,” Head of Health Mark Finucane told westcoasteagles.com.au.
“Main training later in the week we’ll see how they perform functionally and also how they pull up from that session as to their availability.”
Shuey was subbed out of the Blues loss during the second quarter but jogged laps on Tuesday at Mineral Resources Park in a promising sign.
“Unfortunately, Luke has a really minor hamstring strain that has shown up on MRI,” Finucane said.
“The positive sign is that he’s been able to get out and get moving early in the piece.”
Running defender Jamaine Jones trained well on Tuesday and is not far away from returning from a lengthy stint sidelined by an ankle injury.
Jones was a casualty against Hawthorn in round 10 and is two-to-three weeks from playing again.
“JJ is building really nicely but after the period off and the explosive player that he is he really needs a good block of training to express that speed and explosiveness that we love from JJ,” Finucane said.
Meanwhile, Finucane said the Eagles are also hopeful of regaining draftee Coby Burgiel from hamstring surgery before the end of the campaign.
“Coby is building his time on legs and his fitness base after his hamstring surgery and he’s still in that phase of his rehab and still a few weeks away from playing,” he said.
Rugged midfielder Connor West (knee) is out of his knee brace and has ramped up his program with the intention of playing again in 2023, however tall defender Harry Edwards’ season is over as he continues to battle a groin issue.
“Connor has got the green light from the surgeon to get out and commence his running and he’s improving daily,” Finucane said.
“The knee is a little bit stiff after the time in brace, which is normal and that’s to stiffen the ligament up, and he is now building his function and will push for a game or two late in the season.
“Unfortunately for Harry where he’s at with his groin injury it’s going to be too rapid a build to get back to playing football again this season.
“We’ll let that completely calm down and then aim for a normal off-season for Harry.”
Young gun Reuben Ginbey and brilliant forward Liam Ryan are also now looking towards pre-season after undergoing successful hamstring operations on Tuesday.
Injury list:
Tom Barrass Shoulder Test
Coby Burgiel Hamstring 4 weeks
Jai Culley Knee Season
Harry Edwards Groin Season
Reuben Ginbey Hamstring Season
Jamaine Jones Ankle 2 weeks
Jeremy McGovern Concussion Test
Nic Naitanui Achilles Season
Liam Ryan Hamstring Season
Luke Shuey Hamstring 2-3 weeks
Jake Waterman Illness Indefinite
Connor West Knee 4 weeks
Elliot Yeo Hip Test
