Star West Coast defender Jeremy McGovern only needs to get through main training this week to be available for the trip to face Essendon at Marvel Stadium.
The four-time All-Australian has missed the past two matches due to the League’s concussion protocols.
“Jeremy just needs to train this week and pull up well and he’ll be available to play this weekend,” Head of Health Mark Finucane told westcoasteagles.com.au.
Skipper Luke Shuey (hamstring) and Jamaine Jones (ankle) are only another week away from their comebacks.
Shuey hopes to play in the RAC Derby, while Jones is nearing a return from a long injury lay-off stretching back to round 10 against Hawthorn in Tasmania.
“Luke has a big training session on Friday to get through and if he successfully completes that and pulls up well we hope he’ll be available for next weekend,” Finucane said.
“After his ankle surgery, Jamaine has had a really good block of training over the last month, particularly the last two weeks.
“He’s got one more week of build this week and he’s conditioned for a return to play next week.”
The club has confirmed Tom Barrass will miss the remainder of the season, with the reigning John Worsfold medallist recovering from a compressed fracture in his back after a heavy fall against Richmond in round 18.
“Tom in the incident where he landed heavily against Richmond has sustained a fracture in his vertebrae in the middle of his spine and that has ruled him out for the rest of the season,” Finucane said.
Young midfielder Zane Trew is a test this week following adductor soreness, while Coby Burgiel (hamstring) and Connor West (knee) are both three weeks away.
“Zane, after his last WAFL game, pulled up a little bit tight in his adductor so he’s had a quiet last week and will build over the course of this week to show his function, so he’ll be a decision for later in the week,” Finucane said.
“Coby continues to build his football functional activities but still building in the gym after his hamstring surgery.
“Connor since he has commenced running after his knee surgery has improved significantly every session, got his range back, and his functioning with his running is improving session by session, so he’s pushing hard to play later in the season.”
Meanwhile, Jai Culley is progressing well more than two months following his ACL reconstruction.
“Jai is now 10 weeks after his ACL reconstruction and he’s in that phase of getting his muscle bulk back, so he’s working really hard in the gym,” Finucane said.
“The knee itself is nice and calm and responding really well to that build in workload. He won’t be too far away from commencing the next phase, which is straight-line running.”
Injury list:
Tom Barrass Back Season
Coby Burgiel Hamstring 3 weeks
Jai Culley Knee Season
Harry Edwards Groin Season
Reuben Ginbey Hamstring Season
Jamaine Jones Ankle 1 week
Jeremy McGovern Concussion Test
Nic Naitanui Achilles Season
Liam Ryan Hamstring Season
Luke Shuey Hamstring 1 week
Zane Trew Groin Test
Jake Waterman Illness Indefinite
Connor West Knee 3 weeks
